The Creative Process Behind Jordan Peele's Hit Spotify Audio Series Quiet Part Loud'
12/01/2023
With an all-star cast featuring Tracy Letts, Christina Hendricks, Taran Killam, and Arian Moayed, Quiet Part Loud follows the likes of Case 63 and Batman Unburied as the latest Spotify Original scripted audio series. And thanks to its captivating story and immersive sound design, it has also found instant success.
The 12-part audio horror fable centers around main character Rick Eagan (Letts), a demagogue who uses his platform to spread political misinformation, and follows the terrifying effect falsehoods can have on the public. Serving as an examination of the fear, animosity, and divisiveness in American society, Quiet Part Loud was a hit upon its premiere, debuting as the top podcast in the U.S., as well as the top fiction podcast in the U.K. and Sweden.
Providing a deeper look into the creation of the series, Executive Producer Geoff Foster sat down with For the Record to discuss Quiet Part Loud's creative approach and inspirations.
What attracted Jordan Peele, you, and the Monkeypaw team to the idea of creating a fictional audio series in the horror genre? Jordan and Monkeypaw are always excited by new ways to innovate and evolve as storytellers-we are always pushing ourselves to try new things and break old habits. The horror potential in scripted audio was undeniable. It's a very personal medium because you are almost always alone when you are listening to a podcast.
So despite the limitations of not having visuals, it felt like this intimate setting that was ripe for a new brand of horror. I think we were also intrigued by the historical precedent set by Orson Welles and the War of the Worlds radio broadcast in the 1930s, and eager to see what kind of potential was maybe yet to be unlocked for a 21st-century audience. There were obviously many brilliant creative minds already working in audio, but we wanted to see what we could bring to the table to push the medium even further.
What's the biggest or most unexpected difference between creating an audio series and making a movie? The biggest difference is that without visuals, action becomes very difficult. This was definitely something that became more and more evident as we tinkered with the story in the writing phase and again in post-production. There are two big action set pieces in our series, in Episodes 8 and 12, and those two episodes definitely consumed the most time and attention.
Even if you want to do something relatively simple like have someone pick a lock or get punched in the face, it's pretty tricky. You can always use a narrator, but that feels like a crutch. Or you can have the character himself saying, Time to pick this lock now, or Why did you punch me in the face? But that feels inorganic and contrived.
So this distinction really impacts so many choices in the story phase, and often many you might not have thought of. From a horror perspective, it also takes away a lot of your tools in the toolbox. Rather, the scares need to come from the anticipation and dread that precedes a threat. You need to live in the first 70-80 minutes of Jaws before you really see the shark.
How do you think the audio-focused format of podcasts provides a new way of storytelling? I think once you get over the limitations of this format-the lack of visuals, the lack of gorgeous movie stars, etc.-you begin to see that this type of storytelling has unique advantages. It's this strange hybrid that is probably most similar to a stage play. You have a captive, focused audience that hangs onto every word and places a real premium on great dialogue. But unlike a play, it's also similar to TV and film in its pacing, editing, and story structure.
There's also something very freeing in not having to worry about budget or locations or camera setups or special effects or set design. You can be on the surface of the moon one second and on a submarine at the bottom of the ocean the next. You can travel around the world or back in time. There are no limits on any of that. As long as you can create a recognizable soundscape and are diligent about that, you can tell stories that would be otherwise unproducible in film and TV.
Amazing sound design is a hallmark of any great horror film. Do those same techniques work for an audio series like Quiet Part Loud, or did it require a different approach? Well, there are definitely many similarities. Music plays a similar role in setting mood and tone while also priming the audience for scares. And the sound design process for determining what The Blank in Quiet Part Loud sounds like was similar to figuring out what Jean Jacket sounds like in Nope.
But in this medium, the sound design is also doing the work of the camera. It is establishing POV and situating the audience in every scene. It is also doing all the transitions from scene to scene that establishing shots normally do. For a horror show like ours, the sound design is also responsible for the jump scares-and experimenting with how those could work was one of the most fun processes while we were making Quiet Part Loud.
Will there be more podcasts in the future for Monkeypaw Productions? Yes! We definitely want to do more. This is just the beginning.
Ready to experience the suspense of Quiet Part Loud? Stream all 12 episodes now.
LINK: | https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-01-12/the-creative-process-behind-jo... |
See more stories from spotify |
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet Appoints Santiago Solanas as CEO to Lead Next Era of Growth and Innovation
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
29/05/2024
Tucson TV Stations Launch NextGen TV Services
TUSCON Six stations have launched NextGen TV, aka ATSC 3.0 broadcasts in the Tucson, Ariz., area....
29/05/2024
France Tlvisions Upgrades to Grass Valley Kaleido-IP Video Multiviewer
MONTREAL Grass Valley is reporting that French National Public TV Broadcaster France T l visions, rebranded as france tv, has selected its next-generation Kalei...
29/05/2024
John Abbot Joins Google Fiber as Its First CFO
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. Google Fiber has announced that John Abbot has recently joined its team as the company's first chief financial officer (CFO)....
29/05/2024
Obsidian Lighting Control ONYX 4.10 Software Now Available
Obsidian Control Systems has introduced ONYX 4.10, the latest iteration of the popular lighting control software for NX consoles and PC systems....
29/05/2024
ZOO Establishes ZOO Italy, Launches Dubbing Studios in Milan
LONDON ZOO Digital, a global provider of localization and media services to the entertainment industry, has launched ZOO dubbing studios in Milan and establishe...
29/05/2024
Vizrt Integrates HTML Graphics System with Dalet News Production System
BERGEN, Norway Vizrt has integrated Viz Pilot Edge, the company's newsroom HTML-based templated graphics system, with the Dalet Galaxy five news production ...
29/05/2024
Elettroformati Audio Post House Installs PMC Monitors In...
Italian audio production company Elettroformati has chosen PMC monitors and an Avid management system for its new Dolby Atmos music mixing studio in Milan. Fo...
29/05/2024
Pixotope Enables Remote Intercontinental Camera Tracking...
Pixotope, the leading software platform for end-to-end real-time virtual production solutions, is breaking new ground by enabling remote real time virtual produ...
29/05/2024
Vizrt joins forces with Dalet to enhance newsroom operati...
Vizrt, the leader in real-time graphics and live production solutions for content creators, today announces that its flagship newsroom HTML-based templated grap...
29/05/2024
Ateme Leads TVRIs Transition to 4K UHD OTT Streaming
Ateme, the global leader in video compression, delivery and streaming solutions with innovation at its core, today announced TVRI s historic transition to 4K UH...
29/05/2024
WRAL-TV's Shrader, Holland Talk Historic Hurricane Forecast on WRAL Daily Download
NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) issued a forecast las...
29/05/2024
Thales' FlytEDGE - the first cloud-based IFE in the world Winner of Crystal Cabin Award
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn The Crystal Cabin Award Association recognized T...
29/05/2024
VIZIO and Dolby Usher in Premium Sound Era For All
29 May 2024, 05:30 (PDT) VIZIO and Dolby Usher in Premium Sound Era For All With Dolby Atmos across its entire 2024 soundbar lineup, VIZIO and Dolby are lea...
29/05/2024
SWR moves to software playout with integrated Pixel Power solution from Rohde & Schwarz
SWR moves to software playout with integrated Pixel Power solution from Rohde & ...
28/05/2024
AI and Disinformation in Taiwan's 2024 Election
This is a summary of the report commissioned by Thomson on AI Disinformation Attacks during Taiwans 2024 Presidential Elections, written by Professor Chen-ling ...
28/05/2024
In A Violent Nature: Festivalgoers Look Through the Eyes of a Murderer
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 22: Chris Nash attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival In A Violent Nature premiere at the Library Center Theatre on January 22, 202...
28/05/2024
Aerojet Rocketdyne Expanding Huntsville Operations to Increase Solid Rocket Motor Deliveries
Aerojet Rocketdyne's Advanced Manufacturing Facility opened in 2019. The com...
28/05/2024
France Tlvisions Upgrades to Grass Valley Kaleido-IP Video Multiviewer to Support its Upcoming SMPTE-2110 Live UHD/3G Broadcast Transition
MONTREAL, CANADA -May 28, 2024 - Grass Valley , the leading innovator for live p...
28/05/2024
How Will Venu Sports Impact Pay-TV Subscriptions?
NEW ROCHELLE, NY Venu Sports, the new sports streaming bundle from Disney, Fox and WBD expected to launch later this year, could attract more than 4 in 10 sport...
28/05/2024
Tucson TV Stations Launch NextGen TV Service
TUSCON Six stations have launched NextGen TV, aka ATSC 3.0 broadcasts in the Tucson, Ariz., area....
28/05/2024
WSC Sports Unveils Trio Of AI-Driven Content Solutions
TEL AVIV, Israel WSC Sports has introduced three additions to its product portfolio for sports ecosystem companies that address content management, creation and...
28/05/2024
Pixotope Enables Remote Intercontinental Camera Tracking for NEP the Netherlands
Pixotope Enables Remote Intercontinental Camera Tracking for NEP the Netherlands Brie Clayton May 28, 2024 0 Comments Remote markerless through-the-le...
28/05/2024
Picture Shop's Mark Kueper Grades Billy the Kid With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Picture Shop's Mark Kueper Grades Billy the Kid With DaVinci Resolve Studio Brie Clayton May 28, 2024 0 Comments Blackmagic Design today announced...
28/05/2024
Profoto enters the cinema market with L1600D
Profoto enters the cinema market with L1600D Brie Clayton May 28, 2024 0 Comments Profoto enters the cinema market with uncompromising speed of use an...
28/05/2024
After Effects cameras and Unreal Engine
After Effects cameras and Unreal Engine Graham Quince May 28, 2024 0 Comments Welcome to my series on learning Unreal Engine for video production, esp...
28/05/2024
Apple Motion: Understanding Fixed Resolution
Apple Motion: Understanding Fixed Resolution Simon Ubsdell May 28, 2024 0 Comments An overview of this tricky but important topic which can hit you wi...
28/05/2024
OBS Taps Alibaba Cloud for AI-Enhanced MultiCamera Replays at Paris 2024
LONDON Olympic Broadcasting Services recently tested AI-enhanced multcamera replay tech from Alibaba Cloud at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai in prepar...
28/05/2024
Dune Part 2 and Avatar colourists to take part in DaVinci Resolve Live Tour
The events are for filmmakers, editors, colourists, and visual effects artists, whether theyre beginners and experienced users By Jenny Priestley Published: ...
28/05/2024
Meet the head of sound
1185 Films Mark Hodgkin explains his journey from studying classic guitar and piano to working on the sound of TV adverts, films and documentaries By TVBEurope...
28/05/2024
Alfalite presents its LED displays at InfoComm 2024
Alfalite, the European LED display manufacturer, returns for the second consecutive year to InfoComm with its LED displays for the rental, fixed installation an...
28/05/2024
Leader Electronics Corporation Appoints AV Group Technolo...
Leader Electronics Corporation, globally active innovator of broadcast-quality test and measurement instrumentation, announces the appointment of Sydney-based A...
28/05/2024
Advanced 3D qualifier in DaVinci Resolve
Advanced 3D qualifier in DaVinci Resolve Kasia Jarco May 27, 2024 0 Comments In today's advanced tutorial, I want to show you how and why to use 3...
28/05/2024
Deadline Approaching for 2024 Emerging Leaders Intern Program
Applications for CBC & Leadership Triangle Due May 31 Only a few days remain for HBCU students in the Triangle to apply for the 2024 Emerging Leadership Intern...
28/05/2024
VEON Progresses with Asset-Light Strategy, Reaches Agreement to Sell Stake in TNS+ in Kazakhstan
28 May 2024 VEON Progresses with Asset-Light Strategy, Reaches Agreement to Sel...
28/05/2024
Analytics and Powering Next-Generation Consumption Experiences: A Conversation With ESPN's Allison Loucks
Analytics and Powering Next-Generation Consumption Experiences: A Conversation W...
28/05/2024
Live From London: Buzz 16 Tackles Production Duties for TNT Sports' EPCR Finals Host Coverage
Live from London: Buzz 16 tackles production duties for TNT Sports' EPCR fin...
28/05/2024
Live From London: EPCR Takes Over Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for European Rugby Finals Weekend
Live from London: EPCR takes over Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for European rugby f...
28/05/2024
Advance Step: Gen AI, Data and Coud on the Radar for British Basketball League as Production Transformation Continues
Advance step: Gen AI, data and cloud on the radar for British Basketball League ...
28/05/2024
AWS's Andrew Reich on Recent Developments in the Cloud, Helping Sports Clients Adjust to Industry-Wide Changes
AWS's Andrew Reich on Recent Developments in the Cloud, Helping Sports Clien...
28/05/2024
Riedel Bolero Empowers Student Production Excellence at Orange County School of the Arts
Wuppertal May 28, 2024 Riedel Bolero Empowers Student Production Excellence at...
28/05/2024
Bridgerton' Continues Its Reign; Atlas' Debuts at #1
Back to All News Bridgerton' Continues Its Reign; Atlas' Debuts at #1 Entertainment 28 May 2024 Global Link copied to clipboard Dearest Gentle R...
28/05/2024
Micro LED Panels and AlfaArt Combine the Best Digital Art with the Latest LED Display Technology in Easy-to-Use Solution
FOR-A Highlights Turnkey LED Video Wall System from Strategic Partner Alfalite a...
28/05/2024
2024-05-28
The Apple Hearing Study is sharing new insights on tinnitus in one of the largest surveys to date....
28/05/2024
Apantac Best of Show 2024 at NAB
Apantac Best of Show 2024 at NABApantac Best of Show 2024 at NAB Beaverton, Oregon, USA - May 22, 2024, - We are pleased to announce that our product OG-HDR-UDX...
28/05/2024
Thales' FlytEDGE digitally remasters the inflight entertainment experience
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Live personalization for a journey filled with unique experiences Instantly stream favorites and never miss a beat, continue wa...
28/05/2024
AI-backbone for FCAS operational
AI-backbone for FCAS operational The HIS consortium and partners provide BAAINBw and industry with a cross-sectional AI development platform for FCAS (AI-back...
27/05/2024
Experience inspiration. Master challenges. With SIGRAFLEX and SIGRAFINE at ACHEMA 2024
It will soon be that time again: ACHEMA, the worlds most important trade show fo...
27/05/2024
How L3Harris Evolved into Canada's Trusted Tanker Aircraft In-Service Support Provider
L3Harris has been maintaining Canada's CC-150 Polaris fleet for over a decad...