the pitch
What is, Was, and Why ‘The Pitch’.
It’s a good question.
If this was a proposal to a network for a radio or TV series then you would need a pitch. However, it would be me writing, running, creating, producing and releasing this New Dawn series of podcasts – so why write one.
It’s one thing to have an idea and this was a rather grand one in terms of a one man production band so in truth I needed to get ‘my ducks in a row’ to know what I was trying to achieve, if it was achievable and what I needed to keep in mind.
The series would be somewhat of a hybrid between an actual play podcast and an audio drama which meant that it would possibly garner some cross over interest and might well alienate others as it was neither one or the other. I also knew that it would follow a TV or Radio drama style series format.
The ‘Pitch’ turned out to be a four-page document (which I will not relate all here) outlining the idea, how the series would be formatted and potential production schedules. Of course, many things changed along the way, but the initial concept stayed the same.
So, what were those key concepts?
The first was very general – the feel of New Dawn.
The Feel.
‘The aim is to produce a Delta Green actual play serialised podcast based on short single session scenarios with two central player characters and developing the relationship of those characters over the series (multiple).
The idea is similar in nature to the X-files with the two central characters working closely together for an agency to investigate reports of paranormal / extraterrestrial phenomenon. The scenarios will be short, a change in pace from the longer campaign style scenarios often provided by podcasts. The ‘case files’ will also not necessarily come to a tidy conclusion and there will often be doubt as to the veracity of the report, the findings or the situation will be ‘disproved’. The series cohesion will come from the working relationship between the two main characters, their relationship with the ‘organisation’, and the story will be heavily narratively driven. Players will be left to decide in what direction the character relationship moves.’
This initial concept and the underpinning idea has been kept as the series and ideas developed. Somethings have changed. I envisioned single episode scenarios – something that as it turned out was not feasible while retaining the essential parts of a plot line. In reality New Dawn became three-episode scenarios.
Episode Style.
· Fast paced- in the style / formula of a 1-hour TV series loosely following the following formula.
· Episodically procedural but with a long form main character narrative.
· Three Act (four with turning point)
· Act One 15 minutes, Act Two 30 minutes, and Act Three 15 minutes. (approximates)
· Turning point mid act Two.
· Cold opening – 60 – 90 second dramatic openings before show intro.
· Scene setting the events remote from the characters perspective – possibly misdirect for the listener so the listener has knowledge the players / player characters do not have.
· Possibly also incorporate the same format in terms of each series of episodes.
· E.g. Episodes 1 -3 Act 1, 4-9 Act two, 10-12 Act 3.
· Would require pre-planning the scenarios for the entire series straight off the bat and pre-planning a wider evolution of the story arc per season.’
In the main the above held true, the ‘acts’ or scenes in single episodes, a beginning, middle and end. The storylines however spread across multiple episodes with each having its ‘acts’ and the three-episode nature I suppose following that ‘opening, middle and end format. The full dramatized elements have been kept (an essential aspect of the concept) allowing for the listener to have additional knowledge beyond the main characters and cast.
The Series
‘Series length 10 -13 episodes.
· Two series per year – approx. 20 – 24 episodes over the year.
· Audio Only. (Video during sessions for player / Host interaction).
· Running time (edited) 60 minutes.
· Market position: to appeal to both the ttrpg community and sci-fi / horror audio drama audiences.
· To ideally include episode guests to re-voice major NPC characters post recording.
· Include one focused major NPC each episode. (possibility of recurrence in future episodes).
· Option of using AI if willing participants cannot be found.
· Requires on the part of the players: good quality microphone and interface and uninterrupted quiet space for recording.
· Recording to take place over cleanfeed.
· Aim to record two episodes per play session.
· Edited to mainly narrative (a small amount or rolls and ‘table’ conversation may be retained tbd).
· Produced with music and effects as a serialised actual play ‘drama’ driven by ttrpg play.’
This changed a LOT!
It became very apparent early on that the amount of recording and simply scheduling the recording session for actual play would mean a much shorter series run. The reality was that single series of around 9 episodes would be more practical and as yet it must be determined how many series a year will be feasible to record and produce.
The running time was mostly right.
The recording of two episodes per play session was just a little off. The reality is that it takes three recording sessions to produce three episodes. A single episode not necessarily coming from just one recording session.
The re-voicing changed quite dramatically as I realised that I wanted all the characters portrayed and voiced by myself during the actual play to be replaced. This has and continues to involve a lot of work transcribing from the actual play recordings and then subsequently cutting in the newly recorded parts voiced by others. The additional work I believe is well worth it.
All rolls were removed from the edit to keep the flow of the storylines.
The rest is pretty much as envisioned.
There is a lot more in that document however I think the above gives an idea of the process of how New Dawn was envisioned and planned.
