I’ll keep this short and simple.
Months ago, a message board was set up for our friends at the Sonic Society. But don’t look for us there. Ollin Productions no longer maintains a presence there.
Jack Ward and Shannon Hilche, the co-chairs and delightful lead voices of “The Sonic Society,” were offered the use of a message board space. It’s called Audio Drama Talk. They wanted it to be the watering hole for audiodramatists, where people could share their knowledge and experience.
However, you can’t share much in the way of knowledge unless there’s a mutual sense of professionalism. You can be as friendly, complimentary, and informal as you like. But you need an effective work environment — a mature atmosphere — where ability and merit are welcome, not simply a token word of approval. There must be room for disagreement and reasonable discussion, not conformity. And you can tell that’s not happening when you get certain signs. A grown woman (Jamie) is addressed like an irrational child. Points raised are sidestepped, so people can discuss more popular views. Someone appeals to community instead of merit, basically truth by majority.
Or when somebody says to you, “Did a director pee in your coffee this week or something?”
At that point, Jamie had had enough. We asked Jack to delete our accounts. So before anyone starts a rumor or smiles to themselves, Jack and Shannon can tell you: We weren’t thrown out. We walked. Better things to do. Death in the family, it turned out. But that’s another story.
Also for the record: We at Ollin Productions are proud members of “The Sonic Society.” Jack and Shannon are good people, and we’ll stand by them any day of the week, even if it is a long walk from here to Nova Scotia.
Because it is. A long walk, I mean.
How does affect “Afterhell,” you might ask? If you want our take on something, go to the source. Always the best place.