Parsec Awards - We NEED your help!

Ok, so we're nominated for a parsec award. To be eligible to be a finalist we need to submit the following:

Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Long Form):

30 second introduction + Full episode(s) totaling no more than 1 hour
Can contain 1 Parsec-specific introduction and up to 6 sample segments

The deadline for these samples is midnight EDT on June 15, 2011.

Here are some more submission guidelines: http://www.parsecawards.com/general-...lity-criteria/
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So what should we submit from Season 2? I'm checking to see if it's one full episode and then segments.

What Chapter or part would you choose?

Here's the winners from last year: http://www.parsecawards.com/past-awa...ers-finalists/

Help us out and let us know-

Yikes. Honestly, it's hard to pick from season 2. If it's absolute full episodes, I'd probably go with the Angel and Kalani trip to get the MREs.

Looking back, I really loved the escape from the Colony. But in regard to the artistry of it, the "almost-rape" was so intense and powerful that I was visibly cringing. However, I think something with lots of action, such as the Colony escape or the MRE mission as AdrianHD suggested is more representative of the show as a whole. I just always think back to the almost-rape because it affected me so much.

Idk man, I'm glad I'm not the one picking!

If you can submit a full episode I'd say chapter 17-2 is a good bet. The scene where Angel and Kalani are at the army base, and they realize they are being hunted is amazing!There's also the scene where they get cornered by the behemoth. And to make it even better that same episode had Michael/Pegs/Kelly found signs of other survivors (the colony).

There's a lot of zombie action here, and there are some really dramatic moments too.

Congrats first off on the nomination! :) The first thing that popped into my head for a great episode to submit would be 19 - 3, though I'm not sure if the emotions from following Michael and co for so long and celebrating the victory they achieve as they escape would carry over to the judges :/

I'll have to re-listen to pick another to submit.

See the judges wont have the background or the emotional ties we have to the characters though. So the rape scene, although moving to us, because we know and care about lizzy, is moving. To the judges however, it might just come off as disturbing, and once again, the show is about a zombie outbreak, the clip should have zombies in it.

I think the same thing applies to 19-3, we love that scene so much because it gives us the pay off that we'd been waiting for after 2 chapters of sitting around the colony. To the judges that really doesn't have anything to do with zombies at all. it's a number of people escaping from a group of survivors. The judges wouldnt even know why the colony is such a bad group of people.

Perhaps we could submit clips of the Colony that build up to the escape? Same goes for the rape scene. Give it some context and enough of an emotional backdrop to make them feel the same way we do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra1th

If you can submit a full episode I'd say chapter 17-2 is a good bet. The scene where Angel and Kalani are at the army base, and they realize they are being hunted is amazing!There's also the scene where they get cornered by the behemoth. And to make it even better that same episode had Michael/Pegs/Kelly found signs of other survivors (the colony).

There's a lot of zombie action here, and there are some really dramatic moments too.

totally agree :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianHD

Yikes. Honestly, it's hard to pick from season 2. If it's absolute full episodes, I'd probably go with the Angel and Kalani trip to get the MREs.

Seconded. My favorite chapter. Angel is hysterically funny in it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ObamaCat

Perhaps we could submit clips of the Colony that build up to the escape? Same goes for the rape scene. Give it some context and enough of an emotional backdrop to make them feel the same way we do.

but even if we give them some background on how bad the colony is and some background on who MPK/VHT are, they wont have the same emotional ties to them as we do. We built that up over a long period of time, you'd have to fill the judges in pretty quickly. Which is why I say go for something less emotional, and heavier on the action, especially zombie action because that is the core issue of We're Alive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra1th

but even if we give them some background on how bad the colony is and some background on who MPK/VHT are, they wont have the same emotional ties to them as we do. We built that up over a long period of time, you'd have to fill the judges in pretty quickly. Which is why I say go for something less emotional, and heavier on the action, especially zombie action because that is the core issue of We're Alive.

I'll cry uncle. Ra1th, you win ;)

Congrats on the Nomination.... I'd go with the Ambush scene in 21-1 without a doubt the most intense scene so far this season! It would play pretty well if the judges haven't listened and don't know the story and characters. Alot of intense writing and imagry in that one!

for as good as chapter 17 is and would give WA the Best chance IMO it's too long including 30 sec intro and you can't modify it with exception to fade in fade out stuff. Chapter 19 is also too long, right now the following chapters would be available to submit within guidelines:

Chapter 13 - Separate Dying Embers
Chapter 14 - Out of the Ashes
Chapter 15 - Desperate Times
Chapter 16 - Over the Air-Waves
Chapter 18 - No Place Like Home
Chapter 20 - About Last Night
Chapter 21 - Mark of the Beast

I agree there has to be some zombie action going on since that is what caused this to be a story of survival, but we also need to stick within guidelines. Correct me if I'm wrong but can we submit an end of one chapter bleeding into the next it does say +full Episode(s), I take that being one full three part chapter. If you can do a bleed over than it is possible to include parts of either chapter 17 or 19.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianHD

Yikes. Honestly, it's hard to pick from season 2. If it's absolute full episodes, I'd probably go with the Angel and Kalani trip to get the MREs.

I agree...that was great episode! The picture for that chapter is what I want for my FB!

I'd go with chapter 18. Out of all the chapters and episodes available, this one is the one that best highlights everything that is great about the show. Not saying that the others are bad but this one better than the others highlights the storyline, action, crazy zombie types and great sound effects that make this a great show. Particularly the bits with Angel and Kaluni if you need specific segments.

I'd say the chapter where they are all on the firetruck desperately trying to survive, that was INTENSE

Catalyst Part 3. The escape scene was great.

How is it I am the first to recommend chapter 22! It only gets better! can they wait for ch 23?
Haha. Chapter 19 had me on the ropes. but in light of my attachment I can't say the judges will have the investment that I/we did on the escape though the flare gun being used for... something useful is pretty amazing in itself.
Otherwise I think it has been said Angel and Kalani and MRE and littleones
Teethingbiscuit

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrScott101

for as good as chapter 17 is and would give WA the Best chance IMO it's too long including 30 sec intro and you can't modify it with exception to fade in fade out stuff. Chapter 19 is also too long, right now the following chapters would be available to submit within guidelines:

Chapter 13 - Separate Dying Embers
Chapter 14 - Out of the Ashes
Chapter 15 - Desperate Times
Chapter 16 - Over the Air-Waves
Chapter 18 - No Place Like Home
Chapter 20 - About Last Night
Chapter 21 - Mark of the Beast

I agree there has to be some zombie action going on since that is what caused this to be a story of survival, but we also need to stick within guidelines. Correct me if I'm wrong but can we submit an end of one chapter bleeding into the next it does say +full Episode(s), I take that being one full three part chapter. If you can do a bleed over than it is possible to include parts of either chapter 17 or 19.

We can also submit just 1 part. Doesn't have to be the full chapter. And then exerts from other Chapters.

I like 16-3, the action of Pegs and Michael on the yacht was intense and action packed with a perfect payoff of comedy at the end with Pegs finding the yacht's manual. Plus Angel and Kalani returning Latch's body in the beginning is a great bit of drama. Even if the judges don't understand the situation completely, the emotion of Scratch's reaction really sells it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kc

We can also submit just 1 part. Doesn't have to be the full chapter. And then exerts from other Chapters.

In that case looks like I know what I'm doing the next two days. Listening to all those chapters all over again and taking notes to help pick the best part and jot down notes for exerts! Thanks I wasn't quite sure based on reading their requirements.

I think what'd be best is to show the range the podcast goes through. For instance:
the action of Separate Dying Embers (down on the fire truck/hearing the roof top zombie call/down to the zombie retreat)
Saul's surgery (because it's a great piece of audio perspective)
The Viking Funeral on the Roof Top of the Tower
The "interview process" of MPK at the Colony through Pete's drive by (to show the stark contrast in mood)
The Escape from the Colony (from Gatekeeper/Shovelface's planning all the way to Kelly's narration back to the Tower)
and I would also use Lizzy's near rape scene all the way through Lizzy getting knocked out.

I didn't run the times of this, but if time allows, I would also include getting the radio call about the Wave heading to outpost one then continue it all the way through the interview process etc etc.

I think these scenes would do We're Alive Justice especially if you give enough of a lead. I don't think you need to be as worried about the emotional attachment to the characters. Most awards things need to see range, and quality and I think these scenes certainly do that.

19-1 Shovel scene Michael "You dont know when to shutup do ya ?" clang clang

Is it possible for us to hear the 2010 entry for a point of reference? And do you have the winners entry for comparison? It'd be useful to get and idea of what last years judges were looking for.

Quote:

Chapter 14 - Out of the Ashes

I like this because:

It hits on many different characters and their relationships.
Has dramatic tension (although which episode doesn't? :P).
Has real depth of field in terms of the audio.
Gives a feel for what the characters have to deal with.
And of course, the writing is excellent

A zombie story needs zombie action, like Ra1th said the MRE scene will work really well.

I'm on my 5th (or 6th) run through of the podcast, I lost count, but I find that scenes between Michael and Kelly always stand out in my mind. They have good chemistry. My vote for a little snip it comes from 14-3, the scene in which Michael goes upstairs for a smoke and ends up having a chat with Kelly.