A regular accounting of The Three Fifty-seven published on the first Monday of each month.
This is The Month Ahead for April 2024
Hello, All,
February’s recording experiments yielded a simplified and reversed process for editing audio. It also produced cleaner audio.
However, rather than shortening editing times, the new approach has encouraged longer recordings. Rest assured this is still short form audio fiction. But, for a channel that started with average run times of less than four minutes, we are comfortably exceeding five and six minutes per episode. This could come in handy in future shows.
Another outcome of fine-tuning is that writing is a couple of weeks ahead of audio. Is there any impact? I don’t know. Perhaps not. One more note: the intended recordings of Shakespeare’s love sonnets did not happen. Put those into the future projects column.
However, episodes five through eight of SEVENTEEN were published in March. Taglined “He’s dying to forget. She lives to remember.” these were the conclusion of Severin Vincent Tennyson’s story which started in March of 2023. Nicknamed Tenny, he is a sixty-four-year-old, non-verbal, cane-using janitor at Gunderson High School in central New Jersey. Seeing now-Superintendent Millicent di Stefano for the first time since high school forty years ago triggered a flood of memories that threatened his life.
THE GHOSTLY GROOM is inspired by, and interpreted from, Washington Irving’s THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM published in 1819.
For April, The Three Fifty-seven is pleased to announce THE GHOSTLY GROOM. It is inspired by, and interpreted from, Washington Irving’s THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM published in 1819.
With the tagline “His altar was the grave.”, we show a healthy respect for the original text while gently updating it. The story’s lead, Lenore Katzenellen, is the 45-year-old founder and president of a financial analysis firm in Odenwald, New Jersey. She is engaged to Geoffrey Ochre who lives forty-five minutes upstate in Wurtzburg.
A bad automobile accident puts Geoffrey in a hospital where he announces he is dead. Lenore sets off the solve the mystery. But what truth does she find? THE GHOSTY GROOM’s five episodes will answer the question.
One more detail about April: Ingmar Bergman’s THE SEVENTH SEAL (1957) continues to inspire. Fans of the movie will recall Max von Sydow playing a game of chess with Death (played by Bengt Ekerot).
Fast forward to 2024. Death is a subsidiary of The Four Horsemen, Incorporated collecting tortured and tormented souls. What would that story be and how would it unfold? In five minutes! As a comedy!
Until then, look for the first audio and written episode of THE GHOSTLY GROOM. We hope Mr. Irving approves. And, no matter what happens, please know The Three Fifty-seven remains committed to its core belief that “Stories are Everywhere”.
Ever notice how the eyes never blink? It’s a bit unnerving.
A regular accounting of The Three Fifty-seven published on the first Monday of each month.
This is The Month Ahead for March 2024
Hello, All,
One of the joys of writing and producing The Three Fifty-seven as a single-narrator, solo endeavor, is that it permits tremendous freedom to develop characters, stories, and series of a wide latitude. True to the tagline, “Stories are Everywhere”, inspiration comes from anywhere, everywhere, and sometimes, all at once. It can be a thrill ride.
However, one of the perils of a solo endeavor is the need for always writing and producing. The collective pronouns often used in describing the channel – our, we, us, and so forth – are a bit of false advertising. It is only me.
This point was highlighted in February. The month was intended as four weekly scheduled releases for ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE. The series involved The Messenger who premiered last year in THE MESSENGER DINES OUT about saving the music in a New Jersey diner. We take our diners seriously here.
ROMANCE started as an intersection of two old television shows: 1) The Dating Game and 2) Max Headroom which came from Britain’s Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into The Future. ROMANCE, true to the spirit of the channel, found its own life as a series that shared DNA with Dating Game and Max Headroom but evolved into a distinct branch of our portfolio.
Also intended during the month were narrations of Shakespeare’s love sonnets in honor of Valentine’s Day. The month came to a close two weeks behind. It may still be a week behind when this comes to print.
But the characters and stories are still worth having my name on them. Still worth posting and cross-posting on the platforms we frequent. And, with most, but not all, being less than seven minutes, still worth sharing as short form entertainment.
And, still worth pitching to producers in other media.
Even with March starting and some catching up to do, February had at least one notable, and perhaps humorous, inspiration. In Ingmar Bergman’s THE SEVENTH SEAL (1957), Max von Sydow plays a game of chess with Death (played by Bengt Ekerot). Fast forward to 2024. What if Death was a social media influencer. What would that story be and how would it unfold?
Until then, look for the last episode of ROMANCE and the fifth episode of SEVENTEEN. With the tagline of “He’s dying to forget. She lives to remember.” this may be a drama.
No matter what happens, please know The Three Fifty-seven remains committed to its core belief that “Stories are Everywhere”.
William E. Spear (or is it an AI-generated image? . . . It must be him; AI is better than that.)
A regular accounting of The Three Fifty-seven published on the first Monday of each month.
This is The Month Ahead for February 2024
Hello, All,
January was allegedly a Season Break. True, nothing was scheduled.
However, there were efforts in several areas throughout the month:
Two new series were started: 1) DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS and 2) SPIRITED. Both will be a blend of text, audio, and social posts and developed in a more organic methods compared to our scheduled series.
We had our first Funding Friday which was embedded in the BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE post on 19 January 2024. The post contained an original poem inspired while waiting for a train.
And, significant outreach was invested in developing film collaborators for the series and characters.
By the way, all of the above will be repeated and continued in the coming months.
But in this month, February, the next installment of The Messenger premieres. Titled ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE, The Messenger comes out of retirement a second time and has a staff of two DPAs* – Fred and Frieda. They voiced the 21 January trailer which is reprised here:
Fred and Frieda, The Messenger’s staff, voiced this trailer
*DPAs is the abbreviation for digital personal assistants.
Enjoy February and please know The Three Fifty-seven remains committed to its core belief that “Stories are Everywhere”.
A regular accounting of The Three Fifty-seven published on the first Monday of each month.
The Month Ahead – Monday 1 January 2024
Hello, All,
Welcome to The Month Ahead for January 2024. It is my hope the upcoming year exceeds your expectations.
This issue is also a moment to look back on 2023 and publicly savor a few accomplishments.
Challenge Met
At the most elemental, The Three Fifty-seven challenged itself to blog, podcast, or both at least once a week for the year and that was accomplished. For further context, please note this production is a single narrator, fiction production. Refill my coffee cup for a toast!
As a byproduct, I am a better writer, narrator, and audio producer on 1 January 2024 than on 1 January 2023. Practice and repetition have value.
Select Highlights
Programming highlights included the following: 1) 22 episodes of IT SUITS HER; 2) Five episodes about poetry – yes, poetry – from the last 300 years; and 3) THE TABLE, an homage in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The result is a year of work I’ll proudly claim.
But there were completely unexpected delights: a cross-promotion with the Madison On the Air podcast was ridiculous fun. And the inclusion of my narration of John Donne’s THE APPARITION (1633) in Micro podcast’s Late Great: Halloween Edition was a thrill.
Experiments
2024 is committed to a scheduled slate of programming plus experimenting with shows that organically combine social media and audio to develop characters and tell their stories. These shows, DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS and SPIRITED, premiered in December and will progress for different lengths of time and at different paces.
Consider supporting The Three Fifty-seven’s operational expenses
Financial Support
The program is also taking steps toward seeking funding for its operational expenses such as its domain name and web presence.
Coffee – preferably black – is a constant companion. With that stated, a coffee cup seemed the best first symbol to request support.
The cup serves as a link to the home page of our Buy Me A Coffee campaign. Cheers and thanks for your consideration.
2024 Is Here
However, all of these begin with a season break in January. Nothing is scheduled but there are posts and episodes, including DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS and SPIRITED, that will be released.
Enjoy the coming year and please know The Three Fifty-seven remains committed to its core belief that “Stories are Everywhere”.
A regular accounting of The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.
The Month Ahead – Monday 4 December
Hello, All,
Welcome to The Month Ahead for December 2023. It is my hope the year has been kind to you.
During the month, the final episodes of IT SUITS HER will be released. Maxie and Celia have traveled a long road and it has been a joy telling their story.
Last month we developed NOVEMBER POEMS, PARTS ONE AND TWO. Seven poems were compiled to honor the eleventh month. Writing from John Clare, Emily Dickinson, Rebecca Hey, and Elizabeth Drew Barstow Stoddard was included. Although not recorded, it is realistic to see a release in 2024.
However, the experience of researching poets and poetry was appealing. Expect an episode this month with a focus on December.
The lineup for the first six months of 2024 includes the following: — January – Break. There are no episodes scheduled in January — February – LOVE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE where The Messenger becomes a digitzed personal assistant, with staff, to save a prestigous client of the firm from a potentially catastrophic delay in releasing a new product — March – SEVENTEEN: A continuation of the story started in 2023; Severin Vincent Tennyson, a sixty-four year-old non-verbal janitor in central New Jersey, U.S.A. and Jennifer Hargrove, his job coach, struggle to understand the flashback he is having — April – ROAD RAGE: An interpretation of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow — May to June – LATE IN THE GAME: The first eight episodes centered on three players on a struggling minor league baseball team in New Jersey
Also, there is a rumor an old friend will in the area between Christmas and New Year. Stay tuned for updates.
Thanks for stopping by in 2023 and we look forward to sharing more in 2024. As always, please remember there are stories are everywhere.
A regular accounting of The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.
Monday 6 November
Hello, All,
Welcome to The Month Ahead for November 2023. It is my hope this finds you well for the rest of the year and beyond. This edition recaps October, maps out November and December, and looks at 2024.
In October, five more episodes of IT SUITS HER were released. Maxie and Celia are in a different place than when their story started and by all accounts there are more changes to come.
Four more episodes will be released in November and the series will conclude with a big showdown in December.
Staying in November, The 3:57 and MADISON ON THE AIR will swap promos in our respective shows. The 3:57 is absolutely pleased to have Madison bring her energy to our program for the entire month.
The program also had two episodes released in Octobber: 1) THE RAVEN – Published in 1845, Edgar Allan Poe’s feathered fiend came tapping and so gently rapping into the podcast and 2) CASEY AT THE BAT – Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s ode to losing sports teams has consoled fans since 1888.
A third stand alone reading, John Donne’s THE APPARITION first published in 1633, was included in Micro’s LATE GREAT HALLOWEEN EDITION.
Looking forward, plans for the first half of 2024 are being finalized. January will be a Season Break with no scheduled episodes. However, after that, the new year starts as follows: January – Season break with no scheduled podcasts February – The Messenger in LOVE, 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE March – Four more episodes of SEVENTEEN April – ROAD RAGE an interpretation of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow May to June – The first eight episodes of LATE IN THE GAME
That’s it for now. I look forward to more conversation next month. And remember, stories are everywhere.
THE RAVEN Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “‘Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door- Only this, and nothing more.”
~~
Full Transcript –
THE RAVEN
ORIGINAL DATE: 21 October 2023
(The Raven Intro and Outro comes up)
Hello and welcome to The 3:57. I am the host, William E. Spear.
This episode contains a grieving heart – not to be confused with a tell-tale heart – and avian anxiety that first flew in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Edgar Allan Poe published THE RAVEN in 1845. Immediately, his “lost Lenore” and feathered fear induced “dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before” that continue to this day.
And now, quoth the host, THE RAVEN.
(Interior Theme for The Raven comes up and goes under)
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “‘Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door- Only this, and nothing more.”
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore- For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore- Nameless here for evermore.
(Theme for Lenore comes up and under)
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, “‘Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door- Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;- This it is, and nothing more.”
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, “Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you”- here I opened wide the door;- Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?” This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “LENORE!”- Merely this, and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. “Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice: Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore- Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;- ‘Tis the wind and nothing more!”
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door- Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door- Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore. “Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven, Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore- Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!” Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door- Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as “Nevermore.”
But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered- Till I scarcely more than muttered, “Other friends have flown before- On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.” Then the bird said, “Nevermore.”
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, “Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store, Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore- Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore Of ‘Never- nevermore’.”
But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door; Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore- What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er, She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor. “Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he hath sent thee Respite- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!” Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
(Theme for Lenore comes up and under)
“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! – prophet still, if bird or devil! – Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted- On this home by Horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore- Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!” Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! – prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore- Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore- Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.” Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.” (with echo on Nevermore)
“Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend,” I shrieked, upstarting- “Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!” Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted- nevermore!
(Interior Theme for The Raven comes up and goes under)
You’ve just listened to Edgar Allan Poe’s THE RAVEN from 1845.
Music was provide by Universfield, Shadows and Echoes, and Alesia Davina.
The 3:57 is written and produced by William E. Spear.
Thank you for listening.
By the way, if you are napping and hear a rapping or gentle tapping on your chamber door – whether by Lenore or otherwise – pull the covers over your head.
(The Raven Intro and Outro comes up and goes under)
Clay Track Press 