This is a beautiful work that really explores one woman's feelings about life and purpose as it relates to her sense of place. The open and honest appraisal of how things are in Sue's life in both New York and San Francisco really touch something that is the ultimate in personal radio portraits - intimate truth. I really felt emotionally moved by this bittersweet, philosophical piece, and I don't think one must be a resident of either coast to appreciate the work - one must only be human.
Thios isn't your usual radio story. This isn't a good show for conventional programming. For those shows out there that can afford to air something unusually long and contemplative, by today's standards, give this a listen. In documenting/comparing her quotidian experiences in both NYC and San Francisco, Sue Mel explores the meaning of home, the identity of oneself in the context of "home." This is a perfect piece to air during the holidays, when most people are leaving their current homes to take temporary residence in their childhood homes, retuning to dynamics of a lifetime past. This is also a piece that could certainly resonate with immigrants and refugees. Although this tale is a personal one, Sue Mel's observations and perceptions transcend the individual , reaching the universal .
I like personal stories and I thought I'd have a lot in common with this one (albeit my "two cities" are New York and Amsterdam.) And in this respect I wasn't disappointed - the sense of displacement and isolation in both "homes" paints a picture of internal melancholy more than any external place. The narrator draws parallels from banal everyday activities (coffe-to-go) to oddly surreal events (unlikely fowl) as she bounces between real life and scripted introspection. But because the sound recordings are so rough, there is no real difference between the sound of the two cities. I'd like to think this was part of the concept, but if so it's too distracting to be effective. What the piece lacks in recording technique is almost compensated by the writing which is the best part of the story - intelligent and insightful. But it doesn't quite hold the fabric of the whole together for radio.
Before you read farther, you should know I think my job as a reviewer is to be a program director’s advocate—not a cheerleader for the producer. With that warning…Dive in….
The title of this piece is deceptive. It is not a tale of two cities. It is a piece of personal therapy. The producer simply turns on the mic, records (very badly by the way) some experiences and then proceeds to bore us with a depressing, torturous nearly 30 minuets full of personal information we don’t want to know.
First the techincal: Two Words—Wind Sock! The recording and mixing are below acceptable standards for a radio station. Sorry to be harsh, but I just can’t say it any softer. Much of the recording is down out doors and the wind in both San Francisco and New York is a starring cast member.
Now onto the content and story telling skills. I am not sure what the story is in this piece. Sure, the producer claims it be a discussion on the emotional state of chaning home towns. About half way through the piece I blurted out (quite unexpectedly) “Tell it to your Therapist Not My Listeners.” I got a strange look from the woman on the treadmill next to me. Radio is supposed to uplift, provide insight and entertain. Unfortunetly, this piece is a depressing and self indulgent and way too long. This is hard to say because it’s a diary piece, but I would find it hard to say I would want to spend time hearing this story over cocktails. Since most radio is done in the car, where cocktails are not available, the only outcome is a station switch.
Ok, how could this piece be made better? EDIT EDIT EDIT. That requires a producer to think about what the listener needs and wants to know and to objectively decide what to put in and what to leave out. The problem here is EVERYTHING is in here with no prioritization—Listeners don’t need to hear an elongated exchange about not being able to find a specific NYC subway brochure for example. The use of the word Piss in the opening is a turn off. If this were a comparision about the two cities, there should have been a corresponding section on BART. There are several transitional pieces that are adaquetly written that if strung together would have yeilded an acceptable three minute piece.
With deepest appologies to the producer, this piece is not ready for air.
Comments for Tale of Two Cities
Produced by Sue Mell
Other pieces by Sue Mell
Rating Summary
4 comments
[redacted]
Posted on July 30, 2005 at 10:41 AM | Permalink
Review of Tale of Two Cities
This is a beautiful work that really explores one woman's feelings about life and purpose as it relates to her sense of place. The open and honest appraisal of how things are in Sue's life in both New York and San Francisco really touch something that is the ultimate in personal radio portraits - intimate truth. I really felt emotionally moved by this bittersweet, philosophical piece, and I don't think one must be a resident of either coast to appreciate the work - one must only be human.
Chelsea Merz
Posted on April 12, 2005 at 05:44 PM | Permalink
Review of Tale of Two Cities
Thios isn't your usual radio story. This isn't a good show for conventional programming. For those shows out there that can afford to air something unusually long and contemplative, by today's standards, give this a listen. In documenting/comparing her quotidian experiences in both NYC and San Francisco, Sue Mel explores the meaning of home, the identity of oneself in the context of "home." This is a perfect piece to air during the holidays, when most people are leaving their current homes to take temporary residence in their childhood homes, retuning to dynamics of a lifetime past. This is also a piece that could certainly resonate with immigrants and refugees. Although this tale is a personal one, Sue Mel's observations and perceptions transcend the individual , reaching the universal .
David Swatling
Posted on February 27, 2005 at 03:23 AM | Permalink
Review of Tale of Two Cities
I like personal stories and I thought I'd have a lot in common with this one (albeit my "two cities" are New York and Amsterdam.) And in this respect I wasn't disappointed - the sense of displacement and isolation in both "homes" paints a picture of internal melancholy more than any external place. The narrator draws parallels from banal everyday activities (coffe-to-go) to oddly surreal events (unlikely fowl) as she bounces between real life and scripted introspection. But because the sound recordings are so rough, there is no real difference between the sound of the two cities. I'd like to think this was part of the concept, but if so it's too distracting to be effective. What the piece lacks in recording technique is almost compensated by the writing which is the best part of the story - intelligent and insightful. But it doesn't quite hold the fabric of the whole together for radio.
Steve Yasko
Posted on February 10, 2005 at 04:36 AM | Permalink
Sorry, It's not about Cities
Before you read farther, you should know I think my job as a reviewer is to be a program director’s advocate—not a cheerleader for the producer. With that warning…Dive in….
The title of this piece is deceptive. It is not a tale of two cities. It is a piece of personal therapy. The producer simply turns on the mic, records (very badly by the way) some experiences and then proceeds to bore us with a depressing, torturous nearly 30 minuets full of personal information we don’t want to know.
First the techincal: Two Words—Wind Sock! The recording and mixing are below acceptable standards for a radio station. Sorry to be harsh, but I just can’t say it any softer. Much of the recording is down out doors and the wind in both San Francisco and New York is a starring cast member.
Now onto the content and story telling skills. I am not sure what the story is in this piece. Sure, the producer claims it be a discussion on the emotional state of chaning home towns. About half way through the piece I blurted out (quite unexpectedly) “Tell it to your Therapist Not My Listeners.” I got a strange look from the woman on the treadmill next to me. Radio is supposed to uplift, provide insight and entertain. Unfortunetly, this piece is a depressing and self indulgent and way too long. This is hard to say because it’s a diary piece, but I would find it hard to say I would want to spend time hearing this story over cocktails. Since most radio is done in the car, where cocktails are not available, the only outcome is a station switch.
Ok, how could this piece be made better? EDIT EDIT EDIT. That requires a producer to think about what the listener needs and wants to know and to objectively decide what to put in and what to leave out. The problem here is EVERYTHING is in here with no prioritization—Listeners don’t need to hear an elongated exchange about not being able to find a specific NYC subway brochure for example. The use of the word Piss in the opening is a turn off. If this were a comparision about the two cities, there should have been a corresponding section on BART. There are several transitional pieces that are adaquetly written that if strung together would have yeilded an acceptable three minute piece.
With deepest appologies to the producer, this piece is not ready for air.