Interview with Garrett Vandenburg

1. What is it like doing the Ceiling Fan?

Well, it's really been a huge kick-starter on my life to get going on making stuff. Before The Ceiling Fan, I hadn't really worked on a lot of media, but because I started working on the show, I learned how to do so many things by necessity. I've now begun to be able to use those skills on other projects and they've been opening up a lot of doors in my life to do lots of new things.  Working on the show has been really great, and I consider it one of the best things to happen to me. I've met so many great people through the show, and have made some incredible friends. From a listening standpoint, it has taken away a little of the fun though. I can't enjoy the episodes the same way as I could before when they're released, because I'm generally too busy listening for mistakes and thinking of what we could have done better. We're constantly trying to improve the show, and we hope that the as we continue to do so, the fans can continue enjoy the show more and more.

2. What's your favourite episode that you wrote?

I actually haven't written that many episodes, but my favorite episode to write so far, was the one I wrote with Kevin recently "A Day in the Life of Phil Jinkus". I feel like it was a really funny episode, and because it was a story inside of another story, it gave us a lot of leeway to have a some fun with the plot. We did some really crazy stuff, and I got to play a new character! I also had a lot of fun writing the first episode of the Intern Aaron series. Originally, me and Loren were going to write the whole thing ourselves, but in the end, Kevin wanted to take it a little bit of a different direction, so me and him re-wrote a bunch of it. 3. What is the most fun part, easy part, and hard part of doing the Ceiling Fan?

I really love writing music for the show, and that can often be the hardest part too. Sometimes I get an idea for a song, or a background score, and I can spend hours trying to figure out what it needs to make it sound complete and actually work for the show. Sometimes I just have to trash the whole thing and start from scratch again. The easiest part it probably editing tracks. I never really found it to be a very hard job. It takes a lot of time, but it's not too hard once you know what you're doing. Or maybe I'm wrong, and I don't know what I'm doing at all, so I think i'ts easier than it is. haha.

4. Do you listen to any AIO fan podcasts or read any AIO fan blogs?

I used to follow the fan casts a little more closely than I do now, but that's only because I've gotten so much more busy recently. The WOD-FAM-OD-POD sounds pretty awesome though from what I've heard of it. The main blog I really like to read other than the Scoop is "The Changing Times". I love that guy's stuff.  He's always got the greatest articles.

5. Do you have any tips for podcasters?

I guess something for podcasters to keep in mind is that podcasts are supposed to be fun. Never let it become a chore to you. If you're just making stuff because you "have to", then you should take a break. You're not going to end up with a good podcast unless you're doing something you're actually passionate about. Sure, sometimes you need to just push through and get stuff done even when you're bored of working on it, but never let it come to the point where you don't like what you're doing anymore. If you're not enjoying yourself, your fans won't likely be enjoying themselves either.

6. Can you give us any top secret info about upcoming ceiling fan episodes?

I can tell you that the next episode (our "live" episode) will feature renegade Nathan Hoobler robots that have taken over the world under the rule of their evil leader Regis Blackbeard.

7. What was it like meeting up with Kevin McCreary to see the AIO Live Show?

It was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Kevin and I have been really close friends ever since we started working on the show together, so it was awesome to actually be able to hang out with him for a while. The fans were simply amazing. It felt so great to actually have people wanting to talk to me about the Ceiling Fan and the ScoopCast. I even got to give out a few autographs! It was fun fooling people into thinking I was famous enough to give them an autograph. Little do they know, I'm just a silly preachers kid! I'm not kidding though, we seriously have the best fans ever!  I also had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of the members from the Odyssey crew, and they were all really nice. I met up with Kimmy Robertson, who I already knew from out interview. It was really great to actually talk to her in real life. She's such a fun person! I only got to talk to Nathan a little bit, but I've concluded that he's the nicest person on the planet. I also got to meet Jonathan Crowe and his wife, who were really awesome too!  Man, there were so many great memories from that show... I can't wait to do something like that again. Well thank you for doing this interview, Garrett.  That's all folks.

Adventures in Connelsville instalment 7 preview

Here  is a preview of instalment 7 of Alex Jefferson's AIC:

Over the next couple of weeks, Maxwell spent a lot of time with Cameron Brooks, Brian Brooks, and, of course, Ed Washington. He grew to love Cameron as his own little brother, and Brian seemed to trust him more as well. He even told him about a phone call he made to his brother Hank. Ed Washington continued to counsel Maxwell on everything from The Brothers to Christianity to girls. He seemed to know a lot, and he could relate to kids like no adult Maxwell had ever met. He even acted like a kid himself sometimes.  Maxwell also spent more and more time at Whit’s End Connellsville and the Mulligan’s house than his own house, where he only had a hermit of a grandfather. One day, Maxwell was at band practice with Tony and Nick, discussing their band and other things. “How are we supposed to get a gig?” asked Tony. For the past 10 minutes, the band had been discussing gig options. “You know, Ed Washington’s son Marvin had a garage band that I heard about a while back,” said Nick. “He got a gig at a birthday party.” “Do you know anyone who’s having a birthday?” asked Maxwell. “Well, me,” Nick replied. “In just a couple of weeks, I’ll be 17! We could have a special concert in honor of me, Nick Mulligan, the hero of Connellsville. We could invite like - all of Connellsville. I’m sure the mindless city folk would come out to celebrate the most masculine teenager in town’s birthday, wouldn’t they?” Maxwell stared at Nick blankly, while Tony coughed sarcastically.

AIO Devotional Back Cover Revealed

The back cover for the new AIO devotional has been revealed.  Here is a picture:

YAY!

My new Jason and Mitch is out.  And congratulations to Freddie Jay for posting the 50th comment.  Freddie, your name has been mentioned in the latest instalment of Jason and Mitch.  Oh and congratulations to suzylou for posting such an in-depth review.

Episode Review: More Like Alicia

More Like Alicia: Through Thick and Thin 30#

 I stumbled across this episode again the other day whilst browsing through some older albums from (as The Old Judge likes to say-) "The Herlinger Era". Of course, I had to give it another listening since I hadn't listened to it in quite a long while. And now I've decided maybe I'd do a review...

  While More Like Alicia is definitely not one of what I would consider one of Marshal Younger's better writings- but it is still a good, wholesome episode. Hitting soundly and simply on the subject that nearly every being struggles with, at least in one point of life or another- Satisfaction With Who You Are; Choosing Good Influences 

  Heather finds herself lab partners with Alicia, the most popular girl in the school. Alicia is confident, sure of herself- always the center of attention. And, as Heather said when talking to Mr. Whittaker::

   "The newspaper staff did a poll a few weeks ago. Alicia won the awards for prettiest, most intelligent, most athletic and most likely to ride in a parade float."

   Seeking Alicia's friendship- Heather watches her every move and action- hoping to become more like her...even risking her relationship with Julie, her best friend, to become more like Alicia. But sometimes we discover that the people we find ourselves admiring and desiring to be like...aren't always quite what we want for ourselves afterall. Heather learns this after having the opportunity to be Alicia for an entire evening!

  Overall- I thoroughly enjoyed this episode...as I can somewhat relate it to my life at times.
 Anyways, in rating- I'll give this episode 3/5. As a side note, I must add that I was rather impressed with the actress portraying Alicia...she did a fabulous job at capturing the attitude and snobbish air of the character. The monotone voice of the biology teacher I found rather irritating though.  The episode seemed a little more childish, but could be focused to any age, really.

Hope you enjoyed my rather quick review- if you haven't listened to this episode yet- then go do so...and if you have, then please- share your thoughts.


Suzy-Lou♥

One more to go....

I've got 49 comments.  One more to go until 50.  You are all making this blog a huge success.  Whoever makes the 50th comment...well...lets just say I have something special in store for them.

Album 56 out for download

Album 56 is available for download.

http://family.christianbook.com/Christi ... vent=ESRCG

The names of the episodes are

The Perfect Church I The Perfect Church II Great Expectations For Three Dollars More The Bible Network Happy Hunting The Holy Hoopster The Lost Riddle Groundhog Jay Home Again I Home Again II Push the Red Button