Exploring Short Stories Anecdotes Musings On Radio

By Jose Baker


When it comes to short stories some can be fun to read while others can be more fun to listen to. The latter is the case when it comes to Selected Shorts, short stories anecdotes musings which can be found on a number of public broadcast stations in the United States. In fact, after 30 years on the air, it remains one of the most popular radio shows of its kind.

Selected Shorts, now in it's 30th year, is recorded live the Porter Street Theater at Symphony Space on Broadway and remains so popular that performances are often sold out well in advance. While the Selected Shorts is considered one of the premiere reading series in New York City, the podcasts also rates extremely popular on public radio and iTunes.

The diverse and unique themes of each week's show on which a work is based is mostly likely the reason for the show's ongoing popularity. For, the show most often has themes which tie into some aspect of life, love, religion or politics. In one of the most recent episodes, the reader is reading a story called "There Was Once, " during the episode, Margaret Atwood interrupts anytime there is questionable material, none of which is that politically incorrect.

Recent actors and professionals whom have read on the show in the past include Ellen Burstyn, Kathleen Turner, Claire Danes, Edie Falco, Michael Shannon, Maulik Pancholy, Zachary Quinto, Anika Noni Rose, Sigourney Weaver, Blythe Danner, Joan Allen, Holly Hunter, Maggie Gyllenhaal and BD Wong. Whether reading for the first time, or returning to read additional stories, performances are always different.

Individuals whom can get to New York and see the series being recorded live in person often have a great experience. Whereas, just having the ability to listen to different episodes of the show on a PBS station or App any time day or night can often be a blessing. For, public broadcasting is something that many people are fighting to keep available now and in the future.

While radio is a good outlet for this type of programming, so too are films. One college in particular hosts a student run film festival and contest each year. The college being, Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Not to suggest that there are not other colleges and universities which promote similar works, though to have a film accepted and shown at a local theater is often rare.

For individuals whom want a broader selection of outlets for showing such films, entering a short into one of the many film contests in the world can also be a great way to have a short film seen by as many people as possible. For, whether a short story or short film, all have a story to tell. As such, it is important to find the right audiences for those stories.

Whether listening to stories over the air waves, watching on film or involved in the creation of a film, individuals can often have an enjoyable and rewarding experience. If interested in listening to Selected Shorts, there is often a weekly broadcast in different areas. Whereas, if looking to watch pre-recorded shows, ON DEMAND listings can be found on the KERA and other public broadcasting network's websites.




About the Author: