Dracula read-aloud: official sign-up!

[mollyringle]

Okay! Comment here, with the number of participants from your household, if you'd like to be assigned a line or two from Dracula to read aloud for a little Halloween audio project. I'm thinking we'll be doing the log from the doomed ship that carries Dracula (and his boxes o' dirt) to England.

Sign-up will be open until next Monday, Oct. 11. Then I'll close the door, divvy up the excerpt, and hand out lines. You will record yourselves reading them aloud and email the file to me by, say, Oct. 24, one week prior to Halloween. (I think I can take just about any normal audio file, and will let you know if it doesn't work.) I'll piece them together in the right order, apply spooky background music (professional composer madbard has graciously allowed me to raid his stuff), and put it online for your listening chills in time for Halloween.

Once more, I highly encourage youngsters, oldsters, foreign speakers of English, and those with strong regional accents to apply, as well as all average folk. The more varied the mix of voices, the cooler the end product. It says, "Literature is a realm any person can enter freely, and appreciating it will therefore save the world and keep it safe for democracy." Or something like that. In any case, our project will say, "Halloween is fun!"

To listen to the previous projects, check out 2007's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" or 2008's "The Raven". We didn't do 2009. I had a young infant and stuff.

Edited to add: For those curious, the entire text of Dracula can be found here for free (and probably other places). Our section begins with "Log of the 'Demeter'" (the ship's name)--though whether we cover the whole thing or just the more exciting middle-to-end section of the log may depend on the number of participants.

Comments

[mikailborg.livejournal.com]

Sign me up, please! Love these projects. There will be another participant in my household: my lady friend Celia.

[astroman-rich.livejournal.com]

The four of us are ready!

[new-iconoclast.livejournal.com]

Count me in!

[avari-maethor.livejournal.com]

I could do this. It would just be me in my household.

Is the version just Dracula or is there another version I don't know about? If so, title/isbn #?

[hess42.livejournal.com]

Sounds awesome. I'm in! :)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Excellent!
Yep, just Stoker's regular ol' Dracula. For those curious, the whole thing can be found here for free (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/345/345-h/345-h.htm) (and probably other places). Our section begins with "Log of the 'Demeter'" (the ship's name)--though whether we cover the whole thing or just the more exciting middle-to-end section of the log may depend on the number of participants.

In fact, I think I'll edit the post to add that, in case people want to study up! :)

[faroula.livejournal.com]

I'll join. It sounds like fun.

[snorklewacker.livejournal.com]

Woohoo! I'm very much there; feel free to assign me lines as needed. :)

[kirstenfleur.livejournal.com]

And me!
How do you feel about 3 year old speakers of Australian English? If there's a short line, I could coach her. And it would be cool. :)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

That would be adorable! I haven't figured out the division of lines yet, but I'm sure we can find some way to give her a part. Zach helped me record the titles for "The Raven" when he wasn't even quite 3, so I know it's possible. :) I plan to recruit him again this year if he'll cooperate.

[gavinworld.livejournal.com]

Count me in!

[lalael.livejournal.com]

My Husband and I would love to participate. And I could probably manage to coach my almost-4-year-old through is as well so count us as 3. :-)

[joemorf.livejournal.com]

Sign me up!

~j

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your two lines...

1- And with a warning look and his finger on 
his lip, he went below. There was springing up a choppy 
wind, and I could not leave the helm.

2 - I saw him come out 
on deck again with a tool chest and lantern, and go down 
the forward hatchway. He is mad, stark, raving mad, and 
it's no use my trying to stop him.

Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines, in 4 parts...


1 - 2 August, midnight.--Woke up from few minutes sleep by hearing a 
cry, seemingly outside my port. Could see nothing in fog.

2 - Rushed 
on deck, and ran against mate. Tells me he heard cry and ran, but
 no sign of man on watch. One more gone. Lord, help us!

3 - 3 August.--At midnight I went to relieve the man at the
 wheel and when I got to it found no one there. The wind
 was steady, and as we ran before it there was no yawing.

4 - I
 dared not leave it, so shouted for the mate. After a few
 seconds, he rushed up on deck in his flannels.

(Yes, please include the dates.) Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - thanks so much!

[astroman-rich.livejournal.com]

Also, a bonus scream! ;-)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

I made sure you guys got a screaming section. :)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines:

So here I stay and mind
 the helm, and write these notes. I can only trust in God 
and wait till the fog clears. ...It is nearly all over now.

Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines:

30 July.-- Awakened by 
mate telling me that both man of watch and steersman missing.
 Only self and mate and two hands left to work ship.

(Yes, please do include the date--ship's log and all.)

Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines:

Just as I was beginning to hope 
that the mate would come out calmer, for I heard him
 knocking away at something in the hold, and work is good 
for him, there came up the hatchway a sudden, startled 
scream, which made my blood run cold...

Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines:

...and up on the deck he
 came as if shot from a gun, a raging madman, with his eyes 
rolling and his face convulsed with fear. "Save me! Save
 me!" he cried, and then looked round on the blanket of fog.


Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines:

His horror turned to despair, and in a steady voice he 
said, "You had better come too, captain, before it is too
 late. He is there! I know the secret now."

Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines:

"The sea will
 save me from Him, and it is all that is left!" Before I
 could say a word, or move forward to seize him, he sprang 
on the bulwark and deliberately threw himself into the sea.

Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines:

I suppose I know the secret too, now. It was this madman
 who had got rid of the men one by one, and now he has
 followed them himself.

(I figure your littl'un could do the first sentence.)
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines:

God help me! How am I to account 
for all these horrors when I get to port? When I get to
 port! Will that ever be?

Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24. Thanks so much!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Your lines in 3 parts:

1 - Still fog, which the sunrise cannot pierce, I
 know there is sunrise because I am a sailor, why else I
 know not.

2 - I dared not go below, I dared not leave the 
helm, so here all night I stayed, and in the dimness of the
 night I saw it, Him!

3 - God, forgive me, but the mate was
 right to jump overboard. It was better to die like a man. 
To die like a sailor in blue water, no man can object.

(If one of those in full is too much for the kiddo, just have him/her do a little part and take over the rest yourselves.)

Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net

Thanks so much!

[gavinworld.livejournal.com]

I've just sent you the file.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

This is your reminder nibble--please send in lines soon! Thanks!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

This is your reminder nibble--please send in lines soon! Thanks!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

This is your reminder nibble--please send in lines soon! Thanks!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

This is your reminder nibble--please send in lines soon! Thanks!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

This is your reminder nibble--please send in lines soon! Thanks!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

This is your reminder nibble--please send in lines soon! Thanks!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

This is your reminder nibble--please send in lines soon! Thanks!

[joemorf.livejournal.com]

Converting it to an mp3 as we speak!

~j