My final Evaluation for my FMP.

1. FMP
Evaluation
Benjamin Birney

2. Production
Process
Evaluation

3. Research
• One of the best strengths I had for my research was the results from my survey about the audio stories
on what and how my audience wanted the podcasts to be presented, from how long the story lasts, to
how should the story be told and if episode should end on a cliff hanger.
• I tuck all of these into consideration while writing the scripts, like from how the story was told, I had it
so the story was told from one the characters point of view, I also made the stories around 5 – 7 minutes
long and I finally ended the stories on cliff-hanger in order to keep my audience hooked with the
podcasts.
• When it came to researching the right material for the stories, there were some websites that blocked
me from getting the information that I required of there were some sites that didn’t have any descent
information I could use in my story, find the correct information was a little hazy.
• I could have listened to all of the existing similar products that I had acquired during my research, so I
could have gotten a better idea of how the stories were structed from the sound effects, soundtrack and
the voice actors and see if I could mimic that kind of style.
• I also conducted some interviews so I could get some thoughts from my audiences point of view on
what they thought about the idea of my audio stories, from what they liked about the stories, to
whether or not they were familiar with the style of noir and if they wanted authentic sounds from the
noir area or just present sound effects.
• If I had listened to the full audio stories of the other existing products I would’ve have know how to
properly structure my podcasts while also making me and my voice actors sound like they belong the
proper timeline of events of a noir detective stories.

4. Planning
• One of my strengths was that I had a good idea right away what exact product I wanted to make which
of course was the audio crime stories, thanks to positive feedback from my audience from pervious
audio work, as well as the detailed mind map I had made which goes into every angle of what, how and
where the stories would take place.
• Thanks to detailed mind map I was able to focus on what specific assets I wanted to add into my
podcasts, from the content, gerne, resources and my audience themselves. Before I made a start on the
scripts for the stories, I first made a start on planning what kind of sound effects, soundtrack and voice
actors would go into making the podcasts, all thanks to my phone and two specific websites, all
strengths worked well for my production while I was still thinking it through.
• One weakness in my planning was trying to find specific sound effects I could use in my stories, one
example would be trying to find a sound that was about clearing rubble that didn’t require a different
sound effect that wasn’t heavily edited, that also I could download for free that didn’t require a log in
sequence to various sound effect websites.
• A few things I could’ve improved would have been a better location and better audio equipment and
quality, for example most of the locations where I recorded tuck place in either quiet rooms meant for
either music, fashion and animation which didn’t have walls that could block out sounds, as for my
recordings some of the voice lines I got were either too far away or too close to my phone, so I could’ve
either got an actual recording room or better recording equipment.
• If I had access to better recording equipment, a sound studio and better assets, my products would’ve
had a more professional feeling to it.

5. Time Management
• Despite the fact that we had two weeks off for the easter holidays, I would say I managed
my time wisely, from making a Scheduled plan to follow, to making the scripts for the my
podcasts. Though out all the research, planning and experiments I was able to stick to the
allotted time provided in my schedule.
• Though I didn’t have enough time to fully complete my podcasts, because I had originally
planned on working on a part 3 which would have been the ending of my audio crime
story, but because I was given less time to work on this and the fact that Premiere Pro
required money and the college Wi-Fi to operate I couldn’t work on it from home so I was
restricted to college and the time I was allotted. So my end results was making part 1 and 2
of the stories and uploading it.
• If I had more allotted time for my FMP, I would’ve finished making the final script for part
3, as well as acquiring the necessary sound effects, music and voice lines from my actors.
• I came to the conclusion that I would rather have two clear and precise detective stories, as
apposed to 2 hastily rushed stories so I would have time to begin production on the third
and finale story.

6. Technical Qualities
Similarities Differences
https://podcasts.apple.com/
us/podcast/runoff-chapter-1-
the-midnight-ride-of-john-
deere
Both images give off a
noire styled detective
story.
Both stories have clever
titles.
Branded For Error has around
6 voice actors, while
Riordan’s Desk is told by one
narrator.
Both podcasts have good
pacing, Whitty humour
and great character
development.
Both podcast are set in
different time periods, my
stories are told in the
1940s, while the other
crime audio is told in the
present, Despite the images
telling another story.
My audio story has actual sound
effects, while the other product
has the narrator just say the sound
effects.
My crime stories last around 5-7
minutes, while the other
product can last from 16
minutes to half an hour.

7. Aural Qualities
In the beginnings the scenes
are set with good narration
and well chosen music. The
soundtrack has a mysterious
noir vibe so it can go along
with gerne of the story.
The ending scenes are well
made, accompanied by fitting
music, good dialogue and a
great narration that will leave
everyone in suspense.
In the second story when the
characters are talking about
the person on the autopsy
table, they give a well
detailed and researched
medical overview to give the
story a more realistic feeling.
When it came to recording the voice
lines, some of the recordings either
sounded too far away or too close to
the microphone, also some records
had unintended sound place in them,
from breaths to small thuds.
Throughout the two episodes, the
authentic voice of the main
character, the well chosen sound
effects, and the smooth jazz music
helped to create a realistic noir
crime atmosphere.
Thanks to the sounds of sirens,
explosions, weapons and the
screaming created a horrific image
of the horrors of war.

8. Audience Appeal
Thanks to the input from my
survey, my audience showed a
preference for the 1st person
point of view, so the listeners
would be along for the ride.
The results for one of the
survey questions were split 50-
50 for what the audience
wanted more of, either
interrogation or investigations,
so I gave my audiences both of
the two so my audience
wouldn’t be disappointed.
Thanks to the answers from the
survey, I was able to work in two cliff-
hanger endings, I had originally
planned to have episode 3 be a true
ending but I didn’t have enough time.
Staying true to my audiences
replies, I made the two episode
run from either 5 minutes or 7
minutes.
Thanks to the run time of some
of the episodes, I was able to go
for a higher number of characters
as apposed to the 50-50 replies
from the survey about how many
characters there should be.

9. Peer Feedback

10. Feedback 1 – Linda – Female – Aged
over 60
• What did you like about the product?
– What did you like about this product? The confident quizzical voice of the main character is central
and gives continuity to each episode. The sound effects and music compliment the genre of the
story and add to the atmosphere throughout. The well researched boiler details and medical
details give the story authenticity. The story develops well throughout both episodes and the cliff
hangers at the end leave the listener wanting more.
• What improvements could have been made to
the product?
– What improvements could have been made to the product? More American
accents would have helped place the action firmly in Chicago. Better
recording equipment could have helped with the quality of the recorded
voices.

11. Feedback 2 – Sam – Male – Aged 18
• What did you like about the product?
– I like the music and sound effects for this story, I like how you've
added so many characters, it makes the story more interesting. I also
like how you've ended it on a cliff hanger.
• What improvements could have been made to
the product?
– What you could improve on is by extending the run time of the 2nd
part of your story and add a bit more sound effects.

12. Feedback 3 – Harrison – Male – Aged
18
• What did you like about the product?
– I really enjoyed/loved this project you have made, how you uses
these sound effects to make such effective transitions is so amazing
not even I could think how you did that!
• What improvements could have been made to
the product?
– There was a phew times where the voice acting was a bit weird but
to be fair who cares about that? (which funny enough it was the
times when you heard me) I think the sound effects and the tone of
everything is way more important and you honestly have shocked
me how good this was.

13. Peer Feedback Summary
• What do you agree with from your peer feedback?
– I agree with the improvement I could have made about acquired some voice actors with good
American accents for my stories, but I had to work with the voice actors that I had which consisted
of my classmates, I also should’ve given time for them to study their lines so they would feel
confutable speaking their lines without any long pauses, sudden noises and stuttering during line
delivery.
– I also agree with the improvement I could’ve made about extending the story with a additional
story to finish over the detective saga, but because of the time limit I had and the fact that I
couldn’t do any work from home because I needed the college WIFI in order to do the work.
• What do you disagree with from your peer feedback?
– I disagree with the the fact I could have gotten my own record sound effects, because getting the
exact sound effects would have taken far too long, so I opted to download some sound effects to
same on time and space for my phone so I could get my voice lines.
– I disagree with the fact I could’ve added more sound effects to the stories, because If I added too
many sounds the audience wouldn’t be able to understand or make out what is going on in the
story unless they were told what happened which doesn’t make good story telling, the saying is
show don’t tell.

14. Peer Feedback Summary
The changes I would make if I were to do this whole project
again would be these:
• Start early on Making the scripts for the stories, so my voice actors
can study their lines and get confutable saying them without any
form of problems or hiccups.
• Make sure to acquire better recording equipment for when it comes
to recording voice lines or sound effects, instead of my phone for
recording voice lines and sound effects I should get a microphone, or
something specifically made for recording like an actual recorder.
• Next time get some better voice actors so they can give off a more
convincing American accents, the more accurate accents are, the
more authentic the stories will sound and feel.