Ira Glass (This American Life)
Jad Abumrad (Radiolab)
Kaitlin Prest (The Heart/ Mermaid Palace) 
Aaron Mahnke (Lore)
Sean Rameswaram (Today, Explained / Vox)
Glynn Washington (Snap Judgement)
Amanda Lund (The Complete Woman, Earios)
Avery Trufelman (99pi, Articles of Interest)
Roman Mars (Radiotopia /99% Invisible)
Al Letson (Reveal)
Fred Armisen (SNL, Portlandia)
Paul F. Tompkins (Bojack Horseman)
Scott Aukerman (Comedy Bang Bang) 
Rob Rosenthal (Transom.org, Sound School Podcast)
Emmanuel Dzotsi (This American Life, Serial, Reply All)
CC Paschal (Louder than a Riot, Uncivil)
Kevin Smith (Smodcast/ Famous Director Dude)
Scott Mosier (Smodcast)
Stephanie Foo (This American Life/Snap Judgment)
Phoebe Lett (New York Times Contributor)
Jake Shapiro (PRX)
Matt Gourley (Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend Podcast)
Hernan Lopez (Wondery)
Shereen Lani Younes (Ethnically Ambiguous)
Jesse Thorn (BullsEye / Maximum Fun) 
Adam Curry (The Podfather) 
Kara Swisher (Pivot, On, Code Conference)
Ben Hammersley (Futurist, Tech Reporter)
Skye Pillsbury (The Squeeze)
JT Green (Molten Heart)
Tom Webster (Sounds Profitable, Frm. Edison Research)
+ More!

The revival of audio entertainment in the mid 2010s may have seemed stratospheric. One day, video was killing the radio star. And the next, podcasts like Serial and Lore are being heard by tens of millions of people around the world. Over 4 million podcasts and a couple hundred million dollar acquisitions later, podcasting has ballooned into a 2 billion dollar industry in the US alone,  But in a moment when many feel that the peak of audio glory has passed, AGE OF AUDIO pulls the brakes and examines the story of narrative podcasts within the greater scheme of audio storytelling; from its humble indie-radio beginnings to its post-Spotification present.

 

With interviews from renowned leaders in the industry (Ira Glass, Glynn Washington, Julie Snyder, Roman Mars, JT Green, and more), questions sit at the heart of the film: What happens to art when commerce takes the lead? Which stories get told? What gets better and what is left behind? And who is left standing in the end? 

Age of Audio offers a profound investigation into the industry’s evolution, distribution models, and impact on communities: It sheds light on podcasting’s storytelling, creativity, technological advancements, scalability, and advertising strategies. By examining the delicate balance between art, commerce, and technology, the film provides a thorough look at the podcasting landscape, while also exploring its future prospects.

In our exploration of the podcast industry’s coming of age, we’ve had some remarkable experiences. A standout moment was interviewing Roman Mars, an influential figure in podcasting. He was one of the first to agree to participate in our documentary. Our first interview with him captured his insights while he was still the independent head of Radiotopia, a major player in the independent podcasting world.

Then, just two days after Mars announced the sale of his podcast to XM, a significant corporate entity, we interviewed him again! His story and shift from independence to corporate ownership vividly illustrates the industry’s evolution and growth, themes central to our documentary. These interviews with Mars, alongside other key figures, offer a unique window into the transforming nature of podcasting.

 We are telling the story of audio in three acts: the nimble beginnings, the dizzying rise, and the possible future!

 

Ronald Young Jr: 

Through the perspective of independent podcast producer Ronald Young Jr, we see the ins and outs, the triumphs and challenges of making an independent,  highly produced, narrative, and serialized audio story. 

BIO: Via On Air Fest 

The Virginia-based creator, producer, and podcaster radiates an easy charm and innate passion for everything pop-culture, leaving no doubt that Ronald has a finely-tuned finger (and ear) on the pulse of podcasting. 

It’s the reason just about everyone in the industry is clamoring to work with him: Pushkin and Pineapple Street have tapped him to host hits like Solvable and HBO Docs, he’s produced VPM’s powerful Seizing Freedom, served as a long-standing panelist of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, and even had a delightful turn as a storyteller on Peacock’s ‘True Story with Ed & Randall’. And don’t forget his own 2022 breakout review pod Leaving the Theater.  

And it’s also the reason that Vulture named him one of their Four Podcasters to Watch in 2023. 

Do You Have a Podcast?

Download THIS AUDIO TRAILER for the film that you can include in your podcast or on your feed.  Podcasts that include our audio trailer will have a special place in the end credits
**30s Audio Trailer – Coming VERY Soon! 

Referral Link Program

We’re introducing a Referral Link Program through our Indiegogo campaign. This is specifically for indie podcasts, and it’s a chance to engage more with our project.

The Indiegogo platform allows us to create referrals and track them via a Referral Link. More info on how that works HERE

Here’s the plan:
– You’ll copy your referral link to share.
– We’re tracking these referrals and the top contributors will receive special inclusion. 
   1. The top referrer gets to be interviewed and will have their podcast featured in the documentary (both name and audio).
   2. The second place gets their podcast’s name and an audio snippet featured.
   3. Third place will see their podcast’s name appear on-screen.
 ** If you refer even one person to our campaign, we’ll give you an extra special mention in the film’s credits.

 

 50% of Americans aged 12-33 and 43% of Americans aged 34-54 were monthly podcast listeners in 2022. We expect that many will want to hear from the people who make them and get a little peek behind the mic!

 

We got a grant from the Austin Film Society!

Honored and Humbled to be a 2023 recipient of the Austin Film Society “North Texas Pioneer Award” Film Grant.

How it Started

How it’s going

Early Seed Money from XTR

In the early days of ‘Age of Audio,’ the project relied heavily on personal funds and credit cards. This period was marked by a significant shift when our executive producer, Geoff Clark, secured crucial seed funding from XTR, a Los Angeles-based company specializing in documentaries. This seed money was pivotal, allowing us to conduct 30 interviews and hire an editing assistant to organize the footage. More than just providing the financial means to kickstart our project, XTR’s support has been integral, offering consistent support throughout the filmmaking process.

 

In 2018, our filming journey began with the collection of b-roll footage and establishing connections with folks we wanted to hear from. In 2019, after securing seed funding from XTR, we conducted the majority of our interviews, resulting in over 40 interviews and b-roll footage filmed in 10 cities. Additionally, we began researching archival media to enrich the storytelling. Moving forward, our goals involve refining the existing footage and incorporating more interviews that bring the story into the current moment. Our aim is to establish relationships and record interviews with folks across the narrative audio landscape who can shine a light on what a future in podcasting could look like.

 

Featuring Music by Breakmaster Cylinder

Breakmaster Cylinder, also known as The Mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder or by the initials BmC, is a musical composer and producer who has provided title themes and background music for a number of radio shows and podcasts, principally with Gimlet Media’s Reply All. Known for their pseudonymity, Breakmaster Cylinder does not make public appearances and has employed stand-ins for interviews, photographs, and other media appearances.

BMC Website: breakmastercylinder.com

BMC Bandcamp: breakmastercylinder.bandcamp.com

 

We need $56,000 to complete the film. With these funds, we will be able to finalize our third act, conduct follow-up interviews film additional b-roll, finish editing, and cover post-production essentials such as graphics, sound design, mixing, and final color grading. 

Our crowdfunding goal is set at $56,000. This amount not only covers the fees associated with using Indiegogo but also ensures we can meet all production and post-production expenses, 

Your contribution will play a pivotal role in bringing this insightful documentary about the podcast industry to fruition.

Art Poster Designed by Missfelidae Illustration – missfelidae.com

 

AGE OF AUDIO: THE FILM: THE PODCAST
available on all podcast platforms – COMING SOON!

• Listen to Audio Trailers
• BTS Interviews with the crew, partners & some participants 

 

Shaun Michael Colón – Director/Producer
Shaun is an American filmmaker, writer, and producer, best known for his documentary film A Fat Wreck, which chronicles the history and impact of the punk rock record label Fat Wreck Chords. He is known for his passion for audio, his prioritization of collaboration, community, social awareness, and inclusivity in art, and his efforts to document, promote, and support art & culture through his work.

Joel Herrera – Cinematographer
Joel is a Cinematographer, Photographer, and an Award-Winning Screenwriter who works with [open-ended] Films producing documentaries, music videos, and narrative film content. Joel is a proud father and a horror movie enthusiast. When he’s not filmmaking, you’ll find him sitting behind a set of drums or playing Nintendo. Joel has directed, produced, and filmed/photographed for numerous clients such as Netflix, The CW, The Dallas Cowboys, and numerous notable music acts worldwide. Joel is a Full Sail University Alumni.

Geoff Clark – Executive Producer
Geoff Clark, Founder and CEO of acTVe, is a veteran in media and entertainment for two decades, as a Distribution Executive, FAST Channel pioneer, film and TV producer. With a career spanning over 20 years, he has played key roles in producing, distributing, and representing sales for hundreds of feature films and TV series. Producer credits include Hulu sci-fi film 2067, the blockchain documentary Trust Machine, the acclaimed surf documentary And Two If By Sea and Netflix’s first social action film Isolated. 

CC Paschal – Consulting Producer
CC Paschal (she/they) is an award-winning audio journalist who creates audio stories about art, culture, and politics. They currently head editorial development at Molten Heart and was previously a visiting professor at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at Maine College of Art & Design. Before that, they were a series editor on History of Marvel: Black Panther podcast, as well as NPR’s critically acclaimed narrative series Louder Than a Riot, Invisibilia, and the award-winning independent show The Heart, among many others. In 2017, she was a lead producer on Gimlet Media’s Peabody Award–winning production Uncivil. Paschal is currently at work on their forthcoming book, Audiocraft: The Art and Business of Making Podcasts That Mean Something (Routledge, 2022)

Amy Grumbling – Co-Editor/Story Editor

Amy (she/her) is an award-winning, Maine-born, Brooklyn-based freelance filmmaker with nearly two decades of experience. Her work explores the intersections of art, science, nature, identity, and memory. She co-produced the acclaimed documentary Heaven + Earth + Joe Davis. Amy is passionate about improving access to media production and supporting emerging and indie media makers. She’s taught filmmaking from Maine to NYC and previously directed Continuing Media Education at DCTV. Her work has screened at international festivals. She is developing her first audio documentary limited series, in which she uses her experiences as a beekeeper in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery. For this, she was selected for a Hewnoaks Artist Residency in 2022, where she met fellow artist and AoA producer CC Paschal in person for the first time!

Ellen Horne – Story Editor/Producer
Ellen Horne is the director of NYU’s Podcasting and Audio Reportage program. In 2003, after meeting Jad Abumrad at a conference, she started volunteering at WNYC. A dozen years later, after rising from intern to executive producer of Radiolab, she was lured to Audible to launch Audible Originals, an experience that radicalized her into becoming a journalism professor. In addition to producing podcasts, she develops and directs live theatrical performances and has recently begun making audio installations. In 2020, she produced and hosted Jigsaw Production’s Lies We Tell, on Luminary, and in 2023, she produced Admissible, an investigative series about forensic evidence. When she heard about this movie she could not not be involved. 

 

Want to help out? – Fill out THIS form 
Have a podcast and want to be involved? – Fill out THIS form 
Celebrity or Agent?– Fill out THIS form
Press Inquiries or Podcast Guest requests? –  (Coming soon)
Sponsorship Opportunities? –  (Coming Soon)

Web – aoamovie.com
Twitter: twitter.com/aoamovie
TikTok: tiktok.com/@aoamovie
Instagram: instagram.com/aoamovie
Threads: threads.net/@openendedfilms

 

Risks & Challenges

The biggest challenge we face is completing the final third of our documentary. As has been widely reported, the podcast industry is in flux. We want to ensure we interview the people who can best reflect what the future of the industry may look like. 

We have maintained close relationships with independent artists and leaders in the industry. This will allow us to ensure that our film includes their voices.

 

Other Ways You Can Help

Aside from contributing financially, please share this campaign widely and share our film with anyone you know who loves audio storytelling. 

Twitter: twitter.com/aoamovie
TikTok: tiktok.com/@aoamovie
Instagram: instagram.com/aoamovie
Threads: threads.net/@openendedfilms