Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 11/17/23

The sound of Christmas future? So, last night I listened to the half-hour first part of Hope Media Group‘s four-episode audio adaptation of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol based on Charles Dickens‘ classic story first published in 1843. All four episodes are available now via Google, Apple and Spotify or anywhere that podcasts are found.

IMHO: The captivating production breathes fresh new life into a story that is deemed a classic for good reason and has been brought to screens big and small numerous times (so no need for a synopsis here). Indeed, part of the reason it works so brilliantly is precisely because the only screen involved is the one playing in the listener’s own mind. Add to the that superb production values and audio direction, a crisp script by P.G. Cuschieri and stellar performances by a cast led by Sean Astin as Scrooge and featuring John Rhys-Davies as the story’s narrator and even the most cynical among us are likely to feel the stirrings of the Christmas spirit. I also think the presentation adds a refreshingly hopeful and even joyful tone to the emerging scripted audio podcast marketplace that – like it’s visual film, TV and streaming counterparts – is, unfortunately, dominated by edgy and depressing fare at a time when audiences are thirsting more than ever for uplifting storytelling that offer steadfast values and optimism about human redemptionand the future. The Bottom Line: A Highly-Recommended way for the whole family to usher in the holiday season.

Before listening to the podcast, I spoke with Hope Media Group President and CEO Joe Paolo and Mark Ramsey, the noted podcast producer and audio brand strategist who created and directed the project.
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JWK: How did the idea of doing A Christmas Carol as a scripted audio podcast come about?

Mark Ramsey: I’ll start. The idea of doing this as a podcast came about because I had never heard it done as a scripted dramatic podcast. It’s been in audio for years in a variety of different forms including (recordings of) stage productions and narrative readings. Dickens himself made a business out of going town-to-town doing dramatic readings of his own novella but I had never heard it done like a movie with sound. I approached Joe because I thought that something else I had never heard done was I had never heard it done with the inherent kind of faith-driven themes brought to the surface. I thought what if we could take A Christmas Carol and really bring out those themes more clearly to make them resonate, to make them live anew for a new generation of listeners? That was the original attraction for me.

Joe Paolo: And I would add that Mark’s vision matched our vision. The story obviously has an incredibly strong ring of familiarity to it but we were able to do it in such a fresh way. We know that audio is such a powerful way to connect with people. When you look at the statistics, almost two-thirds of Americans have listened to podcasts. Fifty percent of Gen Z listens to podcasts. So, it’s an incredibly powerful way to communicate. What better platform than that to share this amazing story in a fresh way that’s never really been done before?

JWK: Would you say this is actually more faithful to the original book than some of the film adaptations?

MR: I would say that absolutely! Absolutely! In fact, unambiguously I would say that! I read the novella. I’ve seen every film version there is. While those themes are all built into the story, we’re being much more faithful to them in a way that I think translates to people. We’re flagging them a little bit more clearly and I think we’re making them resonate a little more deeply.

JWK: You’ve seen them all. Do you have a favorite?

MR: Yes, absolutely. For me it’s the 1951 Alastair Sim version, the version I grew up watching when I was a kid. Public Television always ran it because somehow the copyright had expired so they ran it back and forth – Alastair Sim followed by It’s a Wonderful Life and back again all day long at Christmas.

JWK: My favorite was always the Mr. Magoo version.

MR: I’ve heard a lot of people say that, that and the Muppet movie.

JWK: How did Compassion International become involved in this?

JP: We partnered with Compassion because they have a similar vision for this kind of content. So, they really came alongside us in a major sponsorship way – but, even more importantly, it’s a perfect match. One of the primary elements that we’ve highlighted in the podcast is compassion. So, you can’t get a better match than to partner up with Compassion International. We’ve been grateful for that. We’ve also included a couple of bonus episodes that highlight the work of Compassion that’s consistent with the story of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol.

JWK: Obviously, this story goes back a long way. 1843 it was first published. Why do you think it resonates so much through so many generations?

JP: I believe it resonates with people so much because it is a vivid depiction of the story of mankind. Every single human being on the face of this Earth who has ever lived and who lives currently is on their own path of what they have been, what they can become and what is going to be the catalyst to change that. So, you see that depicted in Scrooge’s life. The first episode show’s the kind of man that he is but then he goes through this transformation process. I think seeing him transformed into something wonderful, something beautiful and someone who has experienced forgiveness and redemption gives everyone who listens to this hope.

MR: Yeah. This is a story of a flawed person touched by the lessons of Christ, who changes and becomes better. That’s an arc we can all relate to. It’s a story we can all see ourselves reflected in. It’s a destination we all aspire to.

JWK: What do you think doing this story as an audio drama brings to it that’s unique?

MR: Well, this particular audio version is more cinematic than any other audio version I think you’ll hear that I’m aware of. That’s intended to allow people’s imaginations to roam freely. I think if you talk to psychological experts they’ll tell that much more is communicated through sound than pictures. The power of sound to move people is understated and undervalued in this age where we’re all spending time on Tik Tok and YouTube. Increasingly, people are spending time on podcasts. That power of sound is something that’s, frankly, as old as radio. It’s an art that’s largely been forgotten until recently. We’re trying to do our part to bring it back.

JWK: While scripted podcasts is a dramatic form that’s definitely growing, when people think of podcasts they usually think of Joe Rogan or whoever and people going into their own private corners to listen to by themselves. Do dramatic presentations like this have a unique quality that maybe brings families together to listen to it?

JP: It really does. I’m talking about my own family but I think it’s true of a lot of families (that) our Christmas and holiday traditions are very activity based – like “Hey, we’re gonna decorate the tree tonight!” or “Hey, we’re gonna build a gingerbread house!” Fewer of our traditions are actually reflective in nature. So, this format – and I would use the word “immersive” because this experience is truly immersive – lends itself to being a family kind of activity. Whether you listen to it while you’re decorating the tree, doing a gingerbread house or even in the car driving to shop, it gives that moment to have great discussions with your kids. It’s really for all ages but it is also a beautiful moment for families.

JWK: One that, I guess, could become a tradition.

JP: Yeah.

JWK: What does Sean Astin bring to the role of Scrooge?

MR: Sean Astin is such an interesting actor because he comes from kind of a celebrated family history. Not only that but he comes from a family history that has a history playing this role. His father is the legendary actor John Astin who people would remember from The Addams Family, for example. He’s still with us, by the way. Sean told me that when he was driving into the studio he would call his dad who is now in his nineties. His dad actually played this role on the stage in I think it was Albany and got pneumonia because of the nightshirt he had to wear through the whole performance. So, his dad remembers it well and they were just talking back and forth about the character for an hour on Sean’s way into the studio. His dad told him to trust his instincts because the role brings with it big shoes and it’s daunting for any actor. Sean brought to the performance a lot of heart, a lot of conviction and a lot spirit…and all of that can be heard in the performance.

JWK: And John Rhys-Davies provides a great voice as the narrator.

MR: John Rhys-Davies is the voice. He’s best known from Indiana Jones. He was also in Lord of the Rings. Sean and John Rhys-Davies have stories of that as well. He was fabulous to work with. What a professional. Again, both Sean and John were really committed to the spirit of the project. They understood what made this project different and they were enthusiastically supportive of it.

JWK: Do you two foresee future scripted podcast collaborations, perhaps doing other classic works or even original stories?

JP: This is a first of a kind for Hope Media Group. I mentioned earlier the high rate of use for podcasts in America. What we specialize in is connecting with people so we would be remiss not to be dreaming up some future collaborations together.

JWK: Anything in mind – or too soon to say?

JP: To soon to say, yes.

JWK: I find the whole subject of scripted audio podcasts interesting. It’s like a revival of the whole radio drama experience of the early 20th century. Do you think that this is a form that’s here to stay and will become part of the culture going forward?

MR: I’ll start. First of all, I’m very much a student of that period and that history which is one of the reasons I like doing this. This is just a huge step beyond what was done at that time with the organs. This is definitely not that. This is definitely bringing it up to date – but, yes, it’s already growing. As this project illustrates, there are major talents that are entering this both from the production side and from the performance side. I know some of the conversations that we’ve been having with names that everybody would know have really been heartening. There are people who want to get into this space – and they want to do it in this way.

JP: I would only add that there’s such an appetite. There’s already an existing appetite for meaningful content that is on demand. That’s what podcasts allow. You can use them anywhere and everywhere during your day. You don’t have to be sitting in front of a screen. We’ve seen tremendous growth and there’s no indication that that’s gonna soften.

JWK: Anything you’d like to say as we wrap up?

JP: We’ve made some discussion questions available. I mentioned earlier that this is a great opportunity for families to listen together and maybe make it part of a new holiday tradition. So, we’ve put together a little five-part study guide. That’s available at scroogepodcast.com as well.

JWK: So, what’s next for the two of you after this?

JP: (Hope Media Group) is continuing to create content that reaches as many people as we possibly can. Of course, most of the time that takes audio form so we currently have other podcasts and, as I mentioned, we’re dreaming up things in the future that are too soon to talk about.

JWK: Mark?

MR: Right now I’m intent on bringing this to the world. There are other projects down the line that are at a state where it’s a little premature to talk about them. I’m certainly looking forward to working with Joe again.
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…And for those seeking colorful visual entertainment, DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls Band Together is in theaters now. The action-packed rainbow-colored family-friendly musical stars the voices of Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake. Catch the trailer below.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.