We are thrilled to begin production on this exciting new project! We will be remaking the episode “Black Rock” of The Shadow Radio Program. Originally airing in 1938 this episode was a thrilling story of the Shadow’s adventures in crime fighting complete with a gang of thieves, a plane crash, and a dangerous remote island. This fanmade reproduction will strive to remain faithful to the original feel of The Shadow Radio Program while at the same time updating the sounds, music, and overall production values. Featuring a full cast of voice actors, immersive sound effects, and original music by Catalin Chirila (You can hear part of the Main Theme she has composed in the video above), this full-length(25min) dramatic audio listening experience will be something the entire family can enjoy!
Once this project is completed we will make it available for free listening on our YouTube channel. We will also make it available for listening as well as for download on our website www.theshadowremake.com.
One of the goals of this project is to give participating voice actors a great addition to their demo reels as well as some publicity for their work. We would like to post a picture, name, and social media/contact links for each member of the cast on our website once the project is released. While several of the lead roles have already been cast, there are several more we'd like to offer to those of you here on the Casting Call Club, including the title role of The Shadow himself!
Happy auditioning!
The voice of The Shadow/Lamont Cranston is a hard one to cast due to the iconic sounds of the original radio show, but give it your best shot! The Shadow and Lamont Cranston are the same person (Think Batman and Bruce Wayne). As Lamont Cranston, he has a very polished, intelligent, suave sound. As The Shadow, he has a deep eerie sound with a frightening laugh that unnerves even the worst of criminals. If you look on YouTube for an episode of the original radio show you can hear what the laugh and voice sounded like as it will be the first thing you hear in each episode. As The Shadow, you don't have to sound exactly like the original version, but maybe give two samples - One close to the original & one as your interpretation of the character. I may add effects to help out the voice of The Shadow.
(As The Shadow) "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! (Then add a creepy laugh at the end of the line)"Yes go to Burkett, warn him The Shadow is here! Tell him you'll never leave Black Rock alive! Never live to spend the fruits of your crime!" (Laughs)
(As Lamont Cranston) "Yes but I also know that when Burkett planned his getaway he wouldn't have figured on flying across the ocean in a plane with a cruising range of only 600 miles.""I'm afraid I can't tell you right now. But if they work the missing money will be returned to the stockholders and your name will be cleared Mr. Harvey."
(As The Shadow) "(Laughs)Jennet is not dead Burkett. Your bullets in her shoulder... Shock... Hunger... that's all. (Tone changes to deadly serious)Now, what kind of a bargain will you make?"
Frank Harvey is an upstanding gentleman who was set up to take the fall for a swindler. He attempts to retrieve the money but gets knocked out in the process. He then goes into hiding as the police come looking for him and he asks Lamont Cranston to come and help him prove his innocence.
(In a frantic tone) "I do know what I am saying. I know that in that suitcase you have two million dollars of the company's funds. You made me president and I am responsible for those funds. I'll be ruined, ruined you hear! Now give me back that money!"
(In an accusing tone) "I happen to know that you're absconding with the company's funds."
(In a discouraged tone) "Well, that's pretty full-on hope I guess. What with Burkett presumably at the bottom of the sea."
Jeff Carson is an accomplice to the villains of the story. The Shadow visits him as he sleeps one night and gets him to begin talking in his sleep. So all his lines are spoken as if he was talking in his sleep. Lots of mumbling and half-finished sentences. He gives up enough information that The Shadow can figure out the mystery, but then he wakes up and becomes startled at what he had been revealing. He tries to kill The Shadow.
(Sleep talking) "The automatic pilot. I won't tell anybody... I won't tell anybody about those long flights you took Mr. Burkett."
(Sleep talking) "Hmm... Black Rock... Black Rock... No, no I won't tell them...""Why?... Black Rock!... 1,000 miles then land, then Ward... Ward was to take the ship up and set the automatic pilot and bail out..."
(Waking up and becoming very scared and angry) "Black rock... Black rock is 25 miles off the cost... Wait... Wait!... What am I saying? [Shouting]""Who's that?! Who's there, don't move or I'll shoot! I'll shoot I say!..."
These are all the lines of the narration. The first lines are the opening narration segment and the second lines are for the closing segment. In the opening segment, the narrator should try to make what he's saying sound exciting. Especially exciting should be the last phrase: "Today's story - Black Rock!"
"The Shadow, mysterious character who aids those in distress and helps the forces of law and order is, in reality, Lamont Cranston-Wealthy young man about town. Years ago in the Orient, Cranston learned a strange and mysterious secret. The hypnotic power to cloud men's minds so that they cannot see him. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margo Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the voice of the invisible Shadow belongs. Today's story - Black Rock."
"Today's Shadow story has been a dramatized version of one of the many copyrighted stories which appeared in The Shadow magazine. All the characters, places, & names are fiction. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental."
After the swindlers plane goes down at sea, a ship passing through the area comes across a few pieces of it on a foggy morning. The First Mate and the ship's Captain talk about what happened. The First Mate is a veteran seaman, a rough voice and/or a thick accent would not be a bad idea.
"Looks like dirty weather captain. That fogs rolling in thicker every minute."
"Poor devils? Rich devils you mean sir."
"Aye, the rest of the plane is on the bottom of the banks and them rascals in her."
These as all the lines for this particular character. He is standing on a street corner trying to sell newspapers to the busy crowds rushing by. He is shouting these lines to get people's attention.
"Extra! Extra! Swindlers plane found in sea! Burkett and companions believed drowned! Paper! Paper! Police seek Frank Harvey, missing company president, for questioning!"
These are all the lines for this character. He is a radio operator on an ice patrol ship. He gives these lines as confirmation that The Shadow's message was received and that a ship is headed to Black Rock.
"Ice Patrol cutter calling...."
"Hello... hello... ice patrol cutter... Proceeding to Black Rock on distress call intercept... Proceeding to Black Rock on distress call intercept..."
These are all the lines of this character. He is a lookout on the ship that finds the wreckage of the swindlers plane. He is shouting to the captain informing him of the situation.
(Shouting) "Wreckage off the port bow captain! Wreckage off the port bow!"
(Shouting) "Sea logged vessel captain! Looks like a wing of an airplane."
These are all the lines for this character. We need a group of sailors making noises and saying this one phrase.
"Aye aye captain"
(Make a few grunting sounds and coughs, hum, whistle or other such noises.)
These are all the lines for this character. We need a group of sailors making noises and saying this one phrase.
""Aye aye captain""
(Make a few grunting sounds and coughs, hum, whistle or other such noises.)
These are all the lines for this character. We need a group of sailors making noises and saying this one phrase.
"Aye aye captain."
(Make a few grunting sounds and coughs, hum, whistle or other such noises.)
These are all the lines for this character. We need a group of sailors making noises and saying this one phrase.
"Aye aye captain."
(Make a few grunting sounds and coughs, hum, whistle or other such noises.)
These are all the lines for this character. We need a group of sailors making noises and saying this one phrase.
"Aye aye captain."
(Make a few grunting sounds and coughs, hum, whistle or other such noises.)
