On Record
I’ve been published, in print or electronic form, and appeared on podcasts and such; here I’ll try to document all these bits of me so we can find them.
Geek Mook - Aaron Mannion & Julian Novitz (ed.), Vignette Press, 13 July 2012
I contributed the essay “What Makes A Wizard?” to this anthology of geek-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry and art. There’s all kinds of great stuff in here, and I was lucky to be a part of the Mook for a long time, from a fundraiser in July 2011, to hosting the launch on Friday the 13th nearly a year later. My essay asks the burning question: is being magical in the wizarding world of Harry Potter a matter of genetics? You’ll have to buy a copy of the Mook to find out! Look for it in your local bookshop or watch the Vignette Press web site for news of its impending electronic publication.
Voiceworks 89: “Space” – Kat Muscat (ed.), Express Media, Winter 2012
I was humbled to be asked to be interviewed by the wonderful Kat Muscat for ”Space”, issue 89 of Voiceworks. Kat and I talked about comedic inspiration, feminism, geek culture, role-playing and a bunch of other things along the way; the resulting conversation was published as ”Finding the Anecdote”. I recommend picking up a copy; it’s full of some brilliant writing, and I felt very privileged to be involved not only as an interview subject, but as the MC for the launch of this issue in Melbourne. Voiceworks is a quarterly magazine of new writing from young Australians, and is available in print and electronically by individual issue ($10) or annual subscription (only $17.99 – bargain!). Check out the Voiceworks web site for more information.
Podcasts
Splendid Chaps: A Year of Doctor Who – Ben McKenzie, John Richards, Petra Elliott
This is my podcast, co-created and co-hosted with John Richards, with Petra Elliott and a different line-up of guests each episode. We record it live in front of an audience, then release each episode once a month – one for each Doctor, from January to November. For more info, check out splendidchaps.com.
Re:Play – Postcards from Imaginary Worlds, ACMI/Freeplay, 18 September 2012
This monthly series of videogame discussion events, similar to ACMI’s popular “Live in the Studio” events about television, were curated by Freeplay to accompany the Winter Masterpieces exhibition Game Masters. Hopefully, they’ll be back – but in the meantime, you can listen to the original series, including Postcards from Imaginary Worlds, featuring Dan Golding, Christy Dena, Brendan Keogh and yours truly, via ACMI’s podcast feed.
Shooting the Poo
Shooting the Poo is a roughly monthly podcast covering all forms of popular culture, from blockbuster films to comics to Pride and Prejudice. It’s hosted by Dave Hoskin, Ian Mond and Anthony “Mitch” Mitchell, and produced by the incredibly patient Kirstyn McDermott.
- Episode 6: Game of Thrones and Doctor Who, 31 August 2011 – I was invited to join the Poo Shooters to be the one who actually knows what’s going on in Game of Thrones, and who enjoyed series six of Doctor Who more than the regular hosts. At least, I think that’s what happened. You can find episode 6 here.
- Episode 14: Sherlock Holmes, 30 May 2012 - I returned to talk about all things Sherlock Holmes, especially the sociopathic tendencies of the Cumberbatch one, and the dreamy eyes and manly arms of Robert Downey Jr. You can find episode 14 here.
Boxcutters – Josh Kinal, Brett Cropley, John Richards, Courteney Hocking
Boxcutters is the world’s greatest television podcast. Well, I reckon it is, anyway. Created in 2005 by Josh Kinal, Brett Cropley and John Richards, and hosted by those three, Courteney Hocking and Dave Lawson, it runs every week, recounting news, reviewing the latest shows, and discussing trends in television past, present and future. If you’re at all interested in television, seriously: subscribe.
- Boxcutters episode 295: Episodic Television and Nerds on TV, 21 February 2012 - for my first guest appearance I was invited to talk about the portrayal of nerds and geeks on television, but mostly I just ended up talking about why I hate Big Bang Theory. You can find episode 295 here.
- Episode 306: Girls and Maid Marian, 22 May 2012 - I must have done something right, because I was asked to return for a second appearance, this time to revisit one of his all-time favourite television programmes, Maid Marian and Her Merry Men. You can find episode 306 here.
- Episode 335: Songs with TV, The Americans, April 4, 2013 – in a triple guest spot, I talk about the Boxcutters news, songs from television programs, and telethon success. You can find episode 335 here.
Kill Your Darlings podcast
Kill Your Darlings is quarterly journal of new Australian writing, who now also produce a podcast with segments hosted and produced by various writers. I was invited to be a guest on one of the first episodes.
- Kill Your Darlings podcast: The Ethics of Comedy, April 17, 2013 – host Jessica Alice discusses ethics and comedy, including interviews with myself and Cherchez la Femme host Karen Pickering. You can find this podcast here.
Games
The Curse – Pop Up Playground
One of my most ambitious and, I think, successful games with Pop Up Playground. It’s a pretty immersive experience, originally debuting to the public at the 2012 Village Festival in Edinburgh Gardens, Melbourne. In the original version of the game, you are cursed by a fortune telling machine and must seek help from the tent boss and fortune tellers to lift the curse within half an hour. I’m hoping to bring it back, perhaps in a very different context, but as with all pervasive games it’s a bit hard to explain without you seeing it for yourself. Luckily for us, the delightful Lawrence Leung filmed his experience and turned it into this trailer:
Our Last Best Hope Companion - Mark Diaz Truman et al, Magpie Games, release date TBC
You probably know I love games – but you might not know that I’ve started writing for them. I backed the Kickstarter for Magpie Games‘ storytelling game of heroic sacrifice and humanity-threatening disaster, Our Last Best Hope, in 2012, and pitched a couple of ideas for the Companion book that backers made possible as a successful stretch goal. My first idea had already been taken, but my other idea – a hack for the game and an alternate playset, both geared towards comedy – were accepted for publication. It’s not out yet, but the preview of the cover looks gorgeous and the game itself (in which I’m also credited, for some suggestions for the Zombie Apocalypse playset) is great. Check out all the info on the official Magpie Games Our Last Best Hope page.
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