Pendant Productions
Pendant Productions is an independent online production group that CREATES audio serials and radio dramas for podcast and radio broadcast. The group consists of scores of writers, voice actors, editors and directors that produce six on-going monthly fan shows and four original monthly shows. Pendant also produces a monthly Shakespeare program and a weekly program on Pendant news.
Pendant creates fan shows based on comic book and movie characters, and also content with original characters. It is part of a growing online community of creators of original and fanfiction audio who seek to both honor and continue the near-extinct media subgenre of audio theatre.
Nearly 1 million mp3s were downloaded from pendantaudio.com in 2007, and in 2008, Pendant topped 1.1 million mp3s downloaded. That is not counting all of the Pendant episodes downloaded through iTunes.
History
Pendant Productions was created by Jeffrey Bridges, who serves as executive producer on all shows.
The net-based audio theater company started with its popular fan show Star Trek: Defiant, whose launch was then delayed due to production difficulties. Pendant's longest-running, uninterrupted show is Superman: The Last Son of Krypton, based on DC Comics characters, launched in January 2005. It has spun off further superhero shows: Batman: The Ace of Detectives, Wonder Woman: Champion of Themyscira and Supergirl: Lost Daughter of Krypton. The Ace of Detectives in turn spun-off Catwoman: Queen of Thieves. A sixth show based on a DC Comics superhero is forthcoming, Martian Manhunter: Strange Visitor, scheduled for release in March 2009.
Besides the ongoing fan-based shows, Pendant has also released two multi-part feature-length serials based on James BOND and Indiana Jones. Two more feature-length fan productions are in the works.
Pendant's original shows include an anthology series with two original short stories each episode, named Seminar, a sci-fi casino crime series entitled The Kingery, a modern-day fairy tale serial named Once Upon a Time in Vegas, and the Old Time Radio-inspired WWII adventure show entitled Umket Industries Presents: The Dixie Stenberg and Brassy Battalion Adventure Theatre.
The production company holds open auditions for voice actors to fill recurring roles and one-off characters on its own website and on other voice acting-affiliated websites. Actors record their audition lines on personal computers and e-mail them to directors, who cast the roles. Once a cast is assembled, the actors are given scripts to record all of their lines, and send them to the director. The director edits the lines together according to the script, though directors have leeway to cut lines that disturb the flow of a scene. Directors also insert all the sounds effects and music, before sending the audio file to the executive produce
Fan audio fiction
Pendant's Fan-based serials are non-profit derivative works of audio fan fiction, produced and distributed freely over the internet. All of the fan audios are copyright their respective originators and current holders, and no commercial production or distribution is inferred whatsoever.
Comic-Based Serials
Six of Pendant's 10 continuing monthly fan-fiction shows are based on popular DC Comics characters. While Superman and Batman appeared in radio serials during the 1940s, neither Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter nor Supergirl have been featured in professionally produced radio dramas.
Pendant's six DC Comics-based shows comprise "Earth-P," a fictional universe that is in a different continuity than mainstream DC Comics.
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton is an ongoing monthly serial adventure based on the modern incarnation of the character in DC Comics.
The Last Son of Krypton currently stars Ryan H. Nelson as the title character and Jimmy Olsen, with Susan Bridges as Lois Lane, Tom Stitzer as Perry White, Adam Bell as Steel. David Alexander McDonald as Jor-El and Dan Sensenbach as Lex Luthor. Since its inception it has been written by Pendant Productions Executive Producer Jeffrey Bridges, a lifelong fan of the Superman mythos. Bridges also held the position of director on the show for its first 27 episodes, after which the reins were handed over to Tom Stitzer who guided the show through episode 43. Bill Fisher comes on board as director as of episode 44.
Batman: The Ace of Detectives
Batman: The Ace of Detectives is an ongoing monthly serial adventure based on the modern incarnation of the character in DC Comics.
The Ace of Detectives currently stars Seth Adam Sher as the title character, with Scott Vinnacombe as Robin, Pete Milan as James Gordon, Lexy Rawle as Catwoman and Adam Bell in the role of The Joker. It is currently written and directed by Pete Milan, from an original concept by Sertan Seral who also first oversaw production.
Wonder Woman: Champion of Themyscira
Wonder Woman: Champion of Themyscira is an ongoing monthly serial adventure based on the modern incarnation of the character in DC Comics.
Champion of Themyscira currently stars Darian Lindle as the title character, with Kathryn Pryde as Wonder Girl, Carl Glassmeyer as Jonathan, Seth Adam Sher as Ferdinand and Tom Stitzer as the War God Ares. The serial is written by Susan Bridges, who also served as first director. Susan relinquished the position to Fiona Thraille, who has recently also stepped down and ceded production to R. Francis Smith.
Supergirl: Lost Daughter of Krypton
Supergirl: Lost Daughter of Krypton is a spin-off of Superman: The Last Son of Krypton and follows the events in Kara Zor-El's life after events depicted in the first Pendant superhero crossover, Imperium.
Lost Daughter of Krypton stars Dragon X. Blink in the title role, with Jeffrey Bridges as Metallo, Daniel Munson as Officer Wilden, Melissa Hearne as Cameron Gage and David Alexander McDonald as Tiger 5. Previous writers of the show have been Macalla Eaton, science-fiction writer Steven Edward McDonald and Neal Bailey. Starring actor Dragon X. Blink currently writes the new adventures. Macalla Eaton, Kristen Bays, and David Alexander McDonald also previously oversaw production, with Bruce Busby as the current helmsman.
Catwoman: Queen of Thieves
Catwoman: Queen of Thieves is based on the modern incarnation of the character in DC Comics. The serial premiered online in September 2008, starring Lexy Rawle as the title character, with Kathryn Pryde as Tsarina, Neal Bailey as Anderson, Thomas Reed as Zee and [[April Sadowski] as Chase and also Heather Frizzell as Holly Robinson. The serial is written and directed by Kristen Bays.
Martian Manhunter: Strange Visitor
Martian Manhunter: Strange Visitor is a forthcoming show based on Martian Manhunter, a green martian and superhero.
Movie- and TV-based serials
James Bond: To The End
James Bond: To The End is a feature-length adventure based on the James Bond film franchise.
James Bond stars Tom Stitzer as the title character, with Clover Watson as M, Adam Bell as Q, Carolyn Eltakchi as Sophie Seaugud, and Darian Lindle as Moneypenny and Elam Amittai. The serial was written and directed by Jeffrey Bridges.
Indiana Jones and the Well of Life
Indiana Jones and the Well of Life is a movie-length adventure based on the Indiana Jones film franchise.
Indiana Jones stars Jerry Scullion as the title character, with Lexy Rawle as Marion Ravenwood, David Ault as Marcus Brody, Neil Saha as Sallah and Jon Sulzbach as Henry Jones Sr. The serial was written by Jeffrey Bridges and directed by Tom Stitzer.
Star Trek: Defiant
Star Trek: Defiant is a full-cast, ongoing sci-fi serial adventure based upon the Star Trek television and film franchise, and set after the events of Deep Space Nine.
Defiant began as a text-based adventure series, with several writers placing themselves in as starship crewmembers. Therefore several characters share names with their real-world counterparts. The show stars Jeffrey Bridges as Captain Jeffrey Bridges, with Susan Bridges as Commander Laine Rael, Judah Friese as Commander Judah Friese, Pete Milan as Gul Otek and Adam Lebin as Commander Adam Lebin.
The first two arcs stories were written and directed by Jeffrey Bridges. The third arc was written by Bridges and directed by Chris Brittain, who currently retains directorship. The current fourth arc is written by Theresa J. McGarry, who will continue as writer into the foreseeable future.
Star Trek: Defiant was featured in Hailing Frequencies Open, the newsletter of TrekUnited.com.
Star Wars: Blue Harvest
Star Wars: Blue Harvest is a serialized maxi-series adventure based on the Star Wars film franchise.
Blue Harvest stars Ben Page as Young Deak Starkiller, Bill Young as Older Deak, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader, Kristen Bays as Terra Kel and Yaddle, Mark Henshaw as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Scott Vinnacombe as Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine. The show is written by Neal Bailey. Directed by Neal Bailey (episodes 1-9, 11) and Bill Young (episodes 10, and 12 onwards).
Original serials
Dixie Stenberg and Brassy Battalion
Umket Industries Presents: The Dixie Stenberg and Brassy Battalion Adventure Theater is an original, ongoing, monthly sci-fi serial adventure produced in classic Old-Time Radio style.
Dixie Stenberg stars Rene Christine Jones as the title character, with Mark Zaricor as Frank McGuff, Steve Anderson as Reginald Billingsley, Kathryn Pryde as Geist and Justin Daube as Volker. The show is written by Jeffrey Bridges (who also performs the voice of the Commercial Announcer) and directed by Seth Adam Sher (who also serves as the show's Host).
The Kingery
The Kingery is a full-cast, ongoing, original sci-fi casino mobster drama.
The Kingery stars Pete Milan in the role of Tommy Arkell, with Perry Whittle as Hooks, Alicia Lane Matheson as Madeleine Gray, Kristen Bays as Betty, Kathryn Pryde as Tythia, Lexy Rawle as Devi, Chip Joel as Jawbone, and Jane Parrish as Regina. The show was created by Jeffrey Bridges, Susan Bridges, Macalla Eaton, John Hardin and Theresa J. McGarry.
Unlike other Pendant shows, which have just one writer at a time, "The Kingery" is co-scripted by multiple writers. Currently serving on the story council are Neal Bailey, Jeffrey Bridges, Susan Bridges, Alicia Lane Matheson, Pete Milan and Seth Adam Sher. Past contributors include Theresa J. McGarry and Macalla Eaton. Original music for the show is composed and performed by David Alexander McDonald. Seth Adam Sher served as director for the show's first nine episodes, after which the production was ceded to James Tyler. In July 2008 Perry Whittle took over the director position in addition to his acting role.
Seminar
Seminar is a full-cast, ongoing anthology show with no restrictions on genre.
Original stories are sent in to the show's producer, Kathryn Pryde, who oversees casting and mixing on each episode. Original music for the show is composed and performed by David Alexander McDonald.
Once Upon a Time in Vegas
Once Upon a Time in Vegas is a maxi-serial fantasy drama.
Vegas stars Lexi Rawle as Chloe, Rene Christine Jones as Tessa, Susan Bridges as Teri and William Raymer as Dennis/Denise. The show is written by Rene Christine Jones and Alicia Laine Matheson, the latter of whom also serves as the show's director. Original music is composed by Kevin McLeod.
The Pendant Shakespeare
The Pendant Shakespeare, aka The Wild Bill Variety Show, is an ongoing monthly audio presentation of the works of William Shakespeare. Plays are selected, cast and produced by David Alexander McDonald, who also composes original music for the show. This series also presents the poems and sonnets between the plays.
This Week In Pendant
This Week In Pendant is a weekly round-up of Pendant's shows, featuring news, InterViews, casting calls and more. The show is mixed and hosted by Executive Producer Jeffrey Bridges.
In the press
Pendant shows have aired on radio stations including CHLY-FM radio in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada; and on KTDR-FM in Del Rio, Texas. Clips from Pendant show James Bond: To The End were featured on the program Saturday Live on BBC4 radio.
Jeffery Bridges has been interviewed by Superheroflix; the Everything News Team ; and the Digital Podcast
Pendant has also been featured on Sonic Society; and SFFAudio
Ryan H. Nelson, was interviewed on the Superman podcast the Radio KAL show (episode 5) specifically AbOUT his roles as Superman/Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen.
Champion of Themyscira was featured in an article of the magazine Sci Fi Now
Award nominations
- Finalist in the Best Audio Drama Short Form category of the 2007 Parsec Awards (Batman: The Ace of Detectives).
- Finalist in the Best Audio Drama Short Form category of the 2007 Parsec Awards (Indiana Jones and the Well of Life).
- Finalist in the Best Audio Drama Series category of The Sonic Society 2008 Uni Awards (Umket Industries Presents the Dixie Stenberg and Brassy Battalion Adventure Theater).
- Finalist in the Best Actress category of The Sonic Society 2008 Uni Awards (Umket Industries Presents the Dixie Stenberg and Brassy Battalion Adventure Theater - Rene Christine Jones).
- Finalist in the Best Actor category of The Sonic Society 2008 Uni Awards (Umket Industries Presents the Dixie Stenberg and Brassy Battalion Adventure Theater - Steve Anderson)
- Finalist in the Best Music category of The Sonic Society 2008 Uni Awards (Umket Industries Presents the Dixie Stenberg and Brassy Battalion Adventure Theater - JP Sousa).
See also
- 2007 Parsec Awards Nominees