draculathedansemacabre

[draculathedansemacabre]

Hit Singles, my new audio fiction series, comes out in 16 days!

It's been fun to put together mood boards that capture the series. It really is a show about that magical period in your 20's, when the entire world was about your friends, your crushes, your dreams, & your favorite songs.

So for anyone that needs a new romcom - a new show about that strange, delicate, fascinating, infuriating, elating moment when you start to fall in love with someone, with your friends, and with the city you're in (all set to a great soundtrack) - hold on.

Hit Singles is coming. It's almost here. 🎧🎶❤️

[draculathedansemacabre]

People often say that there's a lot of recurring elements and tropes to our work at Long Story Short Productions.

That's because... yes, there are. 😅

Ahead of the release of our new series Hit Singles (out on Audible on April 10th!) we wanted to put together the official LSS Bingo Board!

Play along at home, and see how many of our classic favorites (as well as some new ones 👀) you can spot in the New Thing!

[draculathedansemacabre]

The New Thing got announced today.

It's called Hit Singles. It's a scripted, full cast audio fiction romantic comedy that Zach, Sarah, and I made for Audible. It's about love, friendship, music, found families, and what happens when you go to New York City for a whirlwind summer.

We got to work with an incredible team on this one. A cast led by Evangeline Young (Dracula: The Danse Macabre), Nicholas Podany (Hello Tomorrow!), Simone Policano (Blue Bloods), Julia Rehwald (Fear Street), and Briggon Snow. (The Bright Sessions, and all your other favorite audio fiction shows.)

Also featuring Noah Masur, Avery Trufelman, Mary Kate Wiles, Marlain Angelides, just to name a few others! With original music by Summer Camp's Jeremy Warmsley!

You can read me gush about it at over at my newsletter by clicking the link above, or you can pre-order it right here! And if you DO pre-order it, you won't have to wait long - the whole thing comes out April 10th!

[draculathedansemacabre]

For folks who want some new Gabriel content right now, I've been sharing the scripts for some short radio plays that I've been writing for New York City's monthly Living Radio program over on my Patreon! I just put another one up there a moment ago!

They're short little radio plays, each satirizing a different news article. I've done it every month since December, so there's four different ones up there for folks who support me at the $5 level or higher! They cover everything from shopping addiction and religious helplines to nuclear relationship counseling and the difficulties of wartime negotiations.

The scripts for those, along with some other unproduced or old material is up there for anyone that wants to read it! And if you're not sure if you can sign up for a recurring contribution, there's a free trial option!

[draculathedansemacabre]

Me wanting to tell you all about the New Thing I've been working on, but not having permission to talk about the New Thing yet.

[draculathedansemacabre]

Oh our goodness, this is amazing! 😍

(Horrifying, but amazing! That last panel!)

Dracula: The Danse Macabre, Episode 3 - Experimental Purposes, from @draculathedansemacabre

Oh boy, this episode shook me to my core.

The atmosphere, the tension, the horror-just chef's kiss. I had to create something for it, so here's my little tribute to this incredible podcast.

Enjoy the macabre madness!

[draculathedansemacabre]

Audio Dramas by Black Creators

Not an exclusive list, of course - if your fave isn't on here, recommend it below!

[draculathedansemacabre]

Today's the day! Danse Macabre creator Gabriel Urbina is starting his first ever writing masterclass - a 6-week course about how to write your very own audio fiction pilot - tonight at 8:00 PM Eastern!

There's two spots left open and we'd love to get them a good home. So we're having a Last Chance Sale! Use promo code "NOWORNEVER" for 20% off!

Gabriel has put together a fun, engaging, fast-moving class, covering EVERYTHING you could possibly want to know about what goes into a great fiction podcast pilot. Topics include:

Character Presentation: How to Create Vivid Characters And Introduce Them Quickly

Audio Stories: How to Determine Whether Your Story Wants to Live in Audio Or Not

Creative Exposition: How to World-Build While Keeping Your Audience Engaged

Script Formatting: How to Write Scripts That Are Both Professional AND Entertaining

Structure, Structure, Structure: Going From Idea to Plot to Script

Medium Possibilities: Bringing In Techniques from Film Into Your Audio World

And, of course, How to Write a First Draft of a Script In Six Week So if you've been tempted (you know you have) and have been looking for an excuse to sign up for the class (you know you have) this is it! Use this last chance and get 20% off before showtime tonight! For more details and to sign up, click here!

PSA: Dracula: The Danse Macabre creator Gabriel Urbina is teaching a set of online classes in the new year! 👨‍🏫

First, he's doing a new round of his classic online workshop Writing Stories For Sound! It's the three-hour interactive crash course through how he thinks about stories that are told entirely through audio - what their unique strengths and weaknesses are, what makes for a great audio experience, how to tell stories that make audiences lean forward. 🎙️

He's teaching the workshop two times - those are on February 2nd at 2:00 PM Eastern and on February 4th at 7:00 PM Eastern!

But wait, there's more! Because Gabriel is also offering his first ever Masterclass Edition of his online writing workshop, and it's a doozy! 📚

Gabriel is going to write the script for the pilot for a new audio fiction series in just six weeks, and he wants you to come along and write a script of your own! In this six week class, he will break down everything he knows about going from idea to full script, and he'll give you a series of writing assignments that turn the mountain of writing a script into a manageable climb! Best of all, he'll do everything he asks his students to do, so you'll get the inside look at how an Urbina story takes shape and comes together! 🛠️

The Masterclass is a six-week course, with sessions on Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM, starting on February 5th!

If you've been struggling to get your audio fiction ideas down on paper - or if you need a great gift for the audio fiction lover in your life for the holidays - don't miss out on the chance to go on a writing adventure with Gabriel! ✍️

[draculathedansemacabre]

The first of these is today, with its twin workshop on Tuesday night and the six-week writing masterclass kicking off this coning Wednesday!

If you’re interested in learning about fiction podcasts from Gabriel Urbina, it’s not too late to sign up!

PSA: Dracula: The Danse Macabre creator Gabriel Urbina is teaching a set of online classes in the new year! 👨‍🏫

First, he's doing a new round of his classic online workshop Writing Stories For Sound! It's the three-hour interactive crash course through how he thinks about stories that are told entirely through audio - what their unique strengths and weaknesses are, what makes for a great audio experience, how to tell stories that make audiences lean forward. 🎙️

He's teaching the workshop two times - those are on February 2nd at 2:00 PM Eastern and on February 4th at 7:00 PM Eastern!

But wait, there's more! Because Gabriel is also offering his first ever Masterclass Edition of his online writing workshop, and it's a doozy! 📚

Gabriel is going to write the script for the pilot for a new audio fiction series in just six weeks, and he wants you to come along and write a script of your own! In this six week class, he will break down everything he knows about going from idea to full script, and he'll give you a series of writing assignments that turn the mountain of writing a script into a manageable climb! Best of all, he'll do everything he asks his students to do, so you'll get the inside look at how an Urbina story takes shape and comes together! 🛠️

The Masterclass is a six-week course, with sessions on Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM, starting on February 5th!

If you've been struggling to get your audio fiction ideas down on paper - or if you need a great gift for the audio fiction lover in your life for the holidays - don't miss out on the chance to go on a writing adventure with Gabriel! ✍️

[draculathedansemacabre]

The start of these online classes is just about a week away! If you want to learn more about how Gabriel Urbina, DTDM and Wolf 359 creator, approaches writing fiction podcasts, now's the time to sign up!

PSA: Dracula: The Danse Macabre creator Gabriel Urbina is teaching a set of online classes in the new year! 👨‍🏫

First, he's doing a new round of his classic online workshop Writing Stories For Sound! It's the three-hour interactive crash course through how he thinks about stories that are told entirely through audio - what their unique strengths and weaknesses are, what makes for a great audio experience, how to tell stories that make audiences lean forward. 🎙️

He's teaching the workshop two times - those are on February 2nd at 2:00 PM Eastern and on February 4th at 7:00 PM Eastern!

But wait, there's more! Because Gabriel is also offering his first ever Masterclass Edition of his online writing workshop, and it's a doozy! 📚

Gabriel is going to write the script for the pilot for a new audio fiction series in just six weeks, and he wants you to come along and write a script of your own! In this six week class, he will break down everything he knows about going from idea to full script, and he'll give you a series of writing assignments that turn the mountain of writing a script into a manageable climb! Best of all, he'll do everything he asks his students to do, so you'll get the inside look at how an Urbina story takes shape and comes together! 🛠️

The Masterclass is a six-week course, with sessions on Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM, starting on February 5th!

If you've been struggling to get your audio fiction ideas down on paper - or if you need a great gift for the audio fiction lover in your life for the holidays - don't miss out on the chance to go on a writing adventure with Gabriel! ✍️

[draculathedansemacabre]

he may be gone now, but we have to remember:

[draculathedansemacabre]

[draculathedansemacabre]

This is amazing! 🤩 Each more awesome than the last!

My costume designs for Mina Harker in Dracula: The Danse Macabre

Right to Left: School Teacher; Waiting for News; Vampire Hunter; The Voice In Her Head.

School Teacher: Based on the typical outfits seen in photographs from the late 1880s early 1890s. The silhouette is similar to that of the 1880s but with a small vertical shoulder puff.

A full length black dress, flat boots, a white cotton blouse underneath. The lack of a bustle is expected by the mid 1890s and the puffs on the sleeves are small for the era but practical for a teacher. This is before the widespread introduction of the straight-front corset and so Mina has a high collar and collar stays with a long line bodice. This isn't the height of fashion but not rocking the boat.

I kept Mina's school teacher design simple and conventional with a simple but practical bun and white gloves. She is restrained by the expectations of her gender and position and dresses to conform.

Waiting for News: Masculine styles were becoming more integrated into women's fashion and as Mina starts failing to conform as much and fights to protect Lucy, while also maintaining her place in society, I tried to give her an outfit that speaks to that duality. Her hair is based on portraits from the era and is a little fancier than her School Teacher bun. She wears white gloves and boots and a blouse with a high collar. The dress was specifically designed after the dress Gertrude wears in the 1895 Punch cartoon on the Bicycle Suit. Mina, despite her private frustrations, still isn't letting herself drop conformation. She is playing the role of Mina Harker and it's taking its toll. There are the puffed sleeves and expected silhouette. However, her colour pallette plays with the typical vampiric colours with the hints of red in her clothing. Her clothing here is her shield as she tries to play the role society expects of the wife waiting for news of her husband.

The Vampire Hunter: This outfit is a Victorian Cycling outfit with the split skirt and cycling jacket. Mina is on her mission to capture Dracula and thus needs to travel and move often. Her hair is braided up and she probably isn't changing her outfits often, focussed on her mission. The design in simple and practical and follows the "Rational Dress Movement" trends. She isn't wearing gloves and is getting her hands dirty.

The Voice In Her Head: here, Mina is embracing her Van Helsing heritage and the voice of Dracula in her head. This outfit is based on a 1898 style travelling outfit with a fashionable cape and hat. The cape is red with black lace patterning and the lace patterning around her collar of reminiscent of the traditional Vampire bite marks. The gap in the cape over her heart reveals her blouse which is white, showing that Mina hasn't let Dracula corrupt her fully, even as she is now integrated with the monster. Conversely, her skirt it white but with a red lining as she has Dracula's blood inside. The diagonal design on her skirt is fashionable for the time but is also reminiscent of the Christian cross which abjures vampires. Her cape's black lace also mimics the epaulette style as seen in her Waiting For News Design but also pauldrons as seen in armour. Her hat includes a red ribbon and a veil with red detailing as she is concealing the part of herself that contains Dracula from the rest of the world. Tucked into the ribbon are garlic flowers as used by Van Helsing in Dracula (Stoker).

I hope you liked these and go listen to @draculathedansemacabre

(Please forgive my lack of design skills and knowledge of historical dress)

[draculathedansemacabre]

Get ready for a strange visitor... our audio drama adaptation of Carmilla releases next month! See the cast and crew here, and join our Patreon to listen to the first half of the series now!

[draculathedansemacabre]

For anyone that wants a glimpse at how silly this gets...

Vampire fans! DTDM creator Gabriel Urbina just posted a very silly extra on his Patreon. A short script of Mina and Count Dracula reacting as they watch the 2024 version of Nosferatu.

In Gabriel's own words:

A little while ago, I watched the new film version of Nosferatu, which I really enjoyed, really admired, and also recognized was interested in different parts of the vampire myth than where I'm drawn towards.

But the whole time I was watching it, I had my version of Mina and Dracula whispering in my ear, chiming up about what they thought about this or that moment. It became a running thing throughout the whole film - the Mina/Dracula commentary track.

I kept thinking about it, and finally today I decided to jot down some of my favorite bits of that thought experiment. So, here for your enjoyment, is a brief sketch of Mina and Dracula going to see Nosferatu together. It's by no means everything they'd have to say about the movie, but it's what I think some of the greatest hits would be.

Needless to say, this is A. very silly and just meant to be in good fun, B. deeply non-canonical for about a million different reasons, C. full of spoilers for all four episodes of Dracula: The Danse Macabre and the 2024 version of Nosferatu, and D. very much written with a lot of admiration for the film and a a desire to poke some tongue-in-cheek fun at it.

The post with the nine-page script is available on his Patreon for everyone who is signed up to be a paid supporter at any level, from a dollar on up!

[draculathedansemacabre]

Vampire fans! DTDM creator Gabriel Urbina just posted a very silly extra on his Patreon. A short script of Mina and Count Dracula reacting as they watch the 2024 version of Nosferatu.

In Gabriel's own words:

A little while ago, I watched the new film version of Nosferatu, which I really enjoyed, really admired, and also recognized was interested in different parts of the vampire myth than where I'm drawn towards.

But the whole time I was watching it, I had my version of Mina and Dracula whispering in my ear, chiming up about what they thought about this or that moment. It became a running thing throughout the whole film - the Mina/Dracula commentary track.

I kept thinking about it, and finally today I decided to jot down some of my favorite bits of that thought experiment. So, here for your enjoyment, is a brief sketch of Mina and Dracula going to see Nosferatu together. It's by no means everything they'd have to say about the movie, but it's what I think some of the greatest hits would be.

Needless to say, this is A. very silly and just meant to be in good fun, B. deeply non-canonical for about a million different reasons, C. full of spoilers for all four episodes of Dracula: The Danse Macabre and the 2024 version of Nosferatu, and D. very much written with a lot of admiration for the film and a a desire to poke some tongue-in-cheek fun at it.

The post with the nine-page script is available on his Patreon for everyone who is signed up to be a paid supporter at any level, from a dollar on up!

[draculathedansemacabre]

Tomorrow at 8:00 PM! Gabriel is doing the last creator commentary for Dracula: The Danse Macabre's first season. Tune into his Patreon at 8:00 PM Eastern to hear him go through Episode 4, The Bride of Dracula!

Topics include:

The basement

Changes to the structure of novel's last act

Dracula's backstory

Cruelty in characters

Mirrors and reflections

The future of DTDM

Want to tune in but not sure if you want to sign up to contribute a monthly donation? Remember, Gabriel's Patreon offers a free trial so you can check things out and see if you want to sign up long-term!