Well, I'm here,
tell me about MMM Commentaries
MMM Commentaries is a small group of enthusiasts from Brisbane,
Australia who record alternate, fan-made commentaries for
our favourite films and tv. Our main interest is in science
fiction, so we have concentrated so far on Doctor Who, Star
Trek and Star Wars.
How
did this all come about?
We had always been passionate about what we saw, and often
got together for discussions on stuff we had seen. After a
while we thought it would be great to record our comments.
We wondered why nobody else had thought about doing this.
Haven't
I seen this idea somewhere else?
Well, yeah, you have. In the time it took us to talk about
it and actually do it, activity on this particular idea seemed
to be gaining momentum. We originally did a handful of commentaries
back in 2002 and 2003,
but none again until October 2005. Now that podcasting has
really taken off, the time seemed right to get back into it.
We are now taking advantage of the benefits of podcasting
and offer not only our commentaries but a podcast on scifi tv and film.
There
are also some other sites out there doing their own commentaries.
Check out the Sharecrow website for a comphrehensive list of all of them (including
ours!).
Your commentaries are mp3s, why don't you call them podcasts as well?
Many alternate commentary teams do indeed release their commentary tracks as episodes, or shows. But we here at MMM like to keep the distinction between our regular podcast show and our commentaries. We believe our commentary tracks are less topical (as in talking about current new items) than our podcasts, so dating them or even number them seems redundant.
Err,
yeah, that's all well and good, but what's the
point?
Some have questioned why we both doing the alternate commentaries.
Many have expressed bemusement about why anyone would want
to hear from someone who has no connection with the film.
They would prefer to listen to a director, or producer, or
even one of the stars.
We
do commentaries because they are fun. Not because
we want to make buckets of money (quite the opposite in fact
once you add up hardware costs, hosting costs and other sundries).
And certainly not because we think our opinions are more important
than the ones on the DVD.
To
our way of thinking if you don't like listening to alternate
commentaries then you don't like participating in email discussions,
newsgroup threads, online chats, or even water cooler talk
with your work-mates about the film you saw last night. Because
to us alternate commentaries, newsgroups, emails, gossip and
discussion are the same thing. We just record ours
and put it up on the web.
Home
brew commentaries such as ours can range from mockery
of a particular film or subject through to engaging discussions
on the technical aspects. We like to think MMM Commentaries
has something for everyone - those that want a laugh, and
those that want to learn a bit more about the film.
One
thing we promise never to do is talk about our vision for the film. So that's a bonus already.
So
who is taking part in the MMM Commentaries?
The people involved are:
- Gecko - our most recent addition to the MMM arsenal. Our resident horror expert (and there is no truth to the rumours he keeps a vampire in his basement.
- Geoff
K - He adds a much needed sobering element to our
commentaries.
- Tony B - brings with him a love of all things Doctor Who.
- Trevor
G - in it for a laugh - trying not to take it to seriously
and have a bit of fun. Using commentaries as a chance
to get some things off his chest...
How
do you record the Commentary Podcasts?
Back in the dim dark days of 2002/2003 we used two microphones
attached to a small mixing desk with the output being sent
to a VHS tape. Since there were three commentators we had
to share the mics between us. From this tape recording we
recorded it to .wav format on the computer and then produce
the MP3 file from it.
But
2005 has brought about a technologically leap in our equipment
- we now have our own professional microphones connected to a professional
mixing desk which connect to a laptop computer recording the
.wav file. From there we do a small amount of post-production
and put it up on the web in mp3 format.
MMM Behind the Mike
Just who are they?
Trevor |
Geoff |
| The Uncrowned prince of cyberspace. His media career began in the nursery when he started charging other infants to watch his fingerpaintings and even released gold editions. Made his fortune when he sold a model of K-9 constructed from loo rolls to a collector ( Lou Rawls) when he was 12 and has never looked back. Regarded as one of the first people to predict the success of DVDs but that was because he thought they would make a cheap alternative to Frisbees. He lives in a house of his own design ,which originally featured seven screening rooms and five film stores but no kitchen. He is married to his wife and hopes to have enough children to be able to name them after every one of the X-Men. |
Regarded as one of the most charming people this side of Charles Manson. A lucrative career of impersonating celebrities for free drinks went awry when he tired to pass himself off as Hugh Jackman and Wesley Snipes on the same night. Since that fateful evening, Geoff has written several acclaimed monographs on topics like “Which Enterprise Would Be The Easiest To Eat?” and “Daleks CAN Climb Stairs,SoThere”. He enjoys an active – if depraved- social life among the glitterati and it the only member of MMM to have shared a cruise with Elle Macpherson. He is currently a spokesmen for Gold Class cinema and was recently awarded the Golden A** Print Award for 500 successful screenings. |
Gecko |
Tony |
Gecko is our most recent disciple to the palace of MMM - he loves his horror, that is for sure. Legend has it his basement is an exact replica of Victor Frankenstein's. David ttakes his time to formulate his well reasoned responses. After a long days commentating, he often takes a nap. Or duirng a long days commentating.
|
Tony is the newcomer to MMM and joined us after he decided to get into podcasting in a small way by buying the website. He identifies his interests as pontificating, pear shapes and Phillip Hinchcliffe and is the leader of a movement to have Tom Baker made Time's Man of the Millenium. He currently works as a professional koala cuddler and eagerly hopes for the chance to play ANY role in Jurassic Park 4 . |
