Episode 70 - With host Craig Norris and cohost Taylor Lidstone.
First Broadcast on Edge Radio, 29th March 2024.
This week’s podcast explores diverse themes: Queensland’s outback challenges Google Maps’ reliability, DC’s latest Superman film details, BBC’s AI marketing mishap with Doctor Who, the AI controversy in 'Late Night with the Devil’, Leonard Teale’s legacy as the Aussie Superman5, and the storytelling craft of inciting incidents.
Links
Authorities tell tourists 'don't just rely on Google Maps' while travelling through outback Queensland - ABC News https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-29/outback-authorities-warn-tourists-about-google-maps/103638262
DC's New Superman Movie - Release Date, Cast, Director, And Everything Else To Know - GameSpot https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/superman-release-date-cast-plot-trailer/2900-5201/
The BBC Won't Use AI to Promote Doctor Who Again After Being Yelled at by Fans https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-ai-bbc-complaints-response-disney-plus-185136344
ICYMI: Aussie horror Late Night with the Devil faces AI scandal, Heartbreak High returns and more https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-25/late-night-devil-ai-bowery-ball-heartbreak-high/103627166
MEET THE AUSSIE SUPERMAN, LEONARD TEALE https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/meet-aussie-superman
Superman, the Australian radio series, Episode 2 (1949) https://soundcloud.com/nfsaaustralia/superman-episode-2?in=nfsaaustralia/sets/superman-the-australian-radio
Original US version (1938) The Adventures of Superman : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Jerry B. Jenkins Inciting Incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOSP7yM1fQs
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TRANSCRIPT
This is an AI-generated transcript of the audio and it may contain errors. We may update or correct this transcript in the future. Please contact us if you have any questions about the information in this transcript. The audio is the official record of this episode.
Audio file
Media Mothership edited - 2024-3-29.mp3
Transcript
Speaker 1
There is nothing wrong with uranium.
Speaker
Do not attempt to adjust the volume.
Speaker 2
We are controlling.
Speaker 3
For the next tower, we will control all that you hear.
Speaker 1
You are about to experience the knowledge and insights of the medium mothership.
CRAIG NORRIS
All right, welcome here to Edge Radio 99.3 FM, this is. Is media membership broadcasting as always and of the edge? Radio studios here the fine studios of Edge Radio at Nepal, Luna Hobart TAS very fine. Very fine. I'm your host Doctor Craig, and we just heard there from my co-host Lord Taylor.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Yes, not not singing. The personal speaking, yes.
CRAIG NORRIS
That's right, it's not. Now I'm speaking. Yes, that's correct. That was a laugh from Lord Taylor. We explore how media can shape our understanding of the. World around us. And if you'd like to jump in the conversation, you can message us on 0488811707. Or send us a chat text on.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
You check text.
Speaker
Or.
CRAIG NORRIS
Which means yes, and we heard there from Simon and Garfunkel singing baby got back, which is fantastic. It's by the kind of notorious mash-up musician there. I ruined it. And yes, he mashed up his fascinating process that he puts together. Yeah. Where he'll first sing the song in his voice.
Speaker 6
Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
Then he'll get this AI programme to then change his voice so he'll sing it with new lyrics. Baby got back first, and then he'll get the AI to moderate from his.
Speaker 6
OK.
CRAIG NORRIS
Sung version of Simon and Garfunkel doing baby got back, so he's tries to do a a impersonation first. Mm-hmm. And then he uses the AI to synthesise further. A a pretty. Those parity that says something, so it's worth worth tracking down. Baby. Got back by Simon and Garfunkel. So as I mentioned on this show, we look at everything in and around the world of media and we're going to be doing some news stories first, then in the second half of the show, we're going to be picking up what we did.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Yeah, that sounded like Paul Simon, definitely.
CRAIG NORRIS
Last week, which was exploring the. Superman series, which ended up having an Australian version back in 1949. Yeah. So today working in episode 20. Thank you. Yeah, I'm going to play some of the American version of the same episode because the. Scripts the same all. In 1938, American episode 2. So we'll we'll see if we can actually hear an Australian accent compared to the original Australian. Our original American. Sorry. So I've got a new Segway tune. OK, to go into news.
Speaker 7
Yeah. Nice, I.
CRAIG NORRIS
Think it's dramatic? It's a kabuki. Yo, it's it's pretty much one of those meme sound clips that's used in discord chats. Yeah.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
What we're about here at Media mothership is just memes, isn't it?
CRAIG NORRIS
Well, I hope to. 11 car.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Become a me yes.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, but one can't simply become a me. It has to be organic, or else you're you're just grass happening. First story authorities tell tourists don't just rely on Google Maps while travelling through Outback Queensland. This is an article from ABC News.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Exactly.
CRAIG NORRIS
I love it because I have been collecting stories of disasters caused by Google Maps. OK, have you ever had a disaster caused by Google Maps where it's completely misdirected?
Speaker 8
You.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
I kind of have. It was up in. What is it about South Hobart sort of thing and it says to go down this road and you go down this road. And. There isn't really any road to go down.
CRAIG NORRIS
A family car was completely ruined.
Speaker
As the result.
CRAIG NORRIS
Of going down a a road that one wasn't meant to go. So certainly I feel I can speak. We never did the kind of oh, it appears that Google Maps is getting us to drive into the ocean moment. Which you have to commit to. But this is an article talking mainly because we're heading into the Easter long weekend and they're warning for tourists and mainly tourist safety that are particularly in Queensland. Outback authorities are concerned about tourists getting lost or stuck due to following Google map directions, and this was based on a on a story of someone indeed that.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Hmm.
CRAIG NORRIS
Had been lost. They got they. They followed Google Maps and I think it was non territorial QLD and they went. Off they they. Thought they were on the road because it. Was following Google Maps and they got bulked and they couldn't get the car out and they got stuck there for two weeks and they had to just. Stay with the car as they suggest you do. They were found fortunately, but yeah, they explained their Google Maps. So yes, tourist authorities have warned not to follow it. And again. Yeah. So as I say that it's a big season here in Australia, the Easter school holidays, you know, the beginning of Outback tourist season. With many visitors expected, have you ever done the Outback tourist season? Have you? Outback toured, done the Great? You know Mad Max experience, you know, become wild and feral and.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
I've never heard of that before. I haven't gotten any tattoos. Or getting my Hawker in.
CRAIG NORRIS
Mohawked up exactly. OK. So their advice they offer mainly is that local authorities advise against solely relying on Google Maps and suggest consulting physical maps.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Or Apple maps.
CRAIG NORRIS
Or competitors. Do you have a physical map in your car?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Oh, I think I. Do yes. But it's it's from like 20 or 30 years ago. So a lot of the roads don't exist or.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, cause it used to be the way you had to go around. And I I recently found my like, I think it's my two.
Speaker 7
Let's try.
CRAIG NORRIS
1000. Two copy of lonely planets. Tasmania which I think I could use as Tassie, really hasn't changed that much.
Speaker 6
MHM.
CRAIG NORRIS
That you should. Check road conditions and inform someone of travel plans right and for safety measures. They say it's recommended to stay with your vehicle if lost and ensure it's well maintained. Carry essential supplies like food, water and fuel.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
And yeah, it's very important to like let people know if you're going to do something that might. Something bad might happen with so for example, I was walking along in the Bush one day and I saw a body bag.
CRAIG NORRIS
Body bag a body bag. Is that like something you used in?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
A morgue? Yeah. And there was, like, sort of like, what looked like a person in it. And so I texted quite a few of my friends, and I was just like, if anything happens, I found the body bag at this location. Right. And then I went and checked it out, and it was just full of. Fire.
CRAIG NORRIS
Wow. Or was it like the Burning Man? And that firewood was this folk horror thing that was symbolic inside out with firewood? Is is putting firewood in a body?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
It was just fun.
CRAIG NORRIS
Bag. Good for transporting.
Speaker 9
It wasn't a body.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Bag it was just the top. It was. The black top.
CRAIG NORRIS
Just a bug, alright like rolled up. And tart. Yeah. And you were thinking. Wow. See, that's wonderfully vivid imagination because you're by yourself. Yeah. Did you? Did you hear? Let me just. Did you hear that kind of sound in the background? The the kind of Friday 13th killer.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
There might have been some wind, yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
OK, so do be careful with that. Let me so. That's story 10. Here we go. Let's now move on to story 2. Yeah. So, yeah, we could be rough over this. Yeah. All right, so the BBC won't use AI to promote Doctor Who again.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Wow. So they did to begin with, I didn't know.
CRAIG NORRIS
This. Yeah. Yeah, so the BBC won't use AI to promote Doctor Who again after being yelled at by fans. It's a great title from Gizmondo. So the BBC announced its intent to experiment with generative AI weeks ago, only to learn that few forces on this earth are as potent as annoyed Doctor Who. Ends, so the story goes on, that the BBC had had tested using this generative AI for marketing, specifically for the latest Doctor Who series. And yeah, it's mainly caused this huge backlash. My fans who you know. Simply were appalled. Anything to do? With AI and, you know, were were threatening boycotts and so forth. So it has something to escalate quickly. And that was it. Like I I came across that article and then shortly after that, the ABC News reported on a similar occurrence with a whole movie that's currently being marketed, which I'm I'm actually really looking forward to, to watching it's Australian or it's a a film directed by Australian director. It's called late night with the devil. It's the one. Yeah, it sounds like a really interesting concept. The concept is I think it's the 1960s or 70s talk show during Halloween and they decide for a stunt to bring in.
Speaker
That's nice.
CRAIG NORRIS
Allegedly possessed woman, so it's a bit like bringing in Reagan, just as she was undergoing the exorcism. Or not the exorcism, but possession and yeah. Yeah. Yeah, the video clip. For the trailer, sorry. Looks looks fantastic. So anyway, it sparked this huge debate due to its use of AI generated imagery which has led to calls. For boycotts, it's been released into the US two quite a bit of success so far, but yeah, what happened was they'd had to admit to having used, I think, two or three designs for some of the the the props that were used, there's a skeleton. Crop that kind of features in the background of the stage design, right? So you know, you've got to picture this kind of Don Lane live with Don Lane kind of TV chat, chat, chat show with a with a, a host and guests coming.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
So it's a real prop that has that has got this AI image on it. So it's not particularly like the image is AI, it's just it's a real thing, but with an AI image proper.
CRAIG NORRIS
From what I know, I haven't. Seen how it's used but the image they give. Here is of. Just a graphic design for a skeleton dancing right night owls, which is the name of the chat show and and that image you can see by the hands is is is AI based because the the fingers are all kind of warped and so people were looking at those background designs and that just appears in the background of the.
Speaker 6
M.
CRAIG NORRIS
Stage. So yeah, it's it's kind of done as a as maybe a a a card coming up. Next. Kind of thing or it could be in the background, but yeah, anyway it it seems to. Have caused this huge overreaction. People calling for a boycott. Oh my. God, it's a I. Which yeah, I, I've got to admit, I I mean, for for a film which is getting quite a lot of acclaim, 3 images seems seems a little bit of an overreaction to suddenly say this whole piece is is is morally bankrupted and needs to be. Boycott, gosh, how many of our shows would? Be in trouble.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
But when it comes to Doctor Who? You can sort of see more how it's. Sort of viable there well.
CRAIG NORRIS
I guess we've got a lot of money though, doctor, you could say that. Why aren't they spending money in? Graphic designers would be the argument against that.
Speaker 6
Bing.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
And the whole point of Doctor Who is that they made really poor, cheaply done monsters and so going through to, you know. What's it called? My mind's going.
CRAIG NORRIS
Blank computer AI generated.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Computer computer aided imagery, which is what we're at now, and then going straight through into AI imagery. It feels like it's very much disrespecting its path.
CRAIG NORRIS
In terms of actually making it look better than it should. Be in terms of using.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
AI instead of using bubble wrap.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah. Yeah, that. Yeah, well, that that's a cute a cute idea that. Yeah, instead of underpaying instead of underpaying a kind of, you know, overworked graphic designer to create something half baked. I love the classic image of Doctor Who's monster designs from the.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Thank you.
CRAIG NORRIS
70s. Yeah, that is the A well and and I guess in a in a way this is what the article is saying or or they're defending themselves as saying they they used it. To experiment with. And they did further edit and and design on top of the AI design which you know. It's a tool, and if you're editing it further and creating it to sit in a unified presence in the well building you're doing on the show, then you know, do the ends justify the.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Means we know that saw AI which is the new up and coming ChatGPT. For video creation I guess, which is they've released a couple of videos recently and they are pretty good quality. To you, I think this week they stated that they have been talking to Hollywood. It's in general trying to get into basically every single. Movie creation, Production, House sort of thing.
CRAIG NORRIS
Which I imagine would possibly lead to some fan boycotts. If yeah, if even you. You know. I mean, it seems in these two cases, it's when fans of have forensically discovered the AI and felt that it's not being transparent that the the designers, the director, the marketing team, haven't been transparent, that this was generated by AI. I mean, even the the Disney show. Secret Wars got into a lot of trouble because.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
How is that the one with the the theme like at the beginning? Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, the opening title sequence was AI generated, but that kind of made sense because it was all about humans being replaced by doppelgangers. And you know, can you tell the difference? And in a way? They they were, you know, literally replacing graphic designers with AI and yeah, fans notice the difference and what happy it does feel though that there's this kind of media panic around AI, which, you know, I I totally. And I I I think it's a fascinating conversation and I do think there's there's there's clear moments of exploitation. Happening here where people have been compensated or the the type of training which is going on for these AI is not transparent and even the engineers themselves struggle to explain why certain solutions are coming up with my AI. So it does seem to be. The you know. The cultural dimension, the the creation of these AI are highly problematic.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
What I'm saying is that we are going to start seeing it in every movie. It is gonna become the norm as soon as Sora gets into, you know, universal and all of these. Metro golden mine. Does that exist anymore? I.
CRAIG NORRIS
Don't know. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, yeah, I guess that's why there was a riders strike recently. It picked up on some of the concerns of riders with AI generated content. So yeah, I imagine there'll be. It's a great case of disruptive technology at the.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Moment, but you look. At one of the well, the series of best movies ever created, which is. Doctor Who no. Of movies.
CRAIG NORRIS
Of movies. Yeah. The best movie series, Psycho. No, 2-3 is great. Gets better after Jaws. Jaws Fit 4 Michael Caine.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
No, keep guessing. Ohh, come on. No think think from my perspective. Best movie series ever.
CRAIG NORRIS
Well, it's gonna be. Harry Potter? No, you. Literally did an AI generator radio drama of Harry.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Potter. Yeah, but that's just cause I like getting Dumbledore to like, start killing people.
CRAIG NORRIS
What is that Korean? Is there a K pop?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Come on. No Lord of the.
CRAIG NORRIS
Movie franchise.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Rings.
CRAIG NORRIS
I didn't see it was a little during kind.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Lord of the Rings OK has got so much, you know, like miniatures.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, what a workshop.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
And in terms of like if you look at the, if you, if you watch the Movies Now, it holds up now it still holds up now.
CRAIG NORRIS
Sure, sure. Sure. Yeah. Many people point to practical offence.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
But the only the only thing that doesn't hold up is the fly through down into what's called Auckland. Let's call it that. And because that one is fully computer generated.
CRAIG NORRIS
It's been really central. And canny. Yeah, that kind of uncanny valley, I think maybe people will look back nostalgically at some of the earlier attempts in the 80s and 90s, in particular when it was even more clunky. To get CGI into movies like I'm thinking of some horror movies and such which had AI there. Yeah, I I think it's so bad. It will be so bad. It's good. Yeah, who knows?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
I think practical effects more, more movies need to have practical effects.
CRAIG NORRIS
You need to. Have a look please. Yeah. Yeah, I don't. Yeah. Well, yeah, I mean, I guess if you have a lot of money, they they take a lot of money.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
All right, was Woods.
CRAIG NORRIS
Coming up, nick.
Speaker 7
And now, paralysed from the neck down, and I cannot move it. Move it.
CRAIG NORRIS
All right. That was less musical. King Julian kind of sound bite there to get. Us into the.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Next story, don't know what? That is.
CRAIG NORRIS
Don't worry. Trust me. We'll be listening. To a lot of these.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Sound bites.
CRAIG NORRIS
In the the.
Speaker
New the new?
CRAIG NORRIS
Show. All right, so next story is just setting up the second half of the show. So DC's new Superman movie release date, cast director and everything else we know. So basically it's interesting looking at Superman right now because there's some interest as to how. James. Gunn and Peter Saffron, who the Co heads of DC Studios are going to kick off this this next era, right? The brand new and improved DC well building kind of multiverse or whatever it is that they're going to be setting up and it's going to start with the next Superman. So it had been titled Superman legacy, and there's a lot of discussion around the the cast, the director, the release date and so forth. So at the moment. Yeah, it's, it's. Kind of one of these things, like, you know, it's all coming together. But everything's very fluid. It could all just change. It was called Superman legacy. Now it's just called Superman.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
So it's a reboot.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yes, it's going to be a reboot. It's not going to have Henry.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Another reader.
CRAIG NORRIS
Cavill, of course, because.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
He was.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah. Yeah. Look, I really enjoyed Man of Steel. I thought his performance, in fact, it was interesting piece. I was listening to about Henry Cavill. They were saying that Henry Cavill was fantastic of Superman in many ways. Henry Cavill outside of the Superman movie was. Was so much like Superman, right? Or Claude Kent. He's this kind of, you know, generous. Fan aware? Yeah. You know, you can helping people.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Fly.
CRAIG NORRIS
So at the. Moment for stars, obviously. Allegedly, there's been some casting. So David corn. Swat is Superman. I don't know Nathan Fillion. I do know from Serenity is is going to be guy Gardner. I think Guy Gardner was one of the Green Lanterns.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
I've never heard of any of these.
CRAIG NORRIS
People about Superman. Lois Lane, gay gardener, Lex luthor. Hawk girl. Mr Terrific, the engineer. Jimmy Olsen. Metamorpho task.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
And mermaid man and Barnacle boy.
CRAIG NORRIS
I think this. Why not? There's no training yet. The Superman who's directing it, James Gunn, is the writer and director of Superman. And it looks like it's being scheduled, hopefully for July 11th, 2025. All that is to say is to say, yeah, yeah. So that that's why it might be timely. Look at Superman so. Now let's move on to.
Speaker 7
Ah.
CRAIG NORRIS
The next section.
Speaker 9
Nanny.
CRAIG NORRIS
Nanny.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Wow, we have gone full memes, haven't we?
Speaker
OK.
CRAIG NORRIS
Ohh this is my main playlist. Of course, yeah. Yeah, you don't have one, no. All right, so now. What I want to do is is. Look at episode two of the case study of Superman. So the Superman radio drama, which began back in 1940 in the US or 3838, I think, came out. The radio drama began airing in 1940 in Australia, 9 years after. The script was performed by Australian voice actors. Yeah, the lead. Actor who plays Superman Leonard Thiel, was famous for later on performing in the homicide TV series, which I missed, but then again that is the 1950s. Sixties performs as Superman and and was reasonably popular.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
My name is bloody Superman.
CRAIG NORRIS
So we are going to listen now to some examples of. Of of Episode 2 of Superman.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
What happened in episode?
CRAIG NORRIS
One episode one was the destruction of Krypton, so it's is a kind of prequel in a way. It's kind of an act, one where Superman doesn't appear. We see baby.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Yoda.
CRAIG NORRIS
Superman, we we see jorio right? And yeah, it is. It's such an interesting story to look at. I think Superman in terms of the theme of the show, which is, you know, how media. You know, reflects or provides a window into the world around us and Superman very much people point to as being Ground Zero for the genre of the superhero becoming popular. He's considered one of the the early, very early superheroes that was created.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
I thought that was Jesus.
CRAIG NORRIS
Well, yeah. Well. It is Easter. Easter it.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Bringing it into.
CRAIG NORRIS
Is Easter? Ohh well, many people say actually the story of Superman is really similar to Jesus because you think of the story of Jesus which is.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
God had the power of flight.
CRAIG NORRIS
Apart from all those great skills he he had, he gave his only son to to humans, to Earth, right, and his only son down right so much like Joel in Superman since his only son, the father of. Superman. So Superman is Superman's father is Jerrell.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
OK. Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
Where's that? He sent his son to Earth. Right. So there's a kind of Jesus parallel many people point to Moses being a stronger connection. The story of Moses. Of course. The pharaoh goes to kill all the Jewish boys.
Speaker 6
M.
CRAIG NORRIS
That are born and. His mother saves her son by sending her son down the river in a basket. Yeah, right. So similar to so. Anyway, there's there are some religious.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Parallels. So Superman came here in the basket down a river.
CRAIG NORRIS
Well, as the last episode, you know the the the structure you've done, you've seen that heard that read that. But yeah, it is. So it is one of these texts which does set up these ideas of the morally you know, fighting for truth and justice, identity of the superior so. You know it, it certainly helped the radio series in particular certainly helped broaden that mythology and reach a bigger audience than just the.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Comic books does it? Is it counted as like?
CRAIG NORRIS
Cannon it's interesting question because I was looking on the Internet about actors that have played Superman, and indeed the Australian Superman from 1949 appears in a lot of lists as people that have played Superman right. All the other actors of course you like Christopher Reeve Henry Cavill.
Speaker 6
Hmm.
CRAIG NORRIS
Ohh who's the? Guy that played him in the 50s TV show. Anyway, we'll look for that later anyway. Comes up, but then also the Australian actor appears Leonard Hill. And look, it's interesting because. The Australian series. Played there were there are over 1000 episodes.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Wow, OK.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, it we played every.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Are they quite short, I suppose.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, 15 minutes. They played Monday to Friday at 6:30 PM. It appears that it only played in Sydney. It only had in Sydney on 2GB, so it was created just for that station in Sydney. And at the moment I've only been able to find four episodes of those over 1 thousand 1022 of those episodes have been kind of digitally or remastered by the.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Remastering people, yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
National film and Sound Archive of Australia that you can check out and two others are in the wild on YouTube just hanging out there.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
OK. Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
So there were well. If we have time next week, we might play the other two. But what I want to set up is is I want to this week play the because we've actually got Superman.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
In the studio right here.
CRAIG NORRIS
No, in this episode. It does. It does make some changes to the original story. Because initially the story of Superman is he. You know is is put on the spaceship to escape Krypton sent to Earth. Crashes on earth. Do you remember what happens next? No, no, no. In Kansas.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
In the desert.
CRAIG NORRIS
Starting in by Yep, Amaron Park, Kent as a child and then is is is brought up on their on their farm until he is like.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
This is the original 1 OK. I don't know the original 1.
CRAIG NORRIS
It is 18 or 20 or something and then he decides to go to Metropolis to become a reporter. And however, in this version as well here.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Suit is in.
CRAIG NORRIS
The desert lands in lands again in Metro in in Earth.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
In the desert, it says in the desert.
CRAIG NORRIS
As a fully fully grown human, yeah, fully grown human does. It sees it in the.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Desert, yeah, 100% cause I listen to the drive.
Speaker 7
Here. Yeah, go great.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah. So, well, let's listen to it then. So what we'll do is. We'll play the start of the Australian version. And then I might compare it a little bit to the American vision. So we get a sense of some of the questions I'm curious to ask about it. That are, you know, how has it been adapted? Is there any kind of a strangeness and?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
No, like accents and stuff like that.
CRAIG NORRIS
Accents. Yeah, culture, right? Do they to men ride a kangaroo? Well, the Superman comic book series has Super Dog. Does this version have super? Superuser Peru Subaru uh Subaru Subaru they.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Seafood. Seafood.
CRAIG NORRIS
Could have told me. Done a cross promotion there. Character portrayal does Leonard Hill, who plays Superman, differ from the American? Version it was always Hector. There was was quite famous. Does he bring any unique qualities to it?
Speaker 6
Hmm.
CRAIG NORRIS
There aren't any narrative changes because they literally just reading the exact same script, one or two slight tweaks, but nothing big. Production value is slightly different. So as we're listening to it, it's fun to slightly lower budget of the Australian version.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
OK. Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
Historical context. Fascinating to me because the US version aired in 1940. Just a year before. The US entered World War 2 right, so it was very much a a kind of the the welds in peril, the rise of Nazi Germany are kind of increasing war footing that America was getting towards. So yeah, in Australia, though, in Superman, interestingly, with Superman in World War 2, it was decided by DC.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
And.
CRAIG NORRIS
And the editors never to send Superman to fight a Model 2 because they felt it would diminish the actual reality of of trying to win this war that if if they had episodes of because of course comic books were one of the most popular reading sources for GI's and many soldiers. And if they had Superman comics, they were reading where Superman was like, busting up the Germans with no problems. It might diminish the idea of. Actually, this is not as easy as as simply smashing through. So instead Superman stayed in the US and helped raise war bonds and fought. Michael crying there. Well, I know, I know. Captain America. Interestingly, there are. Like, there's some of that famous Captain America comic book Page where he does punch Hitler out. Sweet man never did and and the legacy. I guess the legacy of this Australian version. I think it's it's unknown, right? I mean, no one knows that there was an Australian, you know, a completely Australian produced Superman series from 49 on had over 1000 episodes.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah. So let's listen now to the opening of the Superman Australian radio series. Episode two first broadcast in 1949. Here we go.
Speaker 8
Superman. Superman's eighth wonder of the modern world visitor from a distant planet whose strength knows no limits, whose endurance is beyond anything humanity has ever known. We have seen how the child of Jarrell and Lara was placed in the rocket ship and sent on his way to Earth during the long journey of the rocket ship to Earth. The child has become a man. The rocket landed in a desert. Superman stepped for fully grown to explore the strange new world in which he found himself.
CRAIG NORRIS
All right, so that was.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
The intro. Yep, where Superman landed in the desert.
CRAIG NORRIS
And it doesn't say where, so it. Could be Outback Australia still right?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Yeah, except.
Speaker 7
For.
CRAIG NORRIS
So your your local you. Know you're and this is aimed at kids in Australia, so you're, you know, you're 8 year old, might be thinking, wow. Thank God Google Maps isn't. Yeah, because I'd be trying to drive there right now. Go to Queensland over Easter. And get there. Alright, So what I want to do is play the American version. Yeah. Of that same intro to hear. Can we hear the difference between the two? Just I'll just put it back a bit so we get that Australian intro feel and then I'll immediately play into the.
Speaker 6
OK.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
OK. Yes.
Speaker 9
Yeah.
Speaker 8
In the rocket ship and sent on his way to work.
CRAIG NORRIS
So there it. Is.
Speaker 8
During the long journey of the rocket ship to Earth, the child has become a man. Rocket Superman stepped for fully grown to explore the strange new world in which he found himself.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah. So he's become a man. This much in the extreme version, you really. Gotta get used. To that whistle sound I. So in particular, pay attention to that. That's the production. Value. OK, so here's the. Start of the US version, this is from 1940.
Speaker 7
Superman up in the sky. Look, it's a bird.
Speaker 10
It's a plane.
Speaker 7
Superman.
CRAIG NORRIS
So it's interesting because the US version has that look up in the sky. It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman. The screen version doesn't have that classic, but also they don't use that that bloody. They they use more of a of a. Generating things. Yeah. Yeah. So obviously, the theatre of the mind that the Golden Age of radio is celebrated for there's some. Bit of equipment like a washing machine. Something they've got and they pull against these anyway. Keep listening now.
Speaker 11
And now Superman eighth wonder of the modern world visited from a distant planet whose strength knows no limits, whose endurance is beyond anything humanity has ever known. We have seen how the child of Jorrell and Laura was placed in the rocket ship and set on his way to Earth. During the long journey of the rocket ship to the Earth, the child has become a man. The rocket landed in its desert. Superman stepped forth, full grown, to explore this strange new world in which he found him. Though today, as our story continues, we find him hovering with his curious power above a quiet highway in Indiana. A trolley car is just pulling up the hill and a Superman wheels and turns in curious flight unseen below. A man and the boy come out of the shed that serves as waiting room.
Speaker 12
Morning, professor. Good morning. Going into town? Yes, that's right. John. Taking Jimmy to the fair. That is a great show. All right. Well, I reckon you're my only passengers. Make yourselves at home. I'm going to get me a drink of wine, alright.
CRAIG NORRIS
Our poison.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Hasn't taken due to.
CRAIG NORRIS
The that's great. The accents who got this Irish bus driver guy.
Speaker 12
It's.
Speaker 9
We've got the.
CRAIG NORRIS
Old Professor Guy and and Jimmy. Let's go to. The Australian version there because I'm curious. To see if there are. Accents because already we've. Heard in that little intro set up, yeah.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Irish American.
CRAIG NORRIS
Let's see if we've got an Irish Australian maybe.
Speaker 8
Today, as our story continues, we find him hovering with his curious power above a quiet highway in a quiet country town. A bus is just pulling up the hill, and as Superman wheels and turns in curious flight unseen from below, a man and a boy come out of the shed that serves. As waiting room. Morning, professor. Good morning, John. Going to town? Yes, that's red. Taking Jimmy to the carnival. It's a great show. All right. Well, I reckon you're my only passengers. Make yourselves at home. I'm going to get a drink of water.
Speaker 3
Here's all right.
CRAIG NORRIS
You know, I have real difficulty. Remembering who's talking? Yeah, because. The advising the US version there is that having an Irish guy. As the bus. Conductor and then your your professor is. Just an American accent at least, distinguishes them because when they're not distinguishes like man's voice. Old man voice, old man voice. The young voice is easy. So yes, we'll we'll hear it. So it does lose a little bit there, I think in the vocal performance isn't quite as strong.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Yeah.
Speaker 2
Do you hear the?
CRAIG NORRIS
Difference between Australian and American accents. Moral fair. It's not strong.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Relax, but because that's because that's sort of like an oldie. It is still quite British influence.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, that kind of BBC Australian voice. Yeah. It's not Kath and Kim's kind of level. Again, because a few of those guys, we. Were we did. A story on Australian accents and they mainly I think there were two categories of Australian accents. There was that very broad Steve Irwin accents or poor Paul Hogan accent, a very broad Australian accent. And then there was more of a refined.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Like like pull and pool.
CRAIG NORRIS
Cate Blanchett. Pool. Yes, that was state differences, but there's, yeah, there. There are strain accents like Steve Owen. Then there are strain accents that are more refined. Closer to a British accent, like Cate Blanchett. All. Right. So here I think we're hearing more of that refined. 1949, which is not surprising. Australia notoriously kind of polished away the. At least for its news reports, that kind of border Australian accent, but we might we might come across, we'll we'll keep listening here to the Australian radio. Series. As this this builds up.
Speaker 2
And we've got the bustle to ourselves.
Speaker 3
Yes, regular private car with the driver go. Boom. Just over to the spring for a drink. Some mighty hot day.
Speaker 2
Well, he better hurry. We'll be late.
Speaker
Wait.
Speaker 3
We can't start without driver.
CRAIG NORRIS
I wonder if that's. A real young boy in the studio or. Because it's always interesting that the voice of Bart Simpson, for instance, is a. It's what's her name? Nancy. Something rather, a middle aged American woman. A lot of the Pokémon, like Ash, is voiced by a a female voice actor, so it wouldn't surprise me if it's maybe.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
I I when I first heard it, I thought it was a woman putting on a a voice. Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah.
Speaker 10
But we are starting looked at. The doors are closed, we're moving right? The brakes. Something's happened to the brakes. Ohh, let's get out. Quick. Open the doors. Shut down. We're going. Faster and faster. We're going downhill. And look, there's a tree. A tree falling right across the roadway. Look, look there in the sky. What is it? It's a man. Why he's. Flying can't be it's a. Possible dad. He's coming straight at us. He's swooping down, coming through the roof.
Speaker 9
Quick, grab hold of me. Put me down. Let me go 1/3.
Speaker 10
Let me.
CRAIG NORRIS
Do you kind of understand what's happening there? It it seems a bit.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
So like in A, is it a train or a bus or something bus and then he flies down and grabs them and their first thing is get off me.
CRAIG NORRIS
Pass. Yeah. Get off me. That's very rude.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Even though it's like a runaway bus.
CRAIG NORRIS
It isn't. You know that. I mean, again, it's theatre of the mind. So they've gone to vocalise like, look over there. Is that a man flying? So it's interesting here also is. Yes. Superman flies in the original comic book. He he lapped or he'd leap to then.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
What is it? What is? It. Could he glide?
CRAIG NORRIS
Fly a bit. Probably wind currents. Wow. Save some energy. I would.
Speaker
All right.
Speaker 9
Up through the top. Hold on, it's going to crack.
Speaker
Brady whistle.
Speaker 3
Well, we got out of that just in time. The bus is a wreck, smashed into a million.
Speaker 2
Pieces. Where are you going? What are?
Speaker 10
You going to do to us?
Speaker 9
What's happening put us.
Speaker 3
Down. Don't be frightened. You're all right.
CRAIG NORRIS
So this of course is the introduction of Superman like you got to imagine here, that you're listening along the series is called Superman, but this is the first appearance of our heroes. So here we're we're we're gonna lean up to the idea of how you're we're writing this script to introduce this character and the the values of this character. I guess. Obviously, he's performed the heroic act.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Of course he talk like this. Of course he's.
CRAIG NORRIS
A hero. It is good. Yeah. So we have we have the Superman voice, don't we? And as well. Listen, it works because again, you. You'll hear the same actor doing the Clark Kent voice and then the Superman voice which I think is going to be one of those things where you will hear the different performance. Of Leonard Teal from Australia and barred Colinger, I think is the US. Actor that does it. UM. It is, yeah, it is. It is. It is interesting also that as we'll hear Superman fully grown. So here we'll hear, I guess his his character. What? What his. What is Superman in 1949 Australia.
Speaker 3
I had to get you out of there in a hurry. Pulling you out through the roof. Was the only way. Now we're going down again down.
CRAIG NORRIS
I guess.
Speaker 3
There you are, safe and sound in a field. I don't know what. To say it's quite all right, Prof. Getting you and the boy out of that bus was nothing.
Speaker 2
I can't believe it.
Speaker 3
Who are you anyway? Where did you come from? I have no name. I come from a world that no longer exists. Here in this world of yours, men would call me a Superman.
CRAIG NORRIS
It's interesting point. Superman because Clark Kent. I mean. Well, Superman Jarrell, one of his key values, of course, is this modesty that his, you know, self effacing yet his labelled this preposterously. Exaggerated term. Superman you know, so it's always been this, this tension for I think writers. How does he get that name right? It seems a little immodest for him to call himself that because it kind of goes against. The core codes of that character, yet here I guess he doesn't give himself the name, he says. People of your world would refer. To someone like me. As a super.
Speaker
Then.
CRAIG NORRIS
And they're like, well, OK, you're not calling yourselves human, but yeah, because I think we could, you know, people around here would refer to someone like me as a genius. And I guess we have just seen. Him fly, so he has backed.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Thank you.
CRAIG NORRIS
That up. All right, we'll keep pushing on for and again. What we're hearing are the core qualities of Superman. Superman. Like, what are the rules of this version of Superman?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
So he he was. He was expelled out as a baby and then grew into a man within the pod and then came to Earth. So how did how did he learn? Did he have audio books to listen to?
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, in the pod. Yeah. Which was meant to be quite small, so.
Speaker 6
Correct.
CRAIG NORRIS
He had. To. Yeah, right. I mean it seems I don't know if there are episodes in this radio series. That explain what went on in, but I do know I was reading into this that the the daughter or the the niece of Superman. Right. Super girl. So she is. She she arrives in Earth fully grown, and when she when her parents put her in the escape pod, they gave her education material to watch as she did grow up, she took longer to get to her. Something like this took longer to get to Earth, but she. Studied on a trip. Which is this. Version of Superman. I mean, they do, I guess. And if you wanted to tell a quick story, it does jump straight into the action. You don't have to worry about the kind of pre Superman identity. He's just Superman straight away.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
But it does mean wait. This. Yeah, it's a great question. What does get his values from? Because without the parents, my own part, Kent, who are this, you know? Solar the earth. You know, perfect parents that gave Clark Kent his upbringing, and therefore this this kind of wholesome American. You of the world. Where does he get that from then if he doesn't? Get it from his. Parents, he seems to get it from this conversation. Keep listening.
Speaker 3
Oh, it's a dream. A wild impossible dream.
Speaker 2
But Dad, it happened. We saw it. He flew down and took us under his arms.
Speaker 3
And out of the bus, that's all. Nothing so strange about that. You saved our lives, jimmy'z and mine. I I don't understand even now. And I'm very grateful. Are you, professor? I do doubt it. Would you do something to prove it?
Speaker 2
Would we anything at?
Speaker 3
All then make me a promise. Promise that you will never say anything about what has happened. Won't. Don't you want people to know? Not just yet. I want.
CRAIG NORRIS
So it's an interesting thing here, and they point out the the 1st. Few episodes of the Superman series, what's unusual about it is that Superman wants to remain unknown. He doesn't want to be seen publicly making all of these big heroic acts, so a lot of the episodes deal with him, kind of trying to. Secretly help people and do things and this is what they're setting up now that that he doesn't want people to know him yet because as we're going to hear next, he wants to do a bit of anthropologies.
Speaker 3
No one to know except those I helped. Will you promise? Well, who if you wish good. Now I want your advice.
Speaker 2
You want advice from us?
Speaker 3
You'll know this world. I'm a stranger. You know the people in it and I have still to find them out. You you want to meet men? Is that it not? Meet them, professor.
CRAIG NORRIS
Just on that line. You, you you want to meet men? Is that how that should be delivered? It's yeah, cause it's weird. It's, it's that. I mean, there we go, 1949 sexist, misogynistic Australia. It it doesn't actually engage with a a plurality of life, let alone a multi plurality of life. It's like, you know, well, of course it's men to meet. There are these other things called women. But so it's just so. Awkward, he said. I'll put it back in because I want to hear that again and we do know Lois Lane forms of character. Not in this episode, but the next one.
Speaker 3
I'm a stranger. You know the people in it and I have still to find them out. You. You want to meet men? Is that? It not meet them, professor. Observe them. Study them, see them at their best and at their worst. Know which to help and when help is needed. If you can tell me that.
Speaker 2
Dad, can we help him?
Speaker 12
Well.
Speaker 3
Yes, I think so.
Speaker 7
No.
Speaker 3
To mingle with people, to see men at the highest and the lowest, if that's what you want to let me think. And how about a newspaper? A great metropolitan daily. A newspaper? Yes. Join their staff. Be a reporter.
Speaker 2
Or which you can't do it in those clothes. Not that blue costume with the cloak and the shield on your breast. Gee, you couldn't.
Speaker 3
Jimmy. These are the cloak and shield of Superman. If I become as other men, I shall dress as other men. Well, then you'll have to assume some kind of a name. What do they call you? I have no name.
Speaker 2
Well. How about Clark Kent?
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
I've heard of all of these things but news.
Speaker 9
Views.
CRAIG NORRIS
Paper. Paper, news. I do like I was thinking if this was done now they might say, you know well, you must influencer. Be yeah.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Ticked off the star? Tick tock.
CRAIG NORRIS
Tick tock. Yes, you, you you would be perfect in your clothing right now. Your blue spandex. Would be perfect so that that's how he gets to be unusual, which is, you know, it's a great identity to have if you're needing to have a character that is finding out what's happening and can act on it and become Superman, reporter makes sense. I do quickly want to jump to one final example, which is the voice where he goes from Superman. Clark Kent. Mm-hmm. So what we're gonna do is skip forward a bit. He goes to Metropolis, he goes to the daily planet. He meets Perry White, the editor. He begs for a job, and he is given that. On the condition that he kind of solved this. This current big story.
Speaker 1
Rather clairvoyant or the laugh. You couldn't wait. Wait.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah, the wolf all right.
Speaker 13
Alright, pardon me. If.
CRAIG NORRIS
So he's in Perry White's office. He's just been taken out to go into the waiting room now. So he's talking as Clark Kent at the moment. This is the Australian boom.
Speaker 13
Or did come from the wolf? I should be inclined to believe it, eh?
Speaker
Hey.
Speaker 1
How do you know who we're speaking?
Speaker 13
If I were you, I'd warn the officials in charge of.
Speaker
Excellent.
Speaker 1
The silver Clipper. Now look here. You couldn't. The wolf I tickets and.
CRAIG NORRIS
£50 just skip forward to it, yeah.
Speaker 2
Wait here.
Speaker 13
What a rotten night.
Speaker 2
Don't fall out that window. It's 20 stories done.
Speaker 13
Beautiful view, even in the fog.
Speaker 2
You wait right here till lunch.
Speaker 13
And sorry, Miss Smith, afraid I can't wait.
Speaker 3
Clark Kent may need a plane, but Superman doesn't.
Speaker
There you go.
CRAIG NORRIS
That's that's the Australian version of that now the American version of that same scene, going from Clark Kent to.
Speaker 11
Officials in charge of signal you've got.
Speaker 6
Haines grounded. 2000 miles to go. Sorry, Miss Smith. I'm afraid I can't wait. Clark Kent may need a plane, but Superman doesn't up with the window and out.
Speaker 10
You know this stone isn't.
Speaker 7
Well, let's land.
CRAIG NORRIS
Sorry, I I wanted to make sure. People could hear. It's not as strong, so I I think Leonard till actually does quite a good job going from the more mild mannered Clark Kent to the you know, Man of Steel Super Man.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
That's. Yeah.
CRAIG NORRIS
Yeah. So yeah, that, that's. That's that's set up Australia, Superman. Not as strong vernacular as I was. And well, yeah, I. Mean once they're doing the same script, yeah. Well, that's pretty much media membership this Easter weekend. Yeah. Thank you for listening, I think. Well, yeah, I I was. Surprised actually, to. Get a link to Easter that in fact many people, some people point to a connection between the suora Superman and story of Christ.
Speaker
All Moses.
CRAIG NORRIS
As well coming up next, keep listening because it's Kpop unlimited DJ TJ, are there any things going on? K Pop unlimited.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
Yeah, we've got some good tunes. We've always got some good tunes, but it's particularly good tunes.
CRAIG NORRIS
That's great. I like the particularly good ones. So this has been Doctor Craig from media membership. Joined by Lord Taylor as always. Show notes are available on the episode. Via YouTube, Twitch, or your podcast provider of choice. We've got one more episode next week. Then we're taking a short two week break. Do loosen in. We'll probably go a little deeper into the Superman stuff. I did find an episode that. More of an Australian accent in in in like a 5 second moment. Yeah, so keep listening now coming up next is K Pop unlimited.
TAYLOR LIDSTONE
OK. Yeah.
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