(Newswire.net — December 9, 2014) Thomson, Illinois — There’s a new way to teach children history, and it’s unlike any book or movie your kids have seen.
Its makers call it an “audio movie,” and they say it combines the best elements of movies and books to engage a child’s imagination in ways never previously done.
Heirloom Audio Productions in November released its newest audio movie, In Freedom’s Cause, which tells the story of 14th-century Scottish hero William Wallace through the eyes of a boy, Ned, who accompanies Wallace as he fights for Scottish freedom. The first release from Heirloom Audio, Under Drake’s Flag, recounted the story of Sir Francis Drake, who was the first Englishman to circle the globe.
Each audio movie comes in a 2-CD set.
An audio movie or audio drama awakens a child’s imagination in ways a theatrical movie simply does not, said Heirloom Audio founder Bill Heid. An audio movie makes a child an “active” participant, forcing him or her to imagine what is taking place.
“You’re imagining what people look like, how they move and act, the setting that they’re in,” Heid said. “Children become the director, the costume creator, the sound technician, the set designer – fully engaged.”
Rob Jorgensen, the sound designer and recording engineer of both projects, agreed and said audio movies stand out because of their uniqueness.
“I don’t think people are prepared for this level of production and entertainment in an audio format,” he said. “We are such a screen-driven society that when someone discovers this level of quality in an audio format, it’s intriguing and it sucks them in.”
For example, some of the scenes in In Freedom’s Cause have more than 100 layers of audio – including actual audio from Scotland. This is far different from radio theater of yesteryear in which a sound guy had only a handful of props – shoes and a toy gun, for example.
“We actually went to Scotland and stood in many of the places that William Wallace stood,” Jorgensen said. “I listened to the forest and the birds there, and got a distinct recording of the audio landscape of Scotland.”
Jorgensen also recorded sounds from actual buildings in which Wallace likely stood. Once in the studio, Jorgensen went a step further.
“If I have five characters in a scene, I will put on different shoes and a different outfit and make specific sounds for each character,” he said.
In Freedom’s Cause stars Skandar Keynes (Edmund of The Chronicles of Narnia series), Billy Boyd (Pippin of The Lord Of The Rings), James Cosmo (Campbell, Father Christmas of Braveheart and The Chronicles of Narnia, respectively) and Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates of Downton Abbey).
Under Drake’s Flag was named Favorite Audio Drama of 2014 by SchoolhouseReviewCrew.com, a major homeschooling website comprised of 200 families who review products. For more information, visit UnderDrakesFlag.com.
They received high marks from homeschooling expert and curriculum reviewer Cathy Duffy.
“While other publishers have created outstanding audio recordings, both abridged and unabridged, the new presentations from Heirloom Audio are really something special,” Duffy wrote. “The script writers, the sound engineer, the actors, the creator of the musical score, and others involved in making these productions have been involved in major, critically-acclaimed productions, and their expertise shows! These are really top-notch, audio theater experiences as well as an entertaining way to learn some history.”
For more information on In Freedom’s Cause, visit InFreedomsCause.com.