Today we’d like to introduce you to John Ballentine.
Hi John, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Finding a creative outlet has always been an important factor in my life, even if it was perhaps at times, an unconscious need. I’ve chased all manner of artistic endeavors over the years, from filmmaking to drawing/painting to writing. Even hot rodding muscle cars can scratch a bit of that same itch.
But the single avenue of creative expression I have found most rewarding is storytelling through audio. Specifically creating audio fiction that is dramatized by brilliant voice performers and soundscaped to wrap the audience in an immersive experience. It certainly has roots in old time radio. Shows like Suspense and Lights Out. But, in many ways, what I do now owes more to a modern cinematic experience, only with the projector bulb turned off. You’re left in the dark with only the sound to guide you. The screen becomes your canvas and your mind conjures what images might fill it. Theater of the imagination.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Several years back, I began a practice of writing at least one screenplay per year. It was sort of a creative bucket list type exercise. These were stories I had always wanted to tell but in many cases lacked either the discipline or perhaps the skill set to finish them in my younger years. And sometimes even life experience wasn’t, to some degree, sufficient to illuminate the characters in a fully three dimensional way.
Writing these scripts was an exercise in futility. While I was pleased with the work, they were inevitably forced to languish on a dust covered shelf or in some dark corner of my hard drive. In most cases, they were tales meant to be produced as big budget features. As any aspiring indie screenwriter will tell you, it’s a Herculean task to sell any script, much less actually have it green lighted into production. Add to that the obstacle of living on the opposite coast from LA and your odds of striking the lottery begin to look rather appealing in comparison.
Around this time, I began to revisit a love of audio storytelling, particularly radio drama. Having actually worked in radio back in the 80s, I had some experience dabbling in the art form . An idea began to take root. Why not adapt some of these stories waiting in the wings into audio plays?
I decided to dive headfirst into the deep end of the horror genre and make it the focus of this anthology that would come to be known as Campfire Radio Theater. Drawing inspiration from any number of sources, particularly the 80s CBC radio series Nightfall, it was time to embrace my inner Stephen King.
What I discovered was perhaps bypassing the visual cortex altogether and taking a detour via the ear carnal was the best way to tell horror stories. The experience is akin to pressing a flashlight under your chin and creeping out your siblings with tales of terror.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My professional life is far removed from what one normally associates with creative endeavors. I work for an automotive supplier in the Spartanburg area and I’ve actually been with the same company for over 35 years, originally hiring on when there was a division in my own hometown.
The lengthy commute to South Carolina’s Upstate is demanding but I choose the scenic route rather than the interstate. Winding through picturesque green landscapes and small towns, I find plentiful moments of inspiration. We live in a richly beautiful state. It’s the perfect time to reflect, unwind, enjoy music, or dive into podcasts, allowing the journey to invariably spark new ideas.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://campfireradiotheater.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campfireradiotheater?igsh=MTc0NnF1ZHVwb28zZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: @CampfireRadioTheater
- Twitter: @CampfireRadio
