Short Cuts

Latest Episodes:

Resistance Oct 08, 2013

Show notes

Josie Long presents a sequence of mini documentaries about small acts of resistance - from bursting into song to crashing a car into a wall. We hear from a woman whose encounter with an underground resistance movement led to tapped phones and aggressive encounters with ice cream salesmen and listen to the power of a collective as individual voices at a protest are woven into music.

The items featured in the programme are:

La esperanza muere al último Feat. Studs Terkel

Nicholas Petron Produced by StoryCorps

Heavy Iron Beast Produced by Leo Hornak

Stories from the Underground Feat. Kathy Reina Produced by Will Drysdale

Rabble Rousers Produced by Sarah Boothroyd http://sarahboothroyd.com

Gentle Angry People Feat. the San Ghanny choir Produced by Rose de Larrabeiti

Series producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

Hush Oct 01, 2013

Show notes

Josie Long presents a series of short documentaries about keeping quiet, being lost for words and complete silence.

From the crushing silence after a musician's mistake to the tense hush that surrounds two teenage boys as they hide inches from their headmaster in an oversized box - tales of attempts to keep quiet and the struggle to raise your voice.

The items featured in the programme are:

Wilderness Feat. Kate Adie Produced by Sara Parker

Hidden Feat. Kester Brewin

Sailing By Feat. Pete Long and Diana Speed Produced by Leo Hornak

Nobody Else Can Hear It Feat. Jack Davidson Produced by Hana Walker-Brown

Hearing Voices Feat. Kate Adie Produced by Sara Parker

El's Story Produced by Natalie Kestecher Originally broadcast in 'Stories of Silence' on ABC

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

Fictions Sep 24, 2013

Show notes

Josie Long presents a sequence of unbelievable mini documentaries looking at bending the truth, fantasists and outright liars.

Josie hears how the writer Ross Sutherland invented a mysterious secret society by accident and looks for secrets scratched into the sidewalks of San Francisco by an enigmatic writer known only as 'Nikko'.

The items featured in the programme are:

Hearts and Crafts Featuring the voices of Harriet Craft

Fictions Featuring Raji James

Wash Club Featuring Ross Sutherland

Nikko Originally broadcast in the episode 'Standouts' on Snap Judgement

Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

Escape Jul 02, 2013

Show notes

Josie Long presents a showcase for delightful and adventurous short documentaries and makes her escape as we hear stories of running away, flight and car chases.

From breaking away to disappearing into escapism - we hear the tale of a narrow escape as three young Australian men desperately try to manoeuvre themselves out of trouble, alongside the story of a 93 year old wing walker getting lost in the clouds.

The items featured in the programme are:

Swimming in Snafu Produced by Meagan Perry

River Guard Feat. Laura Barton

Drive for Portugal Produced by Leo Hornak

Head in the Clouds Produced by Sara Parker

Road Warriors Produced by Bob Carlson Originally featured in Unfictional http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/uf/uf111202the_road_warriors

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4

Rpt

Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

Lost and Found Jun 25, 2013

Show notes

Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries with stories of loss and discovery.

From being lost in the music to lost love - Josie delves into tales of forgotten cassette tapes, voices rediscovered and teenage rebellion.

Hide and Seek Feat. Steve Colgan

Lost in Music Produced by Steve Urquhart

I am Luther Blissett Produced by Rosanna Arbon

Fluctuations Produced by Phil Smith

Lost Voices Feat. Jude Rogers

Looking for Layla Produced by Hana Walker-Brown

Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

Lines of Communication Jun 18, 2013

Show notes

Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries about communication - messages that could break your heart, rescue you from a fight or save you from a long stay in jail.

The writer Glenn Patterson explains why sometimes we should ignore the writing on the wall, and musician Tom Robinson describes the unlikely message he sent at a time when he was in a lot of trouble.

Stories of last words, lost love and lights being knocked out.

The items featured in the programme are:

Guess Who Found sound from the collection of Mark Vernon http://www.meagreresource.com/

L'Esprit De L'Escalier Produced by Hana Walker-Brown

Yanto Featuring Glenn Patterson Produced by Rachel Hooper

Message from Above Featuring Tom Robinson Produced by Alan Hall

Dear Sophie Produced by Sara Parker

Conversations with Nic Featuring Esther Baker

Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

Split Jun 11, 2013

Show notes

Josie Long presents a series of delightful and adventurous short documentaries, brief encounters, true stories and found sound.

We examine rips in the fabric of the universe as Josie Long delves into stories of splits, divisions and tears. From broken hearts to divided personalities.

We hear from a woman who was so tired of being in two minds that she surrendered all of her decision making to a piece of string, a mimic who taught herself how to assume alternate personalities and we recover from heartbreak using the 'Automated Relationship Replacement Hotline'.

The items featured in the programme are:

Automated Relationship Replacement Hotline Originally broadcast in WireTap http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap/

String Produced by Natalie Kestecher The full version of this story can be found here: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/360/string/4010328

Split Voices Produced by Sarah Cuddon

Other Halves Produced by Dennis Funk

Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

Taking Flight Jun 04, 2013

Show notes

Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries in which people hurl themselves into the air with the hope of taking flight.

We glide through the air, fall into the sea and explore grand leaps of the imagination, which cross the border between dreaming and reality.

From comedian Holly Walsh's tale of hurtling off the edge of a pier in a handmade helicopter, through to the story of a trapeze artist balancing on the edge of falling as he casts himself upwards.

The items featured in the programme are:

The Fall Featuring Charlie Morley

Sky Boy Produced by Hana Walker-Brown

Falling for Rambo Featuring Holly Walsh Produced by Benjamin Partridge

The Dreamers Featuring Charlie Morley

Looking Up Originally broadcast in 'Space' from Radiolab http://www.radiolab.org

Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

Someone to Watch Over Me May 28, 2013

Show notes

In the first programme of this series of Short Cuts, Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries which peel back the curtain, peer into the darkness and look out at those who are watching us.

By turns delightful and unsettling, today's audio adventures include the secret games teachers play when they're invigilating exams, a photographer whose ambition is to capture 'still lives' of people unawares in their homes at night, and a glimpse of the devices you can buy to spy on those supposedly close to you.

The items featured in the programme are:

Someone to Watch Over Me Produced by Sara Parker

Stand by Me Produced by Benjamin Partridge

I Was Bruce Lee Produced by Leo Hornak

Cracking the Love Code Produced by Bob Carlson

All Eyes on Us Produced by Steve Urquhart

She Sees Your Every Move Produced by Jonathan Mitchell

Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.