This story is a little scary to me. The very matter of fact way in which the stoy of finding a soulmate in 8 minutes unfolds. As I hear the sound of the singles chatting nervously in the backround I can't help but imagine a very brightly lit room full of lonely middle aged americans who have spent countless holurs wandering the internet late at night hoping to meet a real live peron. It all comes across as very pleasant and normal and yet it makes me feel sad and I wonder if they will ever find happiness.
This piece is essentially about aging, loneliness and longing for a family life by a man in his 40s. In a world where choices and chances are expected in plentiful, an 8 minute dating service provides hope for the man. This piece follows Rich to his third such event. Will he find his soulmate this time?
[redacted]
Posted on February 26, 2004 at 11:10 AM
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Curious title - and a good premise for a piece - a singles rotating 8minute date scene (like musical dates...) great ambient sound so we get to feel like we're hovering over the scene - very effective, made me feel squirmy. The speaker is quite forthcoming so I ended up feeling the narrator was a little too present at times, telling us what the guy feels, or probably feels. (further notes to producer) Regardless, it would make a good spot within a series about being single, the dating service industry. I was rooting for the guy..
Good use of sound, works well for any relationship show, Valentines, how the dating world has changed with technology.
I think that doing reality-style shows would work just as well on radio, maybe better, because of the closeness of radio. This wasn't quite like that, but it would be interesting to wire several people for a date and record everything they do or say, interview them afterwards, then produce a show. You could cover things and do things reality TV can't. Plus, it would be cheaper. If reality TV didn't turn me off so, it would be worth a shot. I bring this up here, but it re-triggers that idea in my head. The 8 minute date.
This is a polished, seamless piece that takes us along on an "eight-minute date", a scheme cooked up by a dating service whereby singles shuffle from one new date to another, with only eight minutes to find out as much as they can before moving on to someone new. They take notes and afterwards visit a website that helps sort out who is interested in whom, and whether the feelings are mutual. It's fun to listen to, partly because you get to eavesdrop a bit on these quickie conversations, and partly because you can't help but reflect on whether such a contrived system adds to or detracts from the romance of it all.
Comments for 8 Minute Soulmate
Produced by Evan Roberts, courtesy the Salt archive
Other pieces by Evan Roberts
Rating Summary
5 comments
David Weinberg
Posted on May 29, 2007 at 05:01 PM | Permalink
Review of 8 Minute Soulmate
This story is a little scary to me. The very matter of fact way in which the stoy of finding a soulmate in 8 minutes unfolds. As I hear the sound of the singles chatting nervously in the backround I can't help but imagine a very brightly lit room full of lonely middle aged americans who have spent countless holurs wandering the internet late at night hoping to meet a real live peron. It all comes across as very pleasant and normal and yet it makes me feel sad and I wonder if they will ever find happiness.
Emon Hassan
Posted on September 12, 2005 at 09:54 AM | Permalink
Review of 8 Minute Soulmate
This piece is essentially about aging, loneliness and longing for a family life by a man in his 40s. In a world where choices and chances are expected in plentiful, an 8 minute dating service provides hope for the man. This piece follows Rich to his third such event. Will he find his soulmate this time?
[redacted]
Posted on February 26, 2004 at 11:10 AM | Permalink
Review of 8 Minute Soulmate
Curious title - and a good premise for a piece - a singles rotating 8minute date scene (like musical dates...) great ambient sound so we get to feel like we're hovering over the scene - very effective, made me feel squirmy. The speaker is quite forthcoming so I ended up feeling the narrator was a little too present at times, telling us what the guy feels, or probably feels. (further notes to producer) Regardless, it would make a good spot within a series about being single, the dating service industry. I was rooting for the guy..
Hans Anderson
Posted on February 23, 2004 at 08:02 AM | Permalink
Review of 8 Minute Soulmate
I think that doing reality-style shows would work just as well on radio, maybe better, because of the closeness of radio. This wasn't quite like that, but it would be interesting to wire several people for a date and record everything they do or say, interview them afterwards, then produce a show. You could cover things and do things reality TV can't. Plus, it would be cheaper. If reality TV didn't turn me off so, it would be worth a shot. I bring this up here, but it re-triggers that idea in my head. The 8 minute date.
Phil Easley
Posted on February 23, 2004 at 07:28 AM | Permalink
Review of 8 Minute Soulmate
This is a polished, seamless piece that takes us along on an "eight-minute date", a scheme cooked up by a dating service whereby singles shuffle from one new date to another, with only eight minutes to find out as much as they can before moving on to someone new. They take notes and afterwards visit a website that helps sort out who is interested in whom, and whether the feelings are mutual. It's fun to listen to, partly because you get to eavesdrop a bit on these quickie conversations, and partly because you can't help but reflect on whether such a contrived system adds to or detracts from the romance of it all.