I love listening to non-swedes doing reports about my native country Sweden. Often it's a new way – a more curious – than my own, even though I'm a journalist myself ...
I found this reportage very interesting and I even learned new things about the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi! :-) Nice hearing the architect talk about his creation, that re-shapes each and every year.
Even if it's cold in the north during mid winter, it's muck nicer there than here because of the dry air. In Stockholm, where I live, the air has much more moist in it.
Thank's for an interesting and amusing report from up north!
/Johan Karlsson
free lance journalist
Stockholm, Sweden
Very creative choice of topic and the story is well crafted as the producer discusses the "Ice Hotel's" complete assault on the senses. It is easy to envision a feeling of calm & serenity even in the harsh environment.
The producer was very thorough and insightful by examining many subtle humanistic nuances of the "Ice Hotel". Sleeping on a bed of ice, the 'relative' warmth within the hotel, etc.
As a production tool, going directly into the story is a great way to quickly pull the listener into your story but, unless explained shortly thereafter, can leave the listener uneasy.
If you absolutely want to begin with the monologue, after setting the tone you can give your audience an introduction...what are they getting into for the next 30 minutes?
Definitive account of an American's visit to the Swedish ice hotel. I've been intrigued for years by the Ice Hotel idea, and with the hotels appearing in Bond films and North America (Canada), I was afraid they were becoming a bit of a cliche. The presenter offers not only a quirky personal journey, but also addresses just about everything you'd want to know without actually freezing yourself. Great radio, and very enjoyable.
I've seen TV stories about it and even seen the Bond film that featured the Ice Hotel, but this piece is the first time I've actually got to FEEL what it might be like to go there. Producer Bill Hammack is an engineer who talks every week about all the buildings and things around us we take for granted and tells us stories about them. Sound boring? Think again. Mr. Hammack is a born storyteller and a natural on radio. The tour of the Ice Hotel is filled with sound, music, interviews and his insightful commentary and description. From the flight to Sweden through the arrival to the hotel with frozen chocolates on the pillow to the trip to the Northern Lights to the interview with the architect, this piece is a delight. Why we haven't heard more from him is a mystery to me. Stations would do well to air this piece in the summer when we're sweltering with heat exhaustion. Think of it as a radio cooler. Let's hope that more episodes of Mr. Hammack's programs appear on this site....Dmae
Comments for The Ice hotel
Produced by Hammack/WILL-AM 580
Other pieces by William S. Hammack
Rating Summary
4 comments
Johan Lindstén
Posted on July 28, 2005 at 06:50 AM | Permalink
Review of The Ice hotel
I love listening to non-swedes doing reports about my native country Sweden. Often it's a new way – a more curious – than my own, even though I'm a journalist myself ...
I found this reportage very interesting and I even learned new things about the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi! :-) Nice hearing the architect talk about his creation, that re-shapes each and every year.
Even if it's cold in the north during mid winter, it's muck nicer there than here because of the dry air. In Stockholm, where I live, the air has much more moist in it.
Thank's for an interesting and amusing report from up north!
/Johan Karlsson
free lance journalist
Stockholm, Sweden
Embarkadero Embarkadero
Posted on June 25, 2004 at 01:51 PM | Permalink
Review of The Ice hotel
Very creative choice of topic and the story is well crafted as the producer discusses the "Ice Hotel's" complete assault on the senses. It is easy to envision a feeling of calm & serenity even in the harsh environment.
The producer was very thorough and insightful by examining many subtle humanistic nuances of the "Ice Hotel". Sleeping on a bed of ice, the 'relative' warmth within the hotel, etc.
As a production tool, going directly into the story is a great way to quickly pull the listener into your story but, unless explained shortly thereafter, can leave the listener uneasy.
If you absolutely want to begin with the monologue, after setting the tone you can give your audience an introduction...what are they getting into for the next 30 minutes?
Samuel Beckey
Posted on June 14, 2004 at 12:57 PM | Permalink
Review of The Ice hotel
Definitive account of an American's visit to the Swedish ice hotel. I've been intrigued for years by the Ice Hotel idea, and with the hotels appearing in Bond films and North America (Canada), I was afraid they were becoming a bit of a cliche. The presenter offers not only a quirky personal journey, but also addresses just about everything you'd want to know without actually freezing yourself. Great radio, and very enjoyable.
Dmae Lo Roberts
Posted on March 21, 2004 at 10:35 AM | Permalink
Review of The Ice hotel
I've seen TV stories about it and even seen the Bond film that featured the Ice Hotel, but this piece is the first time I've actually got to FEEL what it might be like to go there. Producer Bill Hammack is an engineer who talks every week about all the buildings and things around us we take for granted and tells us stories about them. Sound boring? Think again. Mr. Hammack is a born storyteller and a natural on radio. The tour of the Ice Hotel is filled with sound, music, interviews and his insightful commentary and description. From the flight to Sweden through the arrival to the hotel with frozen chocolates on the pillow to the trip to the Northern Lights to the interview with the architect, this piece is a delight. Why we haven't heard more from him is a mystery to me. Stations would do well to air this piece in the summer when we're sweltering with heat exhaustion. Think of it as a radio cooler. Let's hope that more episodes of Mr. Hammack's programs appear on this site....Dmae