THIS AMERICAN LIFE RELEASES LIVE SHOW VIDEO“THE INVISIBLE MADE VISIBLE” DIRECTLY TO FANS

IRA GLASS, DAVID SEDARIS, TIG NOTARO, MIKE BIRBIGLIA & DAVID RAKOFFSTAR IN VIDEO EPISODE OF THE HIT PUBLIC RADIO SHOW

Photo by: Adrianne Mathiowetz 

November 6, 2012. 

Radio you can watch – that’s the idea.

On November 15th, 2012, the public radio show This American Life will release a video of a two-hour episode entitled “The Invisible Made Visible.” Fans can download or stream the video for $5 at live.thisamericanlife.org, with proceeds going directly to the show. It will also be released on DVD, exclusively via the show’s web store.

“The Invisible Made Visible” was originally performed onstage and broadcast live into movie theaters in May, 2012, to over 70,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Australia. Now the rest of the show’s 1.8 million radio listeners and 750,000 podcast subscribers will have a chance to see it. The download is available worldwide.

Host Ira Glass personally curated the show. “The whole point,” he says “was to do stories that are far too visual to ever be on the radio.”

The result is a mix of animation, live dance from Monica Bill Barnes & Company, a short film by Mike Birbiglia starringFresh Air’s Terry Gross, a classic This American Life story (told by Glass) that’s primarily visual, about street photographer Vivian Meier, plus comic monologues by David Sedaris, Glynn Washington, and Ryan Knighton. ComedianTig Notaro tells a now-famous story about repeatedly running into 80’s pop star Taylor Dayne. Rock band OK Go provides music. It’s all performed in front of changing illustrated backgrounds.

Probably the most memorable moment in the episode comes during a story by longtime This American Life contributor David Rakoff. He talks about the abilities he’s lost during his fight with cancer, and then, gracefully, beautifully, does a solo dance onstage. It was the last story Rakoff ever wrote for the radio show. He died three months later, in August.

David Rakoff
Photo by: Adrianne Mathiowetz
 

A unique component of the show is a custom mobile app (for iPhone and Android) developed with OK Go, that allows the audience to play along with the band on digital hand bells, following animated cues. For the streaming version of the show, a web version of the app will automatically appear on screen.

OK Go
Photo by: Adrianne Mathiowetz

To distribute “The Invisible Made Visible,” This American Life has partnered with VHX, a platform for direct online video release used by comedians and independent filmmakers. The show costs $5 to download and stream, DRM-free. Fans who opt in to pay any amount above $5 will receive exclusive online access to a Q&A video with the cast and crew. The DVD costs $16 at the show’s web store, and includes the Q&A as a bonus feature.



Here's what audience members say about the show:

“That BLEW MY MIND -- really everything -- the art direction, the ways in which the various pieces spoke to each other, the balance of humor and profundity...I can't get over how great and moving and sheerly entertaining it all was.”
- Joel Lovell, editor, New York Times Magazine 
"I have never seen such a diverse range of artistic excellence in one sitting."
 - Jason Dyba, Nashville TN

"Reminded me why I have eyes!"
 - Matt Alan Alonzo Stark

"One of the best nights at the movies in a long time."
 - Stephanie Lee, Anchorage AK

"Delightful. Every act connects to the audience in the most wonderful ways."
 - Kira Pontiff, Saint Paul MN

"Best radio I've ever seen!"
 - Alice Nagano, Honolulu HI


This American Life is produced by WBEZ Chicago and distributed to 500 public radio stations by Public Radio International.