Jeff Green (multimedia artist)
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Stuart Green is a Canadian author, playwright, producer, and director, who has worked in a variety of media including radio, television, computer, DVD-based multimedia, and in live nightclub settings. His work has earned him critical acclaim and a number of awards. In addition to the work he has created, he was instrumental in the evolution of broadcast radio in the Ottawa
market during the late 1970s and the 1980s — specifically, the Carleton University
non-profit radio station CKCU-FM
and the commercial album-oriented rock radio station CHEZ-FM
. Currently, he is working as a multimedia consultant and produces and hosts a bi-weekly overnight radio show on CKCU called "Big In Japan".
CKCU-FM, when it was only running with a carrier current license — "broadcasting" by closed circuit to the university commons areas, and through a transmitter in the residence building to the students there. He was one of the founding Production Managers when CKCU received its FM radio license in 1975. In 1976, he became the founding Production Manager at the Ottawa
album-oriented rock station CHEZ-FM
. In 1980 he received a Canada Council
Explorations grant to create the radio drama “Epiphanies”, intended as a pilot for a series that was never produced. In addition to his work in radio, he was editor for the now-defunct tabloid entertainment paper Ottawa Revue from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1985, he was Central
and Eastern
Canada’s first VJ, presenting groundbreaking video programming at Ottawa rock and roll venue Barrymore's
before music video television was generally available in Canada (MTV
had just launched and was only available by satellite television, which was relatively rare at the time). In Ottawa, from 1979 through 1983, Jeff Green designed and executed an annual series of popular live club multimedia performances at Hallowe'en
entitled "Ne'ewollah".
In 1985 he began the series of radio dramas that became known as “Soundings
”. “Soundings” went on to win several awards, including a silver medal at the New York International Radio Festival. Originally aired on Ottawa’s CHEZ-FM, episodes of the series were eventually broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
, and National Public Radio (U.S.) networks, as well as London's
LBC Radio
station. The radio plays were featured on XM Satellite Radio’s former Sonic Theater channel.
In 1990, Green began an association with members of Ottawa’s Salt & Pepper Theatre Company which resulted in the 4-season “Cowboy Who?
” television series, an all-ages satire of children’s programming for which he was co-creator, co-writer, producer, director, engineer, and performer. The series was broadcast from 1991 to 1995 on the Mid-Canada Television Network
, and won the 1992 Canpro Award (Canadian Independent Television Producer’s Association) for Best Children’s Series.
In 1993, he teamed up with the Animatics Multimedia Corporation, which resulted in the award-winning video-based interactive multimedia productions "Midnight Stranger
" and "Mode" on which he acted as co-creator, writer, and director. These dramas were notable for their innovative user interface and "point of view" social interaction, and were hailed as being some of the finest productions available in their genre. Currently, he is working as a multimedia consultant and produces and hosts a bi-weekly overnight radio show on CKCU called "Big In Japan".
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
market during the late 1970s and the 1980s — specifically, the Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
non-profit radio station CKCU-FM
CKCU-FM
CKCU-FM is a Canadian community-based campus radio station, broadcasting at 93.1 FM in Ottawa, and offering a live Real Audio stream and MP3 stream from its website. The station broadcasts 24 hours per day, 365 days per year....
and the commercial album-oriented rock radio station CHEZ-FM
Chez
Chez may refer to:* CHEZ-FM, a Canadian radio stationPeople* Anthony Chez, American college football coach* Chez Starbuck, American actor...
. Currently, he is working as a multimedia consultant and produces and hosts a bi-weekly overnight radio show on CKCU called "Big In Japan".
Career
Jeff Green began his career in radio in 1972 at Carleton University'sCarleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
CKCU-FM, when it was only running with a carrier current license — "broadcasting" by closed circuit to the university commons areas, and through a transmitter in the residence building to the students there. He was one of the founding Production Managers when CKCU received its FM radio license in 1975. In 1976, he became the founding Production Manager at the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
album-oriented rock station CHEZ-FM
Chez
Chez may refer to:* CHEZ-FM, a Canadian radio stationPeople* Anthony Chez, American college football coach* Chez Starbuck, American actor...
. In 1980 he received a Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
Explorations grant to create the radio drama “Epiphanies”, intended as a pilot for a series that was never produced. In addition to his work in radio, he was editor for the now-defunct tabloid entertainment paper Ottawa Revue from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1985, he was Central
Central Canada
Central Canada is a region consisting of Canada's two largest and most populous provinces: Ontario and Quebec. Due to their high populations, Ontario and Quebec have traditionally held a significant amount of political power in Canada, leading to some amount of resentment from other regions of the...
and Eastern
Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada is generally considered to be the region of Canada east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces:* New Brunswick* Newfoundland and Labrador* Nova Scotia* Ontario* Prince Edward Island* Quebec...
Canada’s first VJ, presenting groundbreaking video programming at Ottawa rock and roll venue Barrymore's
Barrymore's
Barrymore's Music Hall is a nightclub and concert venue, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.The club was first opened in 1978, in the city's former Imperial Theatre on Bank Street...
before music video television was generally available in Canada (MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
had just launched and was only available by satellite television, which was relatively rare at the time). In Ottawa, from 1979 through 1983, Jeff Green designed and executed an annual series of popular live club multimedia performances at Hallowe'en
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
entitled "Ne'ewollah".
In 1985 he began the series of radio dramas that became known as “Soundings
Soundings (radio drama)
Soundings is an award-winning radio drama series produced from 1980 to 1989 in Ottawa by multimedia artist Jeff Green. Episodes were generally in the science fiction genre.-Overview:...
”. “Soundings” went on to win several awards, including a silver medal at the New York International Radio Festival. Originally aired on Ottawa’s CHEZ-FM, episodes of the series were eventually broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, and National Public Radio (U.S.) networks, as well as London's
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
LBC Radio
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
station. The radio plays were featured on XM Satellite Radio’s former Sonic Theater channel.
In 1990, Green began an association with members of Ottawa’s Salt & Pepper Theatre Company which resulted in the 4-season “Cowboy Who?
Cowboy Who?
Cowboy Who? was an original 45 episode children's television series in Canada, which aired in a half-hour Sunday morning timeslot between 1990 and 1994 on the MCTV system.. The show was a collaboration between then radio producer Jeff Green and the children's theatre group Salt & Pepper Theatre...
” television series, an all-ages satire of children’s programming for which he was co-creator, co-writer, producer, director, engineer, and performer. The series was broadcast from 1991 to 1995 on the Mid-Canada Television Network
Mid-Canada Communications
Mid-Canada Communications was a Canadian media company, which operated from 1980 to 1990. The company, a division of Northern Cable, had television and radio holdings in Northeastern Ontario.-MCTV:...
, and won the 1992 Canpro Award (Canadian Independent Television Producer’s Association) for Best Children’s Series.
In 1993, he teamed up with the Animatics Multimedia Corporation, which resulted in the award-winning video-based interactive multimedia productions "Midnight Stranger
Midnight Stranger
Midnight Stranger is the first of two published interactive multimedia CD-ROM based collaborations between writer and director Jeff Green and the Animatics Multimedia Corporation. Noted for its cinéma vérité style, it is a Point Of View video-based experiment in simulated socializing that takes...
" and "Mode" on which he acted as co-creator, writer, and director. These dramas were notable for their innovative user interface and "point of view" social interaction, and were hailed as being some of the finest productions available in their genre. Currently, he is working as a multimedia consultant and produces and hosts a bi-weekly overnight radio show on CKCU called "Big In Japan".
Early radio plays
- Azort Starbolt: Space Android (1973, various lengths) — early 1970s, inspired by Monty PythonMonty PythonMonty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
and The Firesign TheatreThe Firesign TheatreThe Firesign Theatre is an American comedy troupe consisting of Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Philip Proctor. Their brand of surrealistic humor is best known through their record albums, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.The troupe began as live radio... - August Awareness (1977, 60 min.) — audio tapestry and spoken word science fiction
- For A Breath I Tarry (1977, 30 min.) — an adaptation of the Roger ZelaznyRoger ZelaznyRoger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
story
The "Soundings" series of radio plays
- Epiphanies (1980, 60 min.) — a disillusioned politician faces an opponent with an uncanny power over sound
- Spaxter (1986, 45 min.) — a sardonic near-future thriller that pits a techno-telepathic private investigator against a self-styled digital deity
- The Tuning (1986, 45 min.) — a portrait of a future media indistinguishable from reality, and the change to reality it helps bring about
- Flash! (1986, 45 min.) — three people flee holocaust in the wilds of Northern Ontario only to discover that fate has something different in store for them
- Somebody Talking To You (1986, 45 min.) — a present-day alt-culture dilettante witnesses the takeover of the world, one Walkman at time
- She Dreams of Atlantis (1987, 45 min.) — an ad executive has visions of a past life that she just might still be living
- Spaxterback (1987, 45 min.) — a near-omniscient future computer sets Spaxter on the track of an alien manifestation
- Xmas Is Coming To The District Of Drudge (1988, 45 min.) — a government worker in a dystopian world devoid of passion encounters a strange substance
- Vigilante (1988, 30 min.) — a wish-fulfillment fantasy, and an examination of the nature and morality of vigilantism
- Psychotherapy (1988, 30 min.) — an homage to Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, set in a chilling madhouse - Plague (1989, 30 min.) — a nightmare future where the world's surviving populations languish under vast domes that hold a plague at bay
Progressive rock documentaries
Written and produced by Jeff Green (he produced numerous others):- Gabriel (1978, 30 min.) — built around an interview with Peter GabrielPeter GabrielPeter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
on the occasion of the tour for his second albumPeter Gabriel (II)Peter Gabriel is the second solo album by the British singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel, released in 1978. The album is the second of four with the same eponymous title... - The Answer Is Yes (1987, 60 min.) — an exhaustive analysis of the prog rockProgressive rockProgressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, tracing their story from the beginning to the album "Union" - Jon Anderson (1987, 60min.) — built around an interview with Jon AndersonJon AndersonJon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, recorded backstage at an Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe concert, explores his music, mind, and motivations - Pink Floyd: You Gotta Be Crazy (1987, 60 min.) — a profile of Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
produced on the occasion of the first non-WatersRoger WatersGeorge Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
tour supporting their "A Momentary Lapse of ReasonA Momentary Lapse of ReasonA Momentary Lapse of Reason is the thirteenth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. It was released in the UK and US in September 1987. In 1985 guitarist David Gilmour began to assemble a group of musicians to work on his third solo album...
" album - David Gilmour (1987, 75 min.) — (unedited) interview with David GilmourDavid GilmourDavid Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
at the start of Pink Floyd'sPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
first non-WatersRoger WatersGeorge Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
tour, widely distributed amongst European Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
fanFan (person)A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
network - Whatever Happened To Alice? (1987, 58 min.) — a profile of shock rocker Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
built around an interview on the eve of their 1987 tour
Additional radio shows
- The Salt & Pepper Radio Show (1987, 8 episodes, 30 min. each) — produced and directed children's radio series
- The War Of The Worlds Special (1988, 60 min.) — part audio essay, part remix of other productions
- Bomb (2003, 10 min.) — written and produced, and recorded using binauralBinaural recordingBinaural recording is a method of recording sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a 3-D stereo sound sensation for the listener of actually being in the room with the performers or instruments. This effect is often created using a technique known as "Dummy head...
technology for a CBCCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
experimental radio program
Television
- Ki-Ai! (1984) wrote, produced, and directed series about aikidoAikidois a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
for Ottawa's Skyline Cablevision - Cowboy Who?Cowboy Who?Cowboy Who? was an original 45 episode children's television series in Canada, which aired in a half-hour Sunday morning timeslot between 1990 and 1994 on the MCTV system.. The show was a collaboration between then radio producer Jeff Green and the children's theatre group Salt & Pepper Theatre...
(1991–1995, 45 episodes over 4 seasons, 30 min. each) — co-creator, co-writer, producer, director, and performer
Multimedia
- Ne'ewollah (1979 – 1983, various locations) — annual live club multimedia "Hallowe'en" performance
- Midnight StrangerMidnight StrangerMidnight Stranger is the first of two published interactive multimedia CD-ROM based collaborations between writer and director Jeff Green and the Animatics Multimedia Corporation. Noted for its cinéma vérité style, it is a Point Of View video-based experiment in simulated socializing that takes...
(1994, Animatics Multimedia Corporation) — writer and director of award-winning video-based multimedia CD-ROM production. Experienced from the player's point of view, they play a stranger in a late-night city who engages random people in conversation on the street, in bars, clubs, or restaurants - Mode (1995, Animatics Multimedia Corporation in collaboration with Corel CorpororationCorelCorel Corporation from the abbreviation is a computer software company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, that specializes in graphics processing, similar to Adobe Systems...
) — writer and director of video-based multimedia CD-ROM production. Experienced from the player's point of view, they crash a high-society party only to discover that something supernatural is occurring
Awards
- 1984 — Technical Award (Canadian Cable Television Association) for “Ki-Ai!” (innovative intro graphics)
- 1988 — Best Radio Program of the Year, Ottawa (ACTRAACTRAThe Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists is a Canadian labour union representing performers in English-language media. It has 22,000 members working in film, television, radio, and all other recorded media....
) for “Xmas Is Coming To The District Of Drudge” - 1989 — Best Radio Program of the Year, Ottawa (ACTRAACTRAThe Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists is a Canadian labour union representing performers in English-language media. It has 22,000 members working in film, television, radio, and all other recorded media....
) for “Plague” - 1990 — Silver Medal (New York International Radio Festival) for the “SoundingsSoundings (radio drama)Soundings is an award-winning radio drama series produced from 1980 to 1989 in Ottawa by multimedia artist Jeff Green. Episodes were generally in the science fiction genre.-Overview:...
” series as aired on NPR under the title “The Weird Worlds of Jeff Green” - 1992 — Canpro Award for Best Children’s Series (Canadian Independent Television Producer’s Association) for "Cowboy Who?Cowboy Who?Cowboy Who? was an original 45 episode children's television series in Canada, which aired in a half-hour Sunday morning timeslot between 1990 and 1994 on the MCTV system.. The show was a collaboration between then radio producer Jeff Green and the children's theatre group Salt & Pepper Theatre...
" - 1993 — People's Choice Award (Macromedia) for “Midnight StrangerMidnight StrangerMidnight Stranger is the first of two published interactive multimedia CD-ROM based collaborations between writer and director Jeff Green and the Animatics Multimedia Corporation. Noted for its cinéma vérité style, it is a Point Of View video-based experiment in simulated socializing that takes...
” - 1995 — Murphy Award for Best Story in an Interactive Multimedia Title (Electronic Entertainment) for “Midnight StrangerMidnight StrangerMidnight Stranger is the first of two published interactive multimedia CD-ROM based collaborations between writer and director Jeff Green and the Animatics Multimedia Corporation. Noted for its cinéma vérité style, it is a Point Of View video-based experiment in simulated socializing that takes...
” - Inductee, ASFSFA Hall of Fame for “Spaxter” (American Society for Science Fiction Audio)
Awarded a Mark Time AwardMark Time AwardsThe Mark Time Awards are the most prominent radio drama awards worldwide in conjunction with the Ogle Awards. The awards are granted by the MISFITS Minnesota Society For Interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy and judged by a panel of five distinguished radio producers. Each year there are new...
for Best in Science Fiction Radio and Audio in the History of Recorded Sound
See also
- Cowboy Who?Cowboy Who?Cowboy Who? was an original 45 episode children's television series in Canada, which aired in a half-hour Sunday morning timeslot between 1990 and 1994 on the MCTV system.. The show was a collaboration between then radio producer Jeff Green and the children's theatre group Salt & Pepper Theatre...
— children's television series - SoundingsSoundings (radio drama)Soundings is an award-winning radio drama series produced from 1980 to 1989 in Ottawa by multimedia artist Jeff Green. Episodes were generally in the science fiction genre.-Overview:...
— radio drama] series - Midnight StrangerMidnight StrangerMidnight Stranger is the first of two published interactive multimedia CD-ROM based collaborations between writer and director Jeff Green and the Animatics Multimedia Corporation. Noted for its cinéma vérité style, it is a Point Of View video-based experiment in simulated socializing that takes...
— interactive multimedia CD-ROMCD-ROMA CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data.... - Mode — interactive multimedia CD-ROMCD-ROMA CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....