Of Politics and the Production Block

The Production Block: Vice-president and studio engineer Bill Harwell, studio engineer Lorrie Singer, and company founder Joel Block (Photo by Richard Whittaker)

If you read this week's issue about the Production Block, Austin's original dedicated voice-over studio, you'll know about their film and TV work. However, company founder Joel Block said, "If I had to pick any one thing, I would say radio series have been real big for us."

Over the years, the firm has picked up contracts for some of the most iconic shows on Texas radio, especially those connected to a state agency or institution. Starting with StarDate (America's longest-running science show on the radio,) the Production Block also hosted Passport to Texas for Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Ask a Lawyer for the State Bar of Texas. "We're a big word of mouth organization," Block said.

"Plus," added his long-time vice-president and engineer Bill Harwell, "We're in the state capitol, so that doesn't hurt. A lot of those people are headquartered here."

Studio engineer Lorrie Singer had her own theory: That the people behind the mixing desk created an environment that made non-broadcasters feel comfortable behind the studio glass.

Being this close to the political heart of the state also meant they picked up a lot of voice-over work for campaign ads. It's been a mixture of statewide ads, like Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Kinky Friedman, and local campaigns like former mayors Bruce Todd and Will Wynn. They're also strictly non-partisan, with both Ann Richards and George W. Bush spending time on their mics. Harwell said, "Sometimes the candidate will be here, and sometimes its an actor reading a script. But we always get the candidate on the phone to do his disclaimer."

The one down side, Block said, is that campaign work is "very seasonal. … It just stops like that, about the Friday before the Tuesday, and you're done with it and you don't hear a peep out of it again."

One other familiar regular voice is our own Jim Hightower, who’s been recording his daily Common Sense Commentary in the studio for the last 18 years. So, the obvious question: Where does Hightower put his trademark white cowboy hat in the recordings session? "On a mike stand," said Block. "We’ve got a boom mike with a counterbalance on the end of the boom. He hangs his hat there, puts on his headphones, does the deal, take off his headphones, puts on his hat and out the door.”