‘Inside Psycho’ Video Teaser
‘Inside Psycho’ Audio Trailer
“Inspired by true events” is one of the most terrifying terms that can be used to describe a piece of entertainment in any medium. That’s certainly true with director-producer Alfred Hitchcock‘s 1960 Oscar-nominated psychological horror film, ‘Psycho,’ which is based on the 1959 suspense novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. Both iconic projects are loosely inspired by the case of convicted Wisconsin murderer and grave robber, Ed Gein.
The new podcast experience, ‘Inside Psycho,’ blends together fact and fiction to unravel the peculiar behind-the-scenes happenings of the legendary movie. The six-part episodic adventure is now available on its official website, through a deal with podcast publisher Wondery. The podcast, which was written, produced and hosted by Mark Ramsey, explores the people, places and things that comprise ‘Psycho.’
Instead of being a straight documentary, narrative, radio drama or true crime story, ‘Inside Psycho’ is a biopic without the pictures. Every word is either true or tells a larger truth about the making of this classic film. The podcast weaves a tale of the horrible mass killings that inspired the movie ‘Psycho,’ and the struggles involved in making a film that became one of the biggest hits of all time.
Ramsey generously took the time recently to talk about writing, producing and hosting ‘Inside Psycho’ during an exclusive interview. Among other things, the podcaster discussed how he wanted to detail the fascinating approach Hitchcock took to make such a seemingly risky film in a new type of to podcasting, which he calls an audio graphic novel. Ramsey also shared how the purpose of his latest podcast is to uniquely summon the signature sounds of ‘Psycho’ without just repeating them.
ShockYa (SY): You wrote and narrated the six-part podcast, ‘Inside Psycho,’ which chronicles the background and behind-the-scenes events that occurred both before, and during, the filming of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic horror movie, ‘Psycho.’ What interested you in creating the podcast, and what was the development process like as you were putting the project together?
Mark Ramsey (MR): Everyone assumes that this movie has always existed. Few know that it almost didn’t get made. The story behind it is fascinating. Hitchcock literally risked everything to make this movie against the advice of almost everyone he knew. That story – and the story of the doubts which haunted him throughout the process – made the subject irresistible.
Plus, I really felt I could tell this story in a way that was not only new, but new to podcasts in particular. It really is genre-busting. It’s not journalism, docudrama or audio theater. I like to describe it as an audio graphic novel.
SY: What type of research did you do before you began recording ‘Inside Psycho,’ both into the true events that inspired ‘Psycho,’ as well as the struggles involved in making a film that, against all odds, became one of Hollywood’s most honored classics of all time?
MR: I used three primary sources, including biographies of mass murderer Ed Gein and of Hitchcock, as well as a book about the making of ‘Psycho’ that was the basis for the recent movie ‘Hitchcock.’ Interestingly, I deliberately avoided seeing that movie because I didn’t want to be influenced by it. I also used a ton of internet resources, as well as a few notes from Bruce Dern’s biography.
SY: What was the experience of reporting on the drama’s history solely for the podcast? Since you weren’t able to include any videos from a movie that’s so driven by its visuals, did that influence your approach to your commentary?
MR: (The movie’s) driven by it’s visuals and its audio. Yes, I assumed all that was off limits, unless I was willing to pay for rights clearance. So instead I asked myself the harder question: What would this story sound like if it referenced all the sights and sounds that are so famous, yet included none of them? You can judge for yourself how well I did, but I don’t think you’ll miss them.
Do we really need to hear lines from the movie that we have heard a million times before? Do we really need actualities from Hitchcock that slow the story to a crawl? Do we really need to hear that strident violin – again? Those sounds are all a part of us. The purpose of the podcast is to summon them, not to repeat them. I viewed this as a constraint, and many of the best works are made because they are constrained in one way or another.
SY: ‘Inside Psycho’ features sound effects and ambient sound to enhance the storytelling experience. What was your collaboration process like with the podcast’s sound designer, Jeff Schmidt, to create the sound effects that are included?
MR: I wrote for sound, and Jeff’s task was to bring the sound to the writing. He succeeded brilliantly, I think. The show’s success is due in no small part to his amazing work. This show is a work of collaboration. My notes to Jeff were intentionally thin. I knew he would bring something to it that was more amazing than whatever I prescribed.
SY: You partnered with podcast publisher Wondery to share ‘Inside Psycho’ with audiences. How did the collaboration come about, and how has the partnership with Wondery helped promote ‘Inside Psycho?’
MR: Wondery is all about great storytellers and great storytelling. The principals there come from FOX, so I knew they understood storytelling with pictures (which is what great audio is). That’s why I wanted to work with them, rather than with any organization that sprouted from radio or public radio.
They have an established platform of makers and listeners. Just as getting your TV show on ABC is better than posting it on your own YouTube channel, it’s better to work with a platform if your content and its upside suits the interests and aspirations of that platform.
SY: In addition to writing and hosting the podcast, you also served as one of its producers. What was the process of balancing your producing and hosting duties while recording ‘Inside Psycho?’ Why did you feel it was important to produce, write and host the podcast?
MR: (I decided to produce the podcast because) it was my idea from the get go. I wrote and recorded a teaser. Jeff produced the audio for it. It was that teaser that sold the show. When Wondery heard the teaser, they said “I hope you are going to host it,” and I said, “Of course.” It was my vision, and I knew I could bring it to life the right way, with the help of a talented sound designer.
SY: ‘Inside Psycho’ was selected to run at Cannes Lions Festival this summer, which is an honor that’s only given to a select few podcasts. What has the experience of being accepted into the festival been like for you, and what does it mean to you that ‘Inside Psycho’ was one of the few podcasts that was selected?
MR: Well, some audio from ‘Inside Psycho’ is being used in a presentation at the Cannes Lions Festival. The purpose is to demonstrate the power of sound. I think the advertising world in general pays too little heed to the power of sound. That’s in part because audio is an afterthought for agencies and even for the broadcasters they work with. The average radio spot has barely changed since the era of ‘Mad Men,’ but there’s no reason things should be so bland. As Jeff reminds me, sometimes the people demanding the least of audio are the very advertisers for whom powerful audio can bring their brand to life.
SY: What can audiences expect to hear during the series’ episodes?
MR: Part 1 dives deep into the horrors of Ed Gein, who was a primary inspiration for Norman Bates. In Part 2, we meet Robert Bloch, who wrote the original book ‘Psycho’ with little knowledge of the details of Gein’s killings. Forever after that, (Bloch) wondered what it was inside of him that created a fictional character that so closely resemble the real thing.
Then we meet Hitchcock and share his last breath. Then it’s back to the beginning with Hitchcock, the struggles of making the movie and the anecdotes-both frightful and funny-that most people have never heard before.
Then we focus on the release of a movie that everyone was convinced would be somewhere between embarrassment and abject failure. The legendary success of the movie surprised everyone and made Hitchcock very rich, but it also made it impossible for him to ever make lightning strike twice again. Despite all that he achieved, he never received an Oscar for his work.
This is the story of a man with a dream who made something amazing happen against all the odds. But he never received the respect of his peers. He also had to sit back and watch as his final projects evaporate or pale in comparison to a new breed of films-the first summer blockbusters. That is a story most people don’t know. That’s the story of ‘Inside Psycho.’