Hey there, this is Chris Cuylla, writer, director, and producer of dirt on audio drama.

Welcome to this bonus director's commentary episode.

I'll use this time to get into things like where and how specific sound effects were created,

what inspired certain

scenes or character interactions, the recording process, both for background sounds and actors' voices,

and in some cases how things changed during production from my original script.

I chose Chapter 4 for this director's commentary because while I absolutely love every episode of dirt, Chapter 4 holds an especially dear place in my heart.

There are other episodes that contain more action and more drama, but to me, Chapter 4 is quietly powerful, in so many ways.

So, let's get into it.

The episode starts with Joseph leaving the floor's farmhouse late at night and walking to his car.

But this time, we realize he's simply using his car as a private space to communicate with some

coworkers.

Text Mel.

Hi, Mel.

I'm going to stay here tonight.

In my first draft of the script for this scene, I had most of this written as the narrator

talking with some background music, basically explaining who Joseph was texting and why.

But after listening to an early draft in that style, it just felt too distant and detached,

especially since Joseph was coming off of such a surreal encounter with Salvador at the end of

Chapter 3. Thanks, Mel. Talk soon.

So instead, I redid the opening, this time letting Joseph's body actions and dialogue convey what was happening,

with no background other than the quiet interior of his car.

...