Broken Arts Entertainment Festival Eligible Shows

CHOOSE THE BEAR — EPISODE 1 “TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES” | Official Sci-Fi Audio Drama Welcome back to CHOOSE THE BEAR, the cinematic sci-fi audio drama set deep inside Zenith Aerospace — the most powerful private defense + space corporation on Earth. Episode 1, “Technical Difficulties,” follows new recruit Callie “Bear” Winter on launch day as she battles malfunctioning tutorials, an overly cheerful autonomous flight suit, and a co-pilot AI she immediately names “The Manipulation Engine”… (Nippy). This episode blends comedy, tension, claustrophobic space realism, corporate dystopia, and character-driven sci-fi. If you love The Expanse, Red Dwarf, Becky Chambers, WALL-E, Severance, or Interstellar, you’ll feel right at home. As Callie launches toward the mysterious orbital “Communities,” she forms an unexpected bond with her capcom, Diana, who becomes her lifeline through panic, snark, and a whole lot of “huggy-tingly” flight suit calibration. When the engines finally cut out and Earth rises in the window… she’s forced to confront why she’s here, what she’s running from, and why trust — even in deep space — is never simple. Turn your volume up. Put on your best headphones. This is where the real journey begins.

CAST

Hannah Lee DeFrates — Callie “Bear” Winter

Antonella Pérez Ferrero — Diana

Meredith Nudo — Nippy / Onboard AI

🎙️ CREW Written by: Aly Kantor Directed by: Helen May Produced by: Jack Davis Soundscape Engineering: Bob Sawyer Video + Scenic Production: Joe Swenson Featuring music by Grand Hotel ABOUT THE SERIES CHOOSE THE BEAR is a near-future sci-fi saga exploring: AI ethics & manipulation Corporate-controlled survival lotteries Spaceflight anxiety + dark humor High-stakes humanity under pressure A growing conspiracy far above Earth This is Episode 1 — the beginning of the mission, the beginning of Nippy, and the beginning of a partnership that may determine the fate of every human left alive.

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Welcome to CHOOSE THE BEAR — a cinematic, immersive sci-fi audio drama set inside the ultra-mysterious walls of Zenith Aerospace, the most powerful private defense + space corporation on Earth. This prologue episode (“AWOL”) follows Lieutenant Callie Winter — a desperate, war-traumatized soldier with nowhere left to go — as she arrives at Zenith for a life-changing interview that could determine the future of humanity itself. The world is collapsing, governments are failing, and Zenith’s C-Suite is quietly selecting who actually gets to survive the incoming extinction event. This sci-fi thriller blends dystopian corporate satire, dark humor, psychological tension, and near-future worldbuilding. If you love Black Mirror, Severance, Foundation, The Expanse, or Mr. Robot — this series is for you.

CAST: Hannah Lee DeFrates (Callie), Steve Mize (Zed), Antonella Pérez Ferrero (Diana), Paul “Dela” Ross (Leland), JP DeGennaro (Rion), Bernie Horton (Pete).

Written by: Aly Kantor | Directed by: Helen May | Produced by: Jack Davis | Soundscape Engineered by: Bob Sawyer | Video + Scenic: Joe Swenson. Featuring music: “End of the World” by Grand Hotel.

This is Episode Zero — the beginning of a conspiracy, a survival lottery, and a morally impossible decision that will affect every human left alive. Turn your volume up, put on headphones, and step into Zenith. This is how the end really begins.

Choose Love No Matter What!

Written by Hannah Lee DeFrates

Starring:

Yana Ramos - Janet

Jack Dumas - Adam

Karin Orenstein - Betty

Gabriel Blaze - Cruiser

Jackie Youm - Deedee

Directed by Bernie Horton

Sound Engineered by Yana Ramos

Graphic Design by Cathy Tran

Executive Producers: Joe Swenson and Cole Dzubak

4 grad students find a cheap rental, what could go wrong?

Written by Joe Swenson

Starring:

Jack Dumas - Jamie

Hannah Lee DeFrates - Rosa

Jamie Lee - Clara

Gabriel Blaze - Drew

Dana Sharrow - Professor Grimsby

Melissa Watson - The Spirits

Directed by Cole Dzubak

Sound Engineered by Yana Ramos

Graphic Design by Cathy Tran

Executive Producers: Joe Swenson and Cole Dzubak

The final show of The Future Audio Fiction Podcast Anthology is reANIMA by Aly Kantor. Aly's imaginative approach to capturing the human consciousness surrounding the conversation with artificial intelligence will blow you away. The acting is tremendous as the chemistry between the two main characters is relatable and really top notch.

Written by: Aly Kantor

Produced by: Lora Hogan (Appetizers or "On An Island Somewhere", In The Caravan)

Directed by: Helen May (Quarantine 2038: Mutation, A Fragile Mind Season 2, A Voice From The Void, The Sun The Moon and Salena, Heatwave, Clouds, Hanging on for Near Life)

Featuring: Gwen Fraser (A Fragile Mind Seasons 1 & 2, Angel Flight)

Featuring: Shelby Parker (Backseat Driver, Rotted)

Featuring: Helen Cheng Mao (That Last Summer, April 11th 2028)

Editing and Soundscape by: Joe Swenson

In a dystopian world where Big Brother and topics require approval, can opposites find each other?

Written by Erin Moughon

Directed by Jamie Orenstein

Produced by Adam Ferguson

Starring: Antonella Perez Ferrero - Brianna

Sean Polite - Matt

Soundscape Engineer: Yana Ramos

Scenic Graphic Design: Cathy Tran

Introduction: Paul Dela Ross

Executive Producer: Joe Swenson

It's that time and there's only 10 minutes left before you go, so what you do in those 10 minutes could be the most important 10 minutes of your life.

Written by Evan Baughfman (3rd show with BAE)

Directed by Jack Davis

Produced by Bernie Horton

Starring:

Cole Dzubak - Grant

Antonella Perez Ferrero - Theresa

Adam Ferguson - Announcer

Soundscape Engineered by Yana Ramos

Cover Art Graphics by Cathy Tran

Introduction by Paul Dela Ross

Executive Producer Joe Swenson

Somewhere out in deep space, Menzies has awoken after surviving a horrific attack. But how did Menzies survive at all? How did anyone?

Written by Scott Sickles

Directed by Joe Swenson

Produced by Jamie Swenson

Starring:

Steve Mize – Menzies

Molly McGill – Wheeler

Soundscape Engineer – Joe Swenson

Graphic Design – Cathy Tran

Introductions by – Paul Dela Ross

Executive Producer – Joe Swenson

From the imagination of the writer that brought us the Award Winning and multiple award nominated reANIMA, comes a show that will get you thinking all the way to the end.

Written by Aly Kantor

Starring:

Gwenyth Fraser (Kim)

Hannah Lee DeFrates (Leta)

Sean Polite (The Voice)

Directed by: Antonella Perez Fererro

Producer: Adam Ferguson

Soundscape Engineer: Yana Ramos

Graphic Design By: Cathy Tran

Show Introduction by: Paul Dela Ross

Executive Producer: Joe Swenson

Where is the line drawn between reality and imagination?

Written By: Sam Heyman

Starring:

Ray Fletcher (Dr. Harper)

Dan Sharrow (Dr. Lance)

Claire Shadrawy (Helen)

Directed by: Randy Hunt

Produced by: Ian Ashland

Soundscape Engineer: Yana Ramos

Graphic Design by: Cathy Tran

Show Introduction by: Paul Dela Ross

Executive Producer: Joe Swenson