At the online graduation ceremony of her son, Gina, a single mom, reflects on her choice and long journey to become a mother after being diagnosed with HIV. "Tell me what you see" is a non-narrated audio documentary.

Recorded, produced and mixed by Vivien Schuetz
Music by the awesome Blue Dot Sessions (Flatlands, Throughput)

Tell Me What You See

“Uncovered” (2022)

[ENG]

Jewish orthodox women from the Lubavitch community begin covering their hair the day after their wedding, usually with a wig. In “Uncovered” Sarah, an orthodox Jewish influencer from Brooklyn, talks with her husband about her struggle to follow the commandment and her approach to navigating the line between her feelings and orthodox societal expectations. To what extent are compromises possible within a relationship when both partners have different religious standards?

[DEU]

In "Uncovered" diskutiert ein jüdisches Paar aus New York über die Vorschrift, das Haar mit einer Perücke zu bedecken. Inwiefern sind Kompromisse möglich innerhalb einer Beziehung, wenn beide Partner unterschiedliche religiöse Standards haben? 

Music:
Broke for Free − Nightowl
Blue Dot Sessions − At Our Best Alone

Uncovered

Zwei Freundinnen überbrücken unterschiedliche Zeitzonen mit Sprachnachrichten. Die eine in Berlin, die andere in NYC. „Re-Produktion" erzählt vom Versuch eines offenen und ehrlichen Gespräches über reproduktive Selbstbestimmung. 

15-minütiges Hörspiel von und mit Stefanie Heim und Vivien Schütz

Gewinnerstück beim ARD PiNball 2020, gesendet beim SWR2

Website: https://linktr.ee/vivienschuetz

Re:Produktion

"Not In The Cards" is a non-narrated documentary that tells the story of an elderly gay man from Brooklyn, who was born blind, and his search for interpersonal contact. It poses the question, if and to what extent people can be happy without romantic relationships? Over the course of many weeks, I went to visit Robert in his one-room apartment, which he rarely leaves these days.  His only contact with the outside world exists through phone calls and visits from in-home aides whom he considers friends. 

Das Radiofeature "Not in the cards" erzählt die Geschichte von Robert aus New York, der ein Leben lange versucht, als Blinder seine Homosexualität zu leben. 

Recorded, edited and produced by Vivien Schütz
Length: 18'44"
Debut on German public radio: Deutschlandfunk Kultur Kurzstrecke 91, 2019
Featured at SONOHR Podcast Festival 2020, Category: International <<en masse>>
Featured on Transom, 2019, a showcase and workshop for New Public Radio
Listed at "Listen Up, Brooklyn!" 2020
3rd place at Berlin Hörspielfestival 2020, Category: The Burning Mic
Featured on the Miller Aud-Cast Podcast (shorter version) 2021, episode 4

Special thanks to Robert and to the musicians: Colin Stetson (“And It Fought To Escape”), Blue Dot Sessions (“Rubber Ball Machine,” “Ultima Thule”), Bexar Bexar (“Kt”) and The Album Leaf (“The Light”).

Not In The Cards

Making friends as an adult is... hard.

The author sets out in search of new friends. How do you make friends when you are older?

Die Autorin macht sich auf die Suche nach neuen Freund:innen. Wie schließt man Freund:innenschaften, wenn man älter ist?

Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Podington Bear

Wanna Be My Friend?

When I first moved to my neighborhood Bedstuy in NYC, I felt bombarded with a chaotic symphony of sirens, voices, honking horns, and a barrage of music. However, as time went by, I began to perceive a distinct musicality in the midst of it all.

"Bedstuy Beats" is a short, rhythmic piece made in response to the question "what does your neighborhood sound like to you?" Engaging characters are surrounded by the beeps, boops and beats of Bedstuy, Brooklyn. 

Inspired by an audio prompt from Audio Spice Collective 2023!

Bedstuy Beats

Folge 6: Jo und Gagan: 

Jo wohnt in Deutschland und Gagan in Indien. Seit 2020 führen sie eine Fernbeziehung. Die beiden wollen in Deutschland heiraten und zusammenziehen, was aber gar nicht so einfach ist.

"Beziehungsweise - Together, apart" – Miniserie über Fernbeziehungen [DLF Kultur, Plus Eins Sendung, 2023]

Mini-series about long-distance relationships [German public radio]

The 6-part mini-series explores romantic long-distance relationships and long distances with friends and family.

Bürokratie-Marathon (Deutschland-Indien) [German]

Laura & Niki:
Die zwei besten Freundinnen kennen sich seit ihrer Kindheit. Niki ist in Kassel, Laura in Erfurt. In der Coronazeit haben sie ein neues Ritual entwickelt, um trotz Distanz füreinander da zu sein.

"Beziehungsweise - Together, apart" – Miniserie über Fernbeziehungen [DLF Kultur, Plus Eins Sendung, 2023]

Mini-series about long-distance relationships [German public radio]

The 6-part mini-series explores romantic long-distance relationships and long distances with friends and family.

Fernfreundinnen mit Ritual (Erfurt-Kassel) [German]

Nike lebt in Berlin, ihre Tante in Bulgarien. Sie telefonieren regelmäßig, sehen sich aber kaum, und anders kann sich Nike das auch gar nicht vorstellen.

"Beziehungsweise - Together, apart" – Miniserie über Fernbeziehungen [DLF Kultur, Plus Eins Sendung, 2023]

Mini-series about long-distance relationships [German public radio]

The 6-part mini-series explores romantic long-distance relationships and long distances with friends and family.

Ferne tut gut (Deutschland-Bulgarien) [German]

Susy & David:
Set against the backdrop of the late '80s and early '90s, the story follows Susy and David. They meet in Susy's hometown of Peru when David, an American, is there for work and Susy gets pregnant. However, their paths diverge when David is reassigned to the U.S., introducing the couple to the challenges of sustaining their connection across international borders.

"Beziehungsweise - Together, apart" – Miniserie über Fernbeziehungen [DLF Kultur, Plus Eins Sendung, 2023]

"Beziehungsweise - Together, apart" – 
Mini-series about long-distance relationships [German public radio / DLF Kultur]

The 6-part mini-series explores romantic long-distance relationships and long distances with friends and family.

Love on Hold (Peru-U.S.) [English]

Kaylah has been living in New York for six years, her family continues to live in  South Africa. It's not always easy for her to stay in touch with her siblings.

"Beziehungsweise - Together, apart" – 
Mini-series about long-distance relationships [German public radio / DLF Kultur]

The 6-part mini-series explores romantic long-distance relationships and long distances with friends and family.

Siblings, far away (U.S.-South Africa) [English]

Cheri from the U.S. and Jackson from Nigeria have been in a long-distance relationship for three years but have never met in person.

"Beziehungsweise - Together, apart" – 
Mini-series about long-distance relationships [German public radio / DLF Kultur]

The 6-part mini-series explores romantic long-distance relationships and long distances with friends and family.

Never met in person (U.S.-Nigeria) [English]

What are you scared of? A stroll through my neighborhood of Bedstuy, Brooklyn, back in 2017 reveals local's fears and perspectives on life.

Recorded and edited by Vivien Schütz
Voice by Annette Daniels Taylor

Bedstuystories

We shine a light on the everyday anxieties, worries, and thoughts of locals in Brownsville, Brooklyn; two weeks after a mass shooting at the Brownville's "Old Timers" festival.

This piece was produced by Vivien Schütz with the help of Stefanie Heim as part of the 24-hour radio race from KCRW's independent producer project.

What Can I Do

ENTANGLED 

Behind the frosted glass of a wig shop in Brooklyn lies a hidden world where a diverse group of women from the Lubavitch Jewish community negotiates boundaries in their relationship with God, modern society, and traditional expectations. 
The producer, Vivien Schütz, drops into Zelda’s wig shop in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights and meets a few of her customers who take us into their private world in orthodox Judaism.

Lubavitch women begin covering their hair the day after the wedding, usually with wigs. The reason being is that female hair in orthodox Judaism is considered sensual and only for the eyes of the husband. Many women cover their hair for the purpose of modesty and for spiritual reasons. The documentary follows three women from the community, Zelda, Sarah and Yetta,  as they navigate the line between their feelings and orthodox societal expectations.

Zelda Wigs is owned and run by Zelda Volkov, a 28-year-old mother of three. At the age of 22, she realizes, that her wig doesn't fit her personality. She starts to make her own wig and soon after that, she opens her own wig shop, in 2016. She is now divorced and chooses to not cover her hair anymore. 

Sarah, 27, a Jewish Influencer from Crown Heights, is wearing and promoting a Zelda wig. She struggles to cover her hair but tries to figure out a way to commit to the commandment.

Yetta, a 29-year-old mom who grew up in Crown Heights and now lives in Philadelphia, feels very much connected to God and Judaism but decides to uncover her hair.

Duration: 42'06''

Here you find more of my audio work: https://www.torial.com/vivien.schuetz

Entangled

Vivien Schütz, born in Berlin, produces radio documentaries, narrative stories for podcasts, and short audio dramas. Her work explores human connections and questions of identity. Her stories have been featured on German public radio, Transom, and at festivals like the Swiss sonOhr Podcast and Audio Festival, and the Prix Phonurgia Nova in Paris. She won the ARD PiNball twice (2016, 2020), a national competition for German independent radio drama producers, and the Ake Blomström Award in 2019 for young radio feature makers. You can find me on Twitter: @vivienschuetz

Vivien Schütz

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