A new kind of audio drama from a local studio has arrived just in time for spooky season — and it’s accessible only through a phone call.
“Misfortune,” a new series from 34-year-old Arlington resident Amadi Grey, recently released its first episode. The hook: a group of high schoolers in upstate New York go out to dinner, but a mystery ensues when one of them turns up dead the next day.
It’s the first of several forthcoming series from DialTale, which presents stories over the phone. “Misfortune” is available by calling 315-818-5869.
“I feel like there’s a different path for me to tell these stories, and with DialTale, I just feel like I found it,” Grey said.
Each episode is about three to four minutes long. The early episodes will be free before DialTale rolls out a service where customers buy credits to unlock episodes of any of the series it features.
The system will also remember where listeners are in the story so they can pick back up next time they call in. Each series will also have a unique number based on the area code for the story’s setting.
Episode two of “Misfortune” is coming out this week, with weekly installments planned through its 20-episode run, including a two-parter on Halloween. Other thriller and horror stories are planned for release through Thanksgiving.
“This is just the beginning,” Grey said. “’Misfortune’ is really going to allow the brand to get out there.”
Grey’s path to a dial-up story started when he created the animated show “Brush Brigade” a few years ago. As he was considering distribution methods and other story ideas, he came across the 900 number system.
The system was set up in the 1970s as a way for Americans to hear from President Jimmy Carter, but eventually morphed into a premium call-in system for all types of services. Eventually, it fell out of popularity in the early 1990s amid government regulation following misuse by several companies.
But Grey saw an opportunity to create “micro-content” in a unique format that connected directly to audiences. Citing apps like ReelShort, which provides short dramas and stories, he was ready to pounce.
“The phone is a direct gateway to the audience,” he said.
Since launching on Sept. 22, “Misfortune” has received more than 1,400 calls.
“I’m really thrilled about how this is going so far,” Grey said. “I can’t imagine how this is going to be a few months from now.”
