CREATIVE AND MEDIA PRODUCTION LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMA
Radio Drama Unit 42: LO1; LO2; LO3; LO4 Sarah Wilson & Adam Jones Date Issued: 14th September 2015 Final Deadline: 13th November 2015
Aim and Purpose This unit aims to develop an understanding of the codes, conventions and audience readings of radio drama which will support learners’ skills in devising and scripting radio drama for a choice of genres. Learners will produce a radio drama for a specific target audience.
Unit Introduction Radio drama is by definition not factual although it may be based on fact. When a true story or event is dramatised the exact detail and chronology of events may be sacrificed or reinterpreted in the interests of entertainment or poetic licence. By contrast, a factually correct account of an event or issue would be a documentary. Radio dramas use characters played by actors and depict events using only the radio codes of speech, sounds, music and silence according to familiar conventions that help to tell a story without the use of a visual stimulus. Because it is relatively expensive to produce, radio drama is mainly broadcast by national networks with big budgets, especially BBC Radios 3 and 4. Some local stations, even in the commercial sector, also produce drama, but most production jobs are to be found in the BBC. They include scriptwriter, producer, technical operator (or studio manager) and production assistant. The most common sub-genres of radio drama include single plays, drama series, soaps and serials. Modern distribution technology means that today drama can be accessed by its audiences as podcasts over the internet or as downloads to mobile phones. Creativity and experimentation with drama codes and conventions should be encouraged once an understanding of the recognised parameters has been achieved. Learners should gain an appreciation of radio drama through encouragement to listen to a wide range of programmes. Skills that are addressed in this unit are ideas origination, scriptwriting, adaptation and production.
Guidance: Create tabs on website Unit 42 U42 LO1 U42 LO2 U42 LO3 U42 LO4
Referencing: Please make sure all research is referenced – any work being plagiarised will fail http://www.wikihow.com/Cite-a-Website - Guidance can be found here
LO1: Understand codes, conventions, styles and structures of radio drama genres. Deadline: 25th September 2015
LO1 Aim: Critically evaluate the codes, conventions, style and structure of different genres of radio with supporting arguments and elucidated examples, consistently using subject terminology correctly.
Task Description:
During this task you will need to CRITICALLY evaluate different genres of radio drama as well as different styles. Your main essay will focus on the codes and conventions of post modern and traditional style radio dramas. You will look at Aural signposting in order to create dramatic reconstruction as well as codes such as speech and silence in order to attract specific target audiences.
Classroom Activity Listen to the first 5 minutes of the provided radio dramas – Everyday Time Machines; Dark Passenger and The Troll of Stony Brook. Download and complete ‘Task 1’ from Vibe Productions – noting down how and why they use sound to tell the story.
Classroom Activity Listen to the 4 provided radio dramas from a variety of genres – Sci Fi; Adventure; Horror and New Wave. Complete an evaluation of each drama similar to the Torchwood example, looking at the setting, characterisation, speech, music and use of silence.
Task 1 For your LO1 assignment you will need to compare and critique 2 different radio dramas – one traditional and one postmodern.
Your critique should be presented as either a word document, PowerPoint or audio recording.
You will need to discuss ALL of the following Codes: Words, voices, speech, music, ambience, sounds and silence Conventions: Aural signposting, cliff-hanger endings, flashback, use of fades, characterisation, chronological development, narration, direct speech, titles, credits Styles: Appropriateness to TA, dramatic reconstruction, drama styles, creation of mood Structures: Duration, narrative structure, development of plot
LO2: Be able to produce and pitch proposals and treatments for radio drama Deadline: 16TH October 2015
LO2 Aim: Produce and pitch a thoroughly thought-through proposal and treatment for a radio drama that targets a specific audience, showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Task Description:
Vibe Productions has been commissioned to produce a variety of 4-minute radio dramas from different genres and styles for the BBC BBC radio 4 radio has decided to re-vamp it’s style in order to attract different audiences to the channel In order to fulfil the brief given by RADIO 4 you are required to come up with a radio drama for a specific target audience and pitch it to a set of producers. You will need to construct a treatment and an interactive presentation focusing on your target audience and aural signposting as well as actors and costing in order to be commissioned by the BBC. If your idea is chosen you will be asked to write a script and produce your idea
Classroom Activity Come up with an idea for a 4 minute radio drama. Choose a genre You need to research your idea, create mind maps and look at: Location • Characters • Plot • Narrative Structure • Target Audience • Actors • Sounds • Cost of Production • Sound Resources •
Task 1 Turning your idea and research into a treatment. Your treatment must include • • • • • • • • •
Blurb Detail on format Detailed outline of your drama Narrative structure Character profile and representation of characters Target Audience and audience expectations Budget Actors Where it will be aired
Task 2 Turn your treatment into an engaging pitch! You need to ‘sell’ your drama to us before you start to script it. You can present your pitch in 3 different ways 1. A PowerPoint (must have sound and visuals) 2. Video presentation (you can record your pitch and play it during the presentation 3. Interactive pitch (including actors and props)
LO3: Be able to develop a treatment for a radio drama into a script Deadline: 22nd October 2015
LO3 Aim: Develop a treatment for a radio drama into a script showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Task Description: BBC radio 4 producers have chosen your idea; you must now turn it into a script. Your script must have stage directions, sound and narrative for your actors to follow and must follow the codes of your chosen genre
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Task 1 Now you need to write your script!!
Before you write your script you need to discuss and explain the tense (past/present/future), narration (first, third, all-seeing) and angle of your story.
It is important that your script is formatted correctly in order for your actors to understand how to deliver their lines.
For a distinction level script
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Have no spelling or grammatical errors
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The quality will be clear and relevant
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There will be a very high level of engagement with the TA
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Include the appropriate stage directions and complex dialogue between characters and characterisation will be in great depth
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You must include where your sounds will be added and what sounds accompany the dialogue.
LO4: Plan and produce a radio drama Deadline: 13th November 2015
LO4 Aim: Plan and produce a radio drama to near-professional technical standards showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Task Description:
BBC radio 4 has arranged for you to record your drama in their state of the art sound booths. You must arrange a date and time with the producers and organise for your actors to be there. The recording booths will be available the week of the 2nd November Failure to turn up to your slot will result in the drama being dropped by the BBC.
Once you have recorded the drama you will need to spend time editing it together and adding sound and music in order to create a dramatic reconstruction
Task 1 It’s time to record your radio drama! You will all have been given a 1 hour slot to record your radio drama. You need to ensure all of your actors are available for this slot as you will not have any other time to record. Have any props ready that you may need and ensure ALL of your actors have a script – do not share as you may record rustling paper with your dialogue.
Have fun and put a lot of effort into it! DON’T JUST READ THE SCRIPT!!!! You are creating a visual image just through sound, it needs to be over exaggerated at times!
Task 2 Editing your radio drama is where your hard work starts to come together. Layering up many tracks of sound effects, music and dialogue will help to make your drama more authentic. Compare yours to an existing professional production…is it as good? What is missing? Ensure all the levels are balanced and that all of the dialogue is audible – this is what tells the story.
Resources Textbooks Baylis P, Freedman A, Procter N et al – BTEC Level 3 National Creative Media Production, Student Book Caulfield A – Writing for Radio, A Practical Guide Crisell A – Understanding Radio, 2nd Edition Macloughlin S – Writing for Radio, 4th Edition McInerney V – Writing for Radio McLeish R – Radio Production, 5th Edition Starkey G – Radio in Context Websites www.bbc.co.uk/radio www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom www.mediauk.com/radio/ www.members.madasafish.com/~misterdisco/writersresources.htm#Radio%2 0Scripts www.oldtimeradio.com www.radioacademy.org www.radiocentre.org/ www.radiostudiesnetwork.org.uk/ www.radiostudiesnetwork.org.uk/journal.html