Unit 42

Words
Words play the biggest part in radio drama. Without words the
audience/ viewer cant set the scene. They dont know what's
happening, whos who and what the scene/ scenario is. The
choice of words is very important as well. Throughout radio
dramas continue to say characters names. This is so that
listeners can get a sense of what's going on, and who's taking
to who.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzShbpY-Oqg (Throughout)
00:00 10:00

Voices & Speech

In radio dramas accents are used throughout to give each character their own identity and

personality. With TV you have appearance to distinguish each character, however in radio its
with voice. Scouse, Geordie, welsh and Scottish are some of the most popular accents used
when recording a radio drama. Theyre all very different from one another and very easy to
recognise. Its easier for the listener at home to be able to listen to four or five different
accents, rather than having three or four similar ones. Voices can be very hard to tell apart,
and accents is the perfect solution to this. Emotions play a big part in any character, and
this is shown in radio drama with their voice choices. A sad voice would be more droned and
long winded, whilst someone excited would speak more quickly and rush their words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uPQE3Pykto throughout the drama, there are a few
voices. The woman in the house begins with a calm voice but slowly becomes more and
more panicked. This really portrays the emotion of the character.

Music
Music in radio dramas sets the scene or the tone for action thats just happened. For instance,

in one of the radio dramas that we listened to, a person died. This then created a moment of
silence from the shock. Music was then played to set the next scene . The music was dull,
nothing over the top. The reason for this; is because of the death. When someone dies, you
dont play cheery music thats loud, you play sad music that represents what happening. This
doesnt only relate, but it allows the listener to know that the setting/ scenario is still the same,
and we havent moved onto something different within the programme. Music can also relate to
a certain time or era. More modern music would represent more recent years, whilst classic war
music might be played to represent olden times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysr06neScco 56:04 56:57 Use of music indicates end of
the show, and continues when the narrator comes back on explaining the credits to the listener.

Ambience
Ambience is a key code for when producing a radio drama.

For example if your script said the location of your scene was
at a park you would add background noise such as wind
blowing, birds and other necessary noises. If all you had was
just the characters talking then the audience may get the
impression that they are talking inside a building rather than
outside at the park

Sounds

Sounds play a big part in every single radio drama. Like music, they allow the listener to
know what's happening, what's the setting, where people are and where they are placed.
An example of this would be from one of the radio drams we first watched. There was a
shop opening in memory of someone who had died. At first you didnt know where she was.
But then the sounds of birds chirping, bikes and cars were introduced and people suddenly
know where you are. The picture starts to come together. Although you hear sounds every
day and you take no notice of them, when you suddenly have to listen to something and
have to try and picture where the setting is, it becomes very difficult. Thats why theyre so
important something so simple makes it so much easier for the audience to understand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzShbpY-Oqg 02:24 the sound effect of a telephone
ringing and being answered

Silence

Although sounds and music play a big part, so does silence. As I explained
earlier, the scene where this mans daughter had died was followed by a moment
of silence. No sound what so ever, but it worked well, it fitted what was going
on. The man was in shock , and this was shown by his silence. They havent
done it because it works, it what's actually happens in real life and TV. People
are always in shock when they hear news like this, and thats why it works well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uPQE3Pykto there is no specific silence but
the silence of the characters adds to the suspense of the drama. It makes the
audience put together what has happened to the woman as they listen to the
policeman on the phone trying to get hold of her.

Aural Signposting
Aural signposting is a bit like sound. It allows the audience to know where you are. Whether

this be a plane, bus, bike, train or car, these sounds are all very recognisable and easy for the
listener to understand. They create the mind-set for the audience, instantly setting the scene
for them, allowing them to not get confused or lost in the situation. If you have two characters
talking, with no background noise, then this doesnt help the listener. How do they know
where they are. Thats why aural signposting is so important. Immediately helping the
audience into being able to understand the situation that they are listening to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfJWiFp6Vwg 07:28 - As well as the characters hinting
that they are in a hotel, the knock on the door and tone of voice used adds more imagery for
the audience. There is also slightly less depth of the woman behind the door to insinuate the
door is still shut. The use of the sentence and how does madam like the room? finally lets the
audience know theyre in a hotel. This example is from the Twilight Zone

Cliffhanger

A cliff hanger appears at the end of the episode or serious. You set the
scene throughout the programme, and then leave the audience on edge.
For instance, say your listening to a radio drama and someone is about to
kill someone, a cliff hanger would be when the programme would end just
before he kills the other person. This leaves the audience not knowing
what's going to happen. Making them come back for the next episode. Cliff
hanger endings are very clever. The keep the audience intrigued and
interested in what's going on. They want to come back next time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysr06neScco 54:39 56:57

Flashback

Flashbacks are a good way of showing the background of a character, place

or building. They show their history of what theyve done, whether that be
what's taken place there or the reason behind the building or village in the
first place. In radio drama you would introduce of flashback maybe by using
a sound like a swoosh, or by a character leading up to the situation. By this
I man the character talks about what the flashback is on. A character might
talk about a relative or friend, and then you hear the flashback sound and
this character starts talking. Its a very clever way for the audience to get a
insight on peoples lives and each character in the programme.

Use of Fades
The use of fades I believe can be used in numerous

ways. The first of these two is the ending of a scene or

show. You could have the voice fading out, allowing the audience to pick up on the fact that its the ending
of a particular part of the show or in fact the end of the actual episode. The next way that you can use a
fade is to do with distance of the characters. With radio dramas, when you record them your in a booth. You
dont actually act out what's happening. So, if for some reason you have a part where a person is walking
away from someone, but still talking to them, then their voice is going to get quitter. This is where the fade
affect comes in. you can make it seem like their voice is getting quieter naturally, rather than having to act
it out and potentially not getting the result you want. Other than fading out, you can also fade in. if you
begin your show with loud noises of crowds, vehicles or other noises, you dont want to suddenly began part
of the show, or in fact the show itself like this. You dont want to suddenly spring it upon the audience. So,
fading these noises in allows it to build up gradually, which I believe to be a much better approach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzShbpY-Oqg 02:14 the music fades so that the voice can be heard in
the next scene

Use of Silence

Although sounds and music play a big part, so does silence. As I explained
earlier, the scene where this mans daughter had died was followed by a moment
of silence. No sound what so ever, but it worked well, it fitted what was going
on. The man was in shock , and this was shown by his silence. They havent
done it because it works, it what's actually happens in real life and TV. People
are always in shock when they hear news like this, and thats why it works well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uPQE3Pykto there is no specific silence but
the silence of the characters adds to the suspense of the drama. It makes the
audience put together what has happened to the woman as they listen to the
policeman on the phone trying to get hold of her.

Characterisation
Characterisation involves the creation and development of a

character within the production. This will give a good

representation of the character, adding more imagery for the
audience. This involves mannerisms, style/tone of voice,
confidence in voice etc. to make each character
distinguishable.

Chronological Development
This would include the development of a character

(emotionally or physically) through a consecutive sequence of

time. The opposite to this, Non-chronological development is
the opposite of a continued lapse of time. The sequence of
the narrative may jump between periods of time, or add
another element of suspense.

Narration

Narration is not only a clever way of not over using a certain character, but to also
have a different impact/ input on the situation or storyline. They can go into extra
detail and allow the listener to get a bigger insight into the situation which you might
not get without a narrator.
Narration is a key element to setting the scene or mood for a scene. For example the
narrator could say It was a bright and sunny day as Joe ran down the road chasing
butterflies. The audience can easily relate to this because they now have a strong
image in their heads of what is happening and they also get a positive vibe for the
mood of the scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysr06neScco 00:00 00:30 the first person
narrator opens the drama by explaining the context of the story.

Direct Speech
Direct speech is the heart and soul of nearly radio drama.

Nearly every radio drama has direct speech included in it

because it is pretty much the only way to explain to the
audience what is a happening in the radio drama. Direct
speech in my opinion is the best style to use for a radio
drama. It takes longer than narration does to develop a plot
of the radio drama. But in the long run, your audience will
find it easier to follow the plot and understand whos talking if
you use direct speech.

Titles & Credits

Titles and credits are read out to allow us to know who's produce and

been part of a certain piece of work. They include a list of members

that were involved with the production of the product. All members of
the crew, cast, production team, technicians etc. will all be credited.
The credits are a way of giving everyone involved credit and
acknowledgement for the creation of the drama. Credits are found
throughout all types of media other than radio drama including TV
programmes, films and even theatre productions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysr06neScco 56:09 56:57

Music

Music in radio dramas sets the scene or the tone for action thats just happened. For
instance, in one of the radio dramas that we listened to, a person died. This then
created a moment of silence from the shock. Music was then played to set the next
scene . The music was dull, nothing over the top. The reason for this; is because of
the death. When someone dies, you dont play cheery music thats loud, you play sad
music that represents what happening. This doesnt only relate, but it allows the
listener to know that the setting/ scenario is still the same, and we havent moved
onto something different within the programme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysr06neScco 56:04 56:57 Use of music
indidcates end of the show, and continues when the narrator comes back on
explaining the credits to the listener.

Appropriateness to target Audience

Appropriateness to target audience is very important in

planning or development of your radio drama. Once you have

a chosen a target audience you must keep your script aimed
at that target audience. For example if the script was about
an old couple who drink tea and talk about the good old
says and its target audience was teenagers (16-22) then the
target audience would not be ideal for the script.

Dramatic Reconstruction

Dramatic reconstruction enables you to see the people

providing the dialogue and so see what is being said by

whom, more clearly without the need for a lot of additional
description.

Styles
The style is often a !articular distinctive appearance that separates genres

into there on categories. The style is the tool that helps the viewers
distinguish between each individual subject. Similar form and designs are
factors that help the audience categories that they are watching and hearing.
An example of this can be the horror style witch is likely to include darker
colors such as reds and blacks, whilst shouting suspense and flashing images.
Styles are the core themes both visual appearances and a common audio
pattern with appropriate trends throughout. It is the visible aid that dictates
that the viewer is expected to see and hear. Therefore style is the predicting
model that hints towards the common traits of the genre

Creation of Mood
When a radio drama produces its broadcasts, it will aim to convey a certain mood

for each scene or act. By using direct aural styles, the drama will attempt to
inflict a specific mood for the episodes. Mood is often associated with the overall
feel of the drama, however characters within the drama will each have there own
mood witch will be emitted onto the listener and to the other characters.
Mood is often created by word choices as it helps the listener understand the
emotions of the character, the mood can also be created by the characters
surroundings and the actions that the characters take. This is inflicted on the
audience and the atmosphere of the drama, as it will reflect off the other
characters contrasting emotions.

Duration

Radio dramas on average are between one hour and three hours long, this
contrasts a drama television show witch on average are 30 minutes to 45
minutes. Radio dramas often require this much length as they need more
time for the structure of the story to develop and expand, aurally this takes
a longer time as there are no visuals. the first stage of the plot will often be
the establishing !lot and will take over the first quarter of the length, the
second stage will be the new situation that arises witch will also take up
another quarter. The third quarter of the duration is taken up by resolutions
to the plot and the final section will be used to create another problem for
the main characters.

Narrative Structure

Narrative structure focuses on the content of the story and the form used
to tell the story. The story and the plot both fall under the narrative
structure of a radio drama, this forms a framework for the unfolding story
throughout the drama. The narrative is a string that consists of a set of
events that are likely to occur in the drama. A narrative structure often
unfolds by starting with a situation witch leads to a series of changes
occurs according to a pattern that has a cause or e7ect to a character. Prior
to this the structure often has a new situation that arises and brings a end
to the main narrative with a new one arising. This cycle is a typical
structure that repeats in dramas

Development of Plot
Plot development refers to how the story of the drama progresses and the

progression of the events in the storyline that lead to a resolution. It is

common for the plot to be interrupted by obstacles as this would link in to
the characters development and how the viewers seethe characters. these
are crucial for dramas as the often rely on a protagonist experience difficult
situations with other characters, this is used to make the storyline more
exciting to the listeners and ensures the plot will grow and expand. It is
important for a plot to develop otherwise the drama will not excite the
listeners and they are likely to switch off, if the plot continues to develop the
listeners are more likely to be interested