Transcript Radio Dramas - Mrs. Celello

Radio Dramas
Mrs. Celello
English 8
Introduction
• Back before there
were televisions and
computers, there was
radio.
•
Families of the 1930s
and 1940s would
gather around the
radio and listen to
their favorite
programs such as
Little Orphan Annie,
Amos and Andy, The
Guiding Light, and
The Shadow.
The Task
• You are an employee of a local radio station.
• Your boss, who grew up during the "Golden Age"
of radio, has decided to add new programming to
the station. He has assigned you and your coworkers the task of writing and producing a new
radio drama.
• Your boss expects you and your co-workers to
create a script for a new radio series.
• He wants the script to contain references to
sound effects as well as the actors' dialogue.
• In addition to the script, you and your team
are to present a recorded demo-version of
the play, complete with sound effects, that
will be recorded on audio cassette.
Writing the Script
• The beginning is everything. If you don’t catch
the attention of your listeners immediately, your
listeners will desert you and tune out.
• Take one scream. Add the sound of blood
dripping onto a wooden floor, a door slamming,
menacing footsteps, and a voice that says gently,
“Is that you dear?” and you are into a mystery.
• Take the listener by the throat and drag him/her
into your story.
Plot
• Your story must have an interesting plot that
is well structured.
• That means that you must have a conflict
and a resolution.
• Try to have lots of twists and turns, which
will make your story more exciting.
• Add elements of surprise.
Formula Plotting
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
8.
Establish a character other than the star.
Give the character a problem he can’t solve without help.
Explain why he can’t solve the problem and involve a
villain.
The star learns about the situation.
The antagonist learns that the hero will interfere.
The antagonist plots to kill or stop the star.
The star outwits or outfights the antagonist and survives.
The star solves the situation to the satisfaction of most.
Character
• Your audience has to identify with your
main character.
• You must make the character believable.
Dialogue
• The whole story in a radio play is told
through dialogue.
• It must be detailed and make sense to the
listener.
• The conversations of the characters must
reflect what they are thinking and feeling.
Ambience
• The ambience or atmosphere sets the mood
for the play.
• It is determined by sound effects, the
writing, the music, everything.
• Radio drama is not merely a play with “lots
of sound effects.”
• A good radio play is good drama.
• In radio, the dialogue and narration
contribute roughly 75% to the drama, with
music another 15% and sound effects a
mere 10%.
• Sound effects merely sketch in the action or
punctuate dialogue.
• Intrusive sound effects will make the
dialogue harder to follow.
• Sound effects add realism, but should be
added sparingly.
Emotion
• You must generate an
emotional response
from the audience –
preferably to the main
character.
• Emotional connection
between the writing
and the listener = good
radio drama.
Purpose
• Every word, every line, every scene must
serve a dramatic purpose in terms of
characterization and plot development.
• Drop anything that does not have a dramatic
purpose.
The Process
•
•
Each person in your group is to select one
of the following positions.
A job description for each position is
included.
Playwright
•
•
It is the responsibility
of the playwright to
write the actual script
for the radio drama.
The other members of
the group will provide
creative input, but the
playwright will be held
accountable for
actually writing the
script on paper.
Foley Artist
•
•
•
It is the responsibility of the
Foley artist to create the
sound effects for the radio
drama.
This person will be
responsible for ensuring
that all props are brought to
the recording studio when
needed.
The Foley artist will make
sure that the playwright
includes all sound effects in
the script.
Advertising Executive
•
•
It is the responsibility of
the advertising executive
to write the commercials
for the radio drama.
This person should
decide where the
commercials should be
placed in the script and
inform the playwright of
these decisions.
Task Keeper
• The task keeper is
responsible for keeping all
of the group members on
task.
• It is the task keeper’s job
to make sure that everyone
is participating and getting
along.
Director
• It is the director’s job
to make sure that
everyone knows
his/her part.
• It is also the director’s
task to make sure that
the drama gets
produced to the best of
the group’s ability.
Most Important…
HAVE FUN!!!