CREATIVE AND MEDIA PRODUCTION

LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMA

Radio Drama

Unit 42: LO1; LO2; LO3; LO4

James Ashford

Date Issued: 3rd January 2017

Final Deadline: 7th April 2017

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 re-

interpreted 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: 13th January 2017

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:

You are required to demonstrate your understanding of the codes and

conventions of Radio Drama through extensive research

and group discussions.

You will produce either a PowerPoint OR radio news

show critically comparing traditional and

postmodern Radio dramas.

You will focus on the sounds, narrative and

signposting of your dramas in order to gain the

highest grades.

Classroom Activity 1

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 four 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 target audience, 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: 20th February for written treatment, pitches will take place the week

beginning 20th February 2017.

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:

Now you understand the requirements of Radio Drama you will need to

develop and plan an idea of your own.

Once you have come up with a creative idea you will need to pitch it to the

class. The pitch should be imaginative, use sounds so the audience gains a

better understanding, discuss the target audience, and make the plot clear

to everyone.

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: 10th March 2017

LO3 Aim: Develop a treatment for a radio drama into a script showing

creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.

Task Description:

Now you have pitched your idea you need to turn it into

a script.

The script should follow traditional format but the

emphasis should be on the noises and background

sounds as well as the stage direction for your actors.

Actors should be chosen wisely as they could make or

break your production

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

Have no spelling or grammatical errors

The quality will be clear and relevant

There will be a very high level of engagement with the TA

Include the appropriate stage directions and complex dialogue

between characters and characterisation will be in great depth

You must include where your sounds will be added and what sounds

accompany the dialogue.

LO4: Plan and produce a radio drama

Deadline: Recording will take place the week of 13th March 2017

Final dramas edited and uploaded by 7th April 2017

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:

Produce a radio drama to near professional

standards focusing on speech, sounds and

narrative

You will need to hire out the sound studio in order

to record your actors. You are not allowed to

record on mobile phone or hand held devises. The

recording must take place in a soundproof room for

maximum grades.

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.

Grading Criteria

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