Unit 42 LO1 PowerPoint

How to Guide: Cameron Cruickshank

CODES
Codes in Radio Drama are thebuilding blocks of radio dramas, Things such as
Words, Speech, Music, Ambience, Sounds and Silence. You'll find in most
radio dramas these things will be featured in it and this is what will make up
the Drama itself.

WORDS
In radio drama Words have to be well put and very straight forward, as we ca nt see
what is happening we need to be informed with words of the situation, or how some
one is feeling. Words need to be presented in a very clear way for then when
recordings has started they can read of the script and deliver so precisely which then
creates a clear image for the audience. With the language of words in Radio Dramas
you'll find their names are used often so therefore we know who is talking, or who that
person is talking to, its a very slow way of using language but effective. The way
words are delivered is very slow but deliberate to the execution is perfect, compared to
a TV Drama which the pace would be very different. Words need to tell the story, we
heavily rely on then in radio drama. Such as a name being said tells us important
information on that person and we already understand who they are.

VOICES & SPEECH

Voices again is one of the most important things in radio drama.
We dont see anything in a radio drama so we rely on the words
here to tell us the story, what is happening. The delivery of this is
essential. As we are listening to what is being said we need to
understand in which tone this is being said, so if it is assertively,
aggressively, calmly, if they are trying to funny, and many other
more. This then gives the audience a very clear understanding of
what is happening, and from their we can create a picture in our
heads and see it how we want to see it. Voices also help as well to
understand what the people are like because of their accents and
we know even more about them personally. If they are cockney for
example, form Liverpool, or if they are from aboard which also
helps to have a very clear representation of every character and
the situation which is happening in the drama.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6ul
nJq2Pk
from 1:02 we hear the first set
of speech and as I mentioned
names are always repeated and
said, the first thing said is Father
Garnet we know now that the
person speaking to him is her
daughter and she is trying to
speak to her father. Also at 1:13
she also says He is not here
Master Owen again this shows
how voice is used in radio drama
and names are repeated often to
make things clear for the
audience. From 1:18 her voice
sounds worried and shaky as she
is worried she cannot find her
father in her speech, this is good
because the audience know what
is happening and how she is

MUSIC
Music is very important in any platform of production,
Films, Games, TV Shows, and radio dramas. In radio
dramas music is even more important, with radio all we
use is our ears, to gather what is happening and get a
image for ourselves and see it how we want to see it.
With music this really helps us to understand the current
situation. For example if we hear sad music, we then
know that the scene is sad, and the current situation in
the drama is sad. We then can relate to this and this also
has a emotional impact on us to as we listen. For
example if we hear jolly happy music, we can then
clearly understand that it is a happy scene and we also
feel happy to as we can connect to it, which music can
do for all platforms of media, it is one of the most
powerful tools to dictate a scene.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6ulnJq
2Pk
from 23 seconds we can start to hear
music being played in this radio
drama. The music sets the tone for
the audience and soon we as we hear
the music we can instantly recognise
that its set in a specific time period,
this being the time period of when
the gunpowder plot took place in
1605.

AMBIENCE
Ambience is what creates the atmosphere for each scene in
a radio drama, so things such as thuds, footsteps, doors
slamming ect. These can be downloaded or made using a
midi player. Ambience sound and music is played in the
background of a radio drama and this sets the scene, for
example the sound of waves on the beach would suggest
we are at the beach. With these sounds there is greater
detail in the drama and we feel more closed into to what is
happening. We can also gather more detail into the drama.
For example if it was a horror radio drama and we heard
slow footsteps, this could create the suspense for then
something to happen as you would expect in a horror. Or if a
door is slammed this would suggest someone is angry and
that they have stormed off. This all adds more detail into
the story and gives us more of an idea of the situation.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6uln
Jq2Pk
16 seconds in we can hear police
sirens going in the background. This
is a great example of ambience as it
indicates that it could be a frantic
scene, or we are about to be put
into a situation because of the
sound.

SOUNDS
Sounds like music are also very important. Sounds can
determine what has just happened in a scene, the sound in
the background of a scene can help us determine where
they could be, and a sound within the scene could suggest
they are actively doing something. For example if we heard
a scene with people talking and then we heard cows in the
background, or if we heard Big Bens Chimes this would
then suggest maybe they are in a farm, or in London. By
hearing sounds we can then understand more about the
situation, where they are, and what they are doing. This
can help us create a clear picture in our heads and with a
good use of sounds this could create an excellent Radio
Drama.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6uln
Jq2Pk
here is a example of sound being
used in the Gunpowder. Right at the
start of the radio drama we hear the
chime of big ben which instantly
informs us that we are set in
London.

SILENCE
Silence in radio dramas can be a very helpful tool
to the audience. Firstly when we hear silence after
a scene, we can presume that we are expecting a
new scene to come up and that the scene we just
listened to is over. But it is also very good to build
tension in the drama, us as the audience then feel
on edge of our seats, and wondering what will
happen next, it is a great way to really hook the
audience and get them gripped. Silence can
suggest the relationship between two or more
people too depending who is in the scene

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6ulnJ
q2Pk
at 21:41 silence is used to then
fade to the next scene, this lets the
audience know that the scene has
finished.

CONVENTIONS AURAL-SIGNPOSTING
Aural signposting is very similar to sound, this also
helps understand a situation and where they might
be. For example this could be on a bike, in a car, or in
a train., by hearing this noise we can hear the sound
and the audience can then understand where the
scene is taking place as we will recognise the sound
instantly. We can then create the image for ourselves
and see how we want to see it. As we cannot see what
is happening aural signposting is the key to helping
understand where they might be what is happening.
For example a scene with no sound in the background
is no help to us and the audience can be left to feel
confused and not knowing a thing.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6u
lnJq2Pk
about 48 seconds in there is a
good example of aural
signposting with birds singing in
the background. This can suggest
that they are in the daytime, or
currently outside somewhere.

CLIFF-HANGER ENDINGS
Cliffhanger endings are what we call a open ending. The ending can
be very dramatic and be left at a point of us not knowing what is
going to happen. For example the Italian Job have shown the greatest
cliffhanger ending with a bus balancing on the end of a cliff and then
the film ends. This is leaves us in a state of confusion and we start to
think what can happen next. A lot of radio dramas use this technique
because it is a great way to get the audience to come back for the
next episode as you will be eager to find out what will happen next as
we want to know. It also makes the radio drama much more dramatic
with a open ending to then lead onto the next episode as if something
big is going to happen. With people easily loosing interest in radio
dramas as cannot see what is happening, this is a great appetizer for
the next episode as our anticipation builds for the next episode.

FLASHBACK
A flashback is where we go back to a memory that once
happened in a persons life. This is a good technique to learn
more and discover more about a person and their past. For
example a good use of a flashback is in murder films, we often
see a flashback scene of how the killer killed the person, how
he did it, what he used to then clarify everything that
happened and that we have a clear understanding. In radio
drama a flashback could teach us even more about a
character as it will be harder task to do so due to being just a
radio drama, this could help us understand the character
more and get more into the drama. We may recognise this
with a swoosh noise of a type of music which would suggest
that we have gone back in time.

USE OF FADES
Use of fades is very effective in radio dramas.
By using the use of fades the audience then
understand when a scene has finished, or
when the episode has ended, if not then we
will be left confused and not knowing when a
new scene has finished, this helps us
understand when something has finished or
when something has started. For example you
hear silence often being used as a way to fade
from one scene to another, then that will let
the audience know that this scene has finished
now and the new scene is about to begin

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6ulnJ
q2Pk
at 21:36 there is a good use of
fades, in this example you can hear
him walking away and his voice is
getting more and more quiet which
suggests he is leaving and a new
scene is coming.

USE OF SILENCE
The use of silence is a great way to let the audience
know that its the end of the episode, or its the end of
a scene. The use of silence is a very handy tool as we
cannot see anything, we need something to realise
that it is the end of something, so because we hear
this we can feel more involved and feel a lot more sure
of what is going on. Another use of silence is that it
can add a lot of dramatic content to a drama, can add
a lot of tension and can suggest to us that maybe the
two people or whoever dont like each other because of
the awkward silence. This makes it more interesting for
the audience and more gripped on the drama.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6ulnJ
q2Pk
at 21:41 silence is used to then
fade to the next scene, this lets the
audience know that the scene has
finished.

CHARACTERISATION
Characterisation is a great way of us identifying who the character is and this can come
into different ways of doing it. We can have this by accents, so if we hear someone and
we recognise their voice, instantly we can identify who it is if we are regular viewers of
the drama. Another way of using characterisation in radio dramas is by their name
always being repeated which is very common, you will find when listening to a radio
drama their name is always being repeated so we in fact know who is talking and who
they are talking to. Its a great way to help the audience and help them identify who is
who. For example an accent straight away can inform us of where that person is from
and we instantly know something about them. Also in which job they may do, so for
example if we hear cows in the background, then a farmers accent we may think that
they are a farmer and we are finding more information out about the character.

CHRONOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
Chronological development in radio drama can be very important, this is when
a series of events happens in order and we need to know how it has happened.
With radio dramas we cannot see anything so it is important we know in which
direction time is going, if it is in chronological order then that means the time
is going in order and this helps the audience to really understand what is going
on and make things clear.

NARRATION
Narration is where someone is talking directly to us and informing us of what
is happening, and tells us the story. This helps the audience understand what
is going on and lets us know what has happened. A good effect of this is that
we can learn a lot more about a person, or a lot more about the situation with
someone narrating. Some people may struggle to understand the story and
may be confused. Narration is also very useful in radio drama, as we cannot
see what is going on it is very hard to understand what is happening,
narration helps that problem and explains things simple dialogue cannot.
This can be done in a first persons point of view so from their own
perspective, or a third persons perspective informing us and telling us the
story.

DIRECT SPEECH
Direct speech is a method in which we feel like they are directly talking to us.
This is where we are told something directly from a narrator, for example this
could be I didnt know that would be the last time I would see her the
narrator is telling us how they feel from a first person point of view which is
good for the audience because we then understand what is happening and
visually see more what is happening. It is a great way to give the audience
perspective and more detail of what is happening.

TITLES & CREDITS

Titles and credits is very important in any form of
production as we then are informed of who did what
and who was in what we just watched. For example
at the end of the film we can see who the producer
was to the shop keeper who may have been a
character in the film. This helps us know who did
what. In radio drama we of course will not be able to
see this, so the title and credits will played our loud
to us so when we listen we can hear the actors
involved and the crew who produced the drama.
This goes into extra detail with the audience to let
them know who did what in the production and also
credits everyone who was respectively involved.

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D6
ulnJq2Pk
in the Gunpowder Plot radio
drama 38 seconds in there is a
example of title and credit being
used. With someone telling us
the name of the radio drama,
and who it was made by.

STYLES APPROPRIATENESS TO THE

TARGET AUDIENCE
It is important in anything that the target audience is appropriate to what
type of radio drama is being made, as radio drama doesnt get much of an
audience compared to other platforms of media, the content in the drama
needs to analysed and based around the target audience of a radio drama,
this way people will listen more to the radio drama if the target audiences
perforations are included in the drama.

DRAMATIC RECONSTRUCTION
Dramatic reconstruction is also known as an adaption. Shows such as
torchwood have been turned into a radio drama when jack is in a coma.
Torchwood was very popular in TV and after their success they decided to try
it on a different platform. This is a great way of appealing to all different
types of audiences because people who watch torchwood may hear of their
being a radio drama special and be tempted to listen to more radio dramas
such as the archers.

CREATION OF MOOD OR LOCATION

The mood and location an be made clear to the location by using a narrator,
stereotypical sounds of the location so for example seagulls at the beach, we
can then identify that there is a high chance they are at the seaside. Music
related to that area aswell such as samba music would maybe suggest they
are in Brazil or somewhere in South America. Tone of voices can really
indicate to the audience the mood of the current scene, so an aggressive
tone of voice would suggest that they are angry and a high pitched jolly
voice would suggest that they are happy and at that point of the story it is
going very well.

RADIO DRAMA STYLES

Traditional - A traditional style of radio drama consists of a strong story line that involves a narrator and
many characters. There is usually a problem or dilemma that the characters are working towards solving.
Post-Modern - This style of radio drama is different because rather than a traditional style, where
questions are answered, In post modern radio drama's there are more questions being raised but the
audience is left to answer them themselves in their heads.
Kitchen Sink - A Kitchen sink style of radio drama is usually based around a family and the idea that it is
just the everyday life inside a home. Similar to Soap's but less characters and there is never usually
problems that are serious.
Soap - Similar to kitchen sink, soap's are about everyday life but there is also elements of danger and
there is also problems within the public of the drama. They are usually based around small towns. Some
examples would be; Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
Adaptation - An adaptation is when the script writer takes an idea that has already been used before and
changes and adapts it so that it is a different take on the same story.

NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
The narrative is how something is put together, the story, whether that
maybe a non-linear narrative or a linear-narrative varies. This means weather
the story will be story with no flash backs, which goes from the beginning,
the middle, the end, or a story where it starts from a certain point, then goes
back and explains how we got to that point. In most narrative structures for a
radio drama you will expect it to be a a linear narrative going from A-B as it is
harder for a radio drama to show flash backs and change of time due to us
not being able to see it. But some radio dramas will have a non-linear
narrative and use the right techniques to show this so the audience.

DURATION
The duration of a radio drama needs to be to correct time. As we cannot say
anything if a radio drama is to long people could loose interest and not
bother listening again, where as if it is a reliable time then people are less
likely do so. The archers for example goes to 13-15 minutes but there are
some which way go on for 25+ mins.

DEVELOPMENT OF PLOT
The Plot will always develop in a chronological order and be made very clear
to the listener so they can easily understand the details of the storyline,
Often individual characters will have there own storyline and it may
intertwine with another character, this will be made evident through the way
the script is written and the use of silence, music and narrative. The plot
doesnt always develop in the way you think, it may develop in a Linear or a
non linear structure