Writing for the Radio Learning Outcome Use dialogue and sound effects in a radio play, to give information to the listeners. Key words Dialogue Sound effects

How to write a Radio Play – (BBC World Service website) 1. First Thoughts Settings, both time and place can be as imaginative as you wish, as you are not restricted by cost and resources as you are when writing for the screen or the stage. Remember – you are ‘using the muscle of the listener’s imagination.’

2. Structure A radio play has scenes like a stage play – these can be short and swift as well as long and solid. Vary the place and the length of the scenes (level 6+), as well as the diegetic and non diegetic sound FX It is crucial to draw the listener in immediately (or they’ll switch off or change channels!) Make sure that the drama is moving from the very second that the play begins.

3. Characters Do not have too many characters in a radio play, there is a risk of confusion if you do. Get to know your characters really well. Each will have their own individual speech mannerisms. Don’t have them all speaking in your tone of voice. Raise the listener’s curiosity.

4. Developing Dialogue Every bit of speech must help the plot move in some direction, increasingly involving the listener as it does. In addition to speech, the writer needs to think about sound FX, music and silence. Silence can convey a variety of things: suspense, anxiety, tranquility. Pauses also help listener’s take in what they have heard and prepare for what happens next.

Level 7/8 ‘Try to remember that as far as possible, characters shouldn’t actually answer each other’s lines, they should jump off from each other’s lines onto something else, or turn corners or surprise people. This will also create movement.’ Mike Walker

5. Thinking in Sound A variety of sounds is essential for holding listener’s attention and engaging their interest. This variety can be achieved by altering the length of scenes, the number of people speaking, the pace of the dialogue and location of action. The contrast of a noisy, action packed scene with a quiet passage of interior monologue is very effective.

The Spooky Castle Radio Script Basic Structure:- Scene 1: Enter the Spooky Castle (2 to 3 characters) Scene 2: Inside the Spooky Castle (Introduce a new, sinister character) Scene 3: Escape from the Spooky Castle

Extension Develop further scenes following the guidelines of the BBC World Service – specifically contrasting and varying scene length and action. Complex, in-depth characterisation – give each character an individual ‘voice’. Vary the dialogue – don’t fall into the trap of one- liners! Let your characters speak several sentences at a time. Be creative with genre conventions – use them for effect as well as surprising the listener with creative twists. Record your play!

Writing for the Screen By the end of the lesson I will understand the technical terms that are used in film making Key words Storyboard Camera shot Camera movement

Storyboards Storyboards are like cartoon strips. Following the directors instructions storyboard artists will draw out each shot of the film. As well as a sketch of what you will see on screen, the storyboard also gives some information about what the camera is doing and what is on the soundtrack. Storyboards are used BEFORE filming starts to give an idea of how it will look on screen.

Types of camera shots Task: Copy the information on page 87 about the following Camera Shots 1)Long Shot (LS) = 2)Medium Shot (MS) = 3)Close-up Shot (CU) = 4)Big Close-up Shot (BCU) = 5)Point-of-View Shot (POV) =

Camera Movements Task: Copy the information from the blue box on page 87 about the following camera movements Panning = Tracking = Zooming =

Movement from shot to shot CUT = High action/Fast pace: When there is a lot happening on the screen, such as a car chase, the director will often cut very quickly from shot to shot. DISSOLVE = Less action/slower pace: When a shot gradually fades away

Quick Quiz What do these abbreviations stand for? LS POV CU BCU MS

These definitions are mixed up. Which order should they be in? ZoomingThis is when the camera swivels horizontally following something PanningThis is when the camera actually moves to follow something TrackingIn or out. The camera moves in or out.

Writing for the screen Congratulations! Your ‘Spooky Castle’ radio script has been a huge success. A Hollywood film studio has approached and asked you to turn it into a film. Coming to cinema screens soon: The Spooky Castle! – starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley

Choose between 6 and 8 events from your script and create a storyboard. Draw a picture of each event and carefully consider the following: 1.BRIEFLY describe what is happening in the story at this point 2.The type of camera shot – e.g. LS, POV, CU 3.The type of camera movement – e.g. panning, tracking, zooming 4.Sound Effects 5.Comment also on camera angle and its effect – e.g. top down, bottom up 6.Comment on movement between frames – e.g. fade, dissolve 7.Describe the mise en scene DESCRIBE THE EFFECT - beneath each picture Remember! Effect, Effect, Effect, Effect, Effect…

A Happy day at ICC The following storyboard is based upon a film called “The Day Finally Comes to Ibstock”. In the storyboard, we see happy students travelling to and arriving at school, and getting ready for the day’s learning. Then ‘it’ happens. A student screams in happiness, and alerts everyone else!

. (tracking) LS. Students travel to school (Cut) MS / BCU of location (Cut) Cu on one student preparing for the day MS of students learning (Zoom in and dissolve to next picture) Zoom out to pan round to bring teacher into the shot. MS Student wants to tell teacher it’s snowing (Cut to next shot). POV. Students run to window and see snow.