Page 38 - Electronic Media

38 Media Studies - II ELECTRONIC MEDIA

Instructions

1. Figure out the central topic of your radio play. Radio drama can be
about pretty much anything, but it has to be driven solely by dialogue,
narration and sound effects. This makes plot-driven genres such as
science fiction, adventure, suspense and mystery especially well-
suited.

2. Create a protagonist and a few supporting characters. Because radio
play has no visual reference, you’ll want a lot of contrast in your
characters. Having characters of different ages, genders, nationalities
and subcultures with different ways of talking will broaden the appeal
of your radio play and make it easier to follow.

3. Come up with a good central conflict. Writing out a clear explanation
of the central conflict will help you organize everything in your own
head before you start writing the script.

4. Pick a script format for your radio drama. It really doesn’t matter
what format you use, as long as you have a standard way of writing
dialogue, stage directions, sound effects and narrative.

5. Set the scene. Radio plays can create the scene using a narrator, a
monologue, a dialogue, sound effects or a combination of the above.
The important thing is to let the audience know where they are at
the beginning. Within the first few minutes, they should know who
the principal characters are, where they are and what they are doing.
6. Clearly introduce a plot element and place in each scene. By tying
each scene to a place, event and character, you can, piece by piece,
create a vivid world for the listener.

7. Incorporate sound effects whenever possible. Creaking doors,
shrieking alarms and cavernous echoes really make radio more vivid.