Microphone positions

1. closest to the microphone (as close as possible - beware of blasting and popping)

2. intimate conversation (a step away from position no 1)

3. conversation (stand far away enough from the microphone so that your outstretched fist is level with it) - MOST RADIO DRAMA DIALOGUE HAPPENS IN POSITION THREE

4. across the 'room' (to 10 feet away)

5. 'moves off' (farthest off in the studio, behind curtains, behind screen)

I have not included details about these MICROPHONE POSITIONS further on this site. They are crucial for scripting and production. You need to consult my book.

Learn about these production details and working at the microphone, in my book -

Beck, Alan, Radio Acting, London: A & C Black (1997) ISBN 0-7136-4631-4

For an application of this - see Close-up - making some dialogue section more intimate

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Next - You will find advice on EXPERIMENTAL radio drama pieces - being as creative as you can.

Then - further into this site:

Setting the scene

Silences and the overall design	silences	hook
signposting	Description
establish presence	scene boundaries	scene boundaries - more
Perspective	sound centre and   Point of listening = POL	To index

Structuring the plot

Narrative	protagonist-dominated	Narrator
closure (ending)	use a 'mystery'	Realism
		To index

Production issues in detail

address	naming	record 'umms' from all the characters to store
scene structure	dialogue is more than words	SOUND BOX - production sound effects archive
atmos and soundscapes	double frame - triple frame	clustering
underscoring music - fighting the dialogue	Noise	'moving camera' technique
Music	montage	'Will you turn that music down!' 18-second rule
drop-ins	sound pictures	memorability
number the scenes carefully with a system	voice in the mind = interiorizing	time-space rule or jump cut

Styles of production, directing and post-production

Standard production	Genre (academic) and types of plays	story board
chaining sentences - (characters or character and narrator)	doubling sentences - overlapping (narrator and protagonist)	economy rule
		To index

Theoretical issues & writing-up your project

writing up your student project work (critique)	realism	symbol system
language based =  logocentric	What is radio theory for?	Theory - what is it?
Voice

 

 

 

 

 

This site is 'Radio Drama - directing, acting, technical, learning & teaching, researching, styles, genres'.

This is part of a complete curriculum of scripts, techniques (acting & directing & post-production & genre styles), advice, sound files - effects and atmoses (with no copyright and so free to use), detailed script commentaries, etc. You are welcome to use these sites with no copyright restriction.

The url of this site, 'Radio Drama Techniques', is: www.savoyhill.co.uk/technique

To Alan Beck's Radio Hub at http://www.savoyhill.co.uk

To Alan Beck's HOME PAGE at www.savoyhill.co.uk/alan

See more of Alan Beck's work at http://interact.uoregon.edu/MediaLit/WFAE/readings/beck/

IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, PLEASE EMAIL TO : radio@savoyhill.co.uk

NAVIGATING THE SITE

To index - This will give you an A to Z of all the content of this site.

Note: If the text is too small for you to read, go to VIEW on the top toolbar, then TEXT SIZE, and choose MEDIUM, LARGE or LARGER.

Navigate this site using the back arrow on the top left of the screen.

Use the FAVOURITES on the top toolbar, and create a FOLDER for this site 'Radio Drama Techniques', and FAVOURITE the WELCOME PAGE, and also various other pages in the site. So you can go to FAVOURITES, then the folder 'Radio Drama Techniques', and click on whatever you need. So nagivation around the site becomes quicker.

Copy and paste it into WORD in the following way - ON THE WEB PAGE - Select what you want to copy Or (if all - from the Top Toolbar) EDIT and then SELECT ALL - OPEN WORD - Edit - Paste Special - Unformatted Text

Use QUESTIONS - 'HOW DO I' - to navigate this site.

Disclaimer

Any opinions expressed in this site are the personal opinions of the owner of the site. IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, PLEASE EMAIL TO : radio@savoyhill.co.uk