Record 'umms' from all the characters to store

Collect reactions and 'umms' for SOUND BOX - production sound effects archive

'Umms' is the technical production term for characters' reactions while others are speaking.

As a director, you need to get the characters' presence into the scene.

'Umms' means not just the 'umm', and 'aha', and shock and taking-it-in, but also giggling, laughter, horror reactions etc.

For a full explanation, see Alan Beck, Radio Acting.

As you record, make sure you collect these 'umms' from the characters.

Do not specifically ask for reactions, unless you have to. There is a danger that they will be artificial if you ask for them.

You particularly need inbreaths and outbreaths from each of the main characters.

Your aim is to create 'presence' and movement in dialogue through post-production additions.

These inbreaths and outbreaths are essential. You need to build up a store of these in your production sound effects archive (SOUND BOX).

Once you have a growing store of these 'umms' or reactions ( inbreaths and outbreaths, giggling, shock etc.), you will discover that you can use them flexibly.

Divide them into categories, such as 'male inbreath', 'female inbreath', etc. And they can be used across different adult male characters, adult female characters, teenagers, children, etc. This depends on context, and on what sounds right for you in post-production.

By the additions of these sound files, you can do more in post-production to add 'presence' (that feeling for the audience of the listening character being 'in').

You will not create this in post-production alone, and there is a danger that this could sound artificial.

You need to create the sense of the characters all being 'in' through the scene by the acting quality of the actors.

SEE Radio drama dialogue is much more than the words on the page.

SEE Getting PRESENCE into the scene - the sense of a character being 'in'

But your approach should be similar to the creation of the film sound-track, where so much is done in post-production.

You need to have all these resources. Radio drama is a miniaturist art, and a small touch, an inbreath by a character, can do a lot.

Radio drama dialogue is much more than the words on the page.

CONTINUING THROUGH THE SITE:    to           scene structure

Production issues in detail

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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