FIRST EPISODE
| The first episode of a soap has to be special, as the soap is always judged by its first appearance. I don't know why, except that we do a lot of publicity about launching it, with teasers and trails. |
| And then the listeners make up their minds and pass on word of mouth, just on the first episode. |
| It's the way of the world. We create the buzz. And so the FIRST EPISODE needs special care in scripting and in postproduction. |
| You don't have to cram too much in. You are creating a new world, and you need your first listeners to need more of that world. |
| You need a strong cliffhanger for the end of the first episode. In the BBC 'Westway', set in a London doctors' surgery, the first episode ended in a birth right by the reception desk! |
| Notoriously, the BBC TV soap, 'El Dorado', got bad reviews from the first episode. And even 'EastEnders' took a while to establish itself. |
TECHNIQUES FOR THE FIRST EPISODE
| You go right into the action. See 'Wrap Pack' Episode 1 and comments there. We meet STREETWISE BOY and INEXPERIENCED BOY in the MAIN LOCATION. |
| See ALAN BECK'S FORMULA FOR THE MAIN CHARACTERS |
| See STARTING-UP - GETTING THE 'IDEA' - TEAM-WORK - SCRIPTING |
To WELCOME PAGE
Radio Soap (serial drama) - HOW TO MAKE IT
Five-minute episodes - or short episodes
Step by step instruction from Alan Beck.
Learn about radio drama on this site along with my book - Beck, Alan, Radio Acting, London: A & C Black (1997) ISBN 0-7136-4631-4
This is how to make a short-form soap - entertaining (above all) and you can include issues (issues that could influence the listeners' behaviour).
Further: production, scripting, web site, marketing, focus group meetings, drop-in script, copyright material logging, trails, soap launch.
LINKS WITH OTHER SITE
Radio Drama - directing, acting, technical, learning & teaching, researching, styles, genres
This is a complete curriculum of scripts, techniques, advice, sound files - effects and atmoses (with no copyright and so free to use), detailed script commentaries, etc. -
Contact: [email protected]
This site's address: http://www.savoyhill.co.uk/soap/index.html