Adaptations - a novel, stage play, or film or other text as source

Adaptations

A radio play that takes a novel, stage play, or film or other text as its source. It uses story events, characters, settings, and other elements, and then translates them to the medium of sound.

Listen to examples on BBC Radio 4 - 'The Classic Serial' Saturday 9-10 pm, and also on Sunday 3-4 pm. You can also listen on the BBC web site ('LISTEN AGAIN')

I strongly recommend using a NARRATOR.

For broadcast, you have to obey the Copyright requirements.

YOU HAVE TO 'LOG' ALL COPYRIGHT MATERIAL, AND ESPECIALLY MUSIC

Rosemary Horstmann, Writing for Radio, 1991, London: A & C Black.
"Before embarking on making a radio adaptation of an existing work it is as well to check on two important points. Firstly, is the writer of the book, play or story still alive? If so, will he be happy for you to adapt his work? He may well wish to do so himself. If he has died within the past seventy years, copyright clearance will have to be negotiated with the heirs of his estate. If you belong to the Society of Authors they will be able to establish the copyright situation for you. It is unlikely that you, as the writer, will have to foot the bill for copyright payments; this will be the responsibility of the broadcasting company. It is wise, however, for you to be fully informed as to whether copyright negotiations will be necessary before you put up your script proposal."

If your project is not for broadcast (Laboratory piece), you do not need to negotiate copyright.

HERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Etchells, Tim, Endland Stories or Bad Lives, 1999, Pulp Faction Ltd.

Strange, fantasy stories, entertainingly written - I suggest 'Silence', 'Wendy', 'Porridge and Spatula', 'Crash Family Robinson'.

Angela Carter - her short stories - The Bloody Chamber (collection) and Fireworks (collection) and American Ghosts & Old World Wonders (collection)

Terry Pratchett - for example, 'Monstrous Regiment'

Douglas Coupland, Girlfriend in a Coma (novel)

Brett Easton Ellis, The Rules of Attraction, Picador, 1988 (novel)

Neil Gaiman, Smoke and Mirrors, Headline 1999 (marvellous fantasy short stories) and other published pieces by Gaiman

Angela Carter (editor), The Second Virago Book of Fairy Stories

Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles

Anne Rice's novel (vampires)

Children's stories and folk stories and other stories

See this Scottish Collection - http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/stories/index.htm

I think this is a great opportunity to work with non-realist stories (fantasy, sci-fi, vampires - see Types of plays ) as you can use a range of sound effects, and create fantasy sound pictures.

NOW - make a storyboard

See Analysing radio drama

To Analysing radio drama
To Radio Drama Theory Lesson Plan

This site is 'Radio Drama - directing, acting, technical, learning & teaching, researching, styles, genres'. See INDEX to navigate also. 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.

TECHNIQUES - FULL RANGE OF RADIO DRAMA TECHNIQUES ON THESE SITES

Academic material on this site is Alan Beck is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

Learn about radio drama on this site along with my book - Beck, Alan, Radio Acting, London: A & C Black ISBN 0-7136-4631-4 Available on Amazon. CLICK HERE.

To the WELCOME PAGE for Alan Beck's sites. See more of Alan Beck's work.

Disclaimer

Any opinions expressed in this site are the personal opinions of the owner of the site. IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, PLEASE EMAIL TO : [email protected]