Various techniques of radio drama - Two methods of production (see Radio Acting book)

'rehearse-record' method

'Rehearse all - then record' - PRODUCTION METHOD

(1) ESTABLISH SOUND CENTRE AT THE TOP OF A SCENE - WHO SPEAKS FIRST? Top of scene

(2)  ESTABLISH SOUND CENTRE AT THE TOP OF A SCENE. Decide where the sound centre is. Is this a fixed sound centre (usually) or a moving sound centre?

(3) ESTABLISH LOCATION FOR SCENE.  Establish atmos for the scene (unless neutral atmos). Establish key FX - location identifier (if needed) - as seagull, rain, factory hooter, traffic, cathedral bells, crowd talking or shouting. Use DESCRIPTION - indispensible. As 'You still digging the carrots, Tony?'.

(4) PERSPECTIVE IN THE SCENE. Design your sound picture - usually around the protagonist (main character). Make use of an effective 'close-up' - near the end of a scene, you could bring your two characters (best with two) nearer the microphone - into position number 2, and so the last phrase of the dialogue is intimate - closer to the audience, and a 'close-up' shot. You can even bring the characters (best with two) into position number 2 for longer, and place them further away again, at position number 3.

(4) Perspective in the scene:

Fixed sound centre or (alternatively) 'we go with'

 

 

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