Radio Drama

Analyse the codes and conventions of radio drama
 
 

Conventions
 

• Unwritten Rules
• What are we to expect to see/hear

 
 
Codes
 

• Narrative Codes
• Technical - Story, SFX, Voice Over, music

 
 
Verbal - Dialogue
 
Meaning - What's going on
Effect - How do you want the audience to feel about it



Listening to A Example - Star Wars Radio Drama



Conventions



Technical

• Foreboding music - villains
• Sound bridges/Music separating the scenes
• Sound effects
• Announcer - credits: writer, director
• Theme music

SFX

• Dialogue over intercoms
• Panning sounds
• Low rumbling sounds - engines
• Swooping engines - aircrafts
• Electronic beeping/alarms/explosions

Dialogue

• Character names
• Volume to show proximity
• Don't overlap the dialogue unless the character is arrogant/ impatient if there's a bomb

Motif - attached to a character's or a idea

 
 
Codes
 

• Technical
• Space
• Alien Creatures Futuristic

Background and Sound = Audience/with track - trades the cuts