Writing for radio

Question

Anyone have any good resources on writing for radio? I'm finding that getting information on action in the story across to the listener, without resorting to on-the-nose commentary or a narrator, is very difficult. Especially if a character is alone in a scene.
Example:
One man, on his own, needs to approach a vending machine, put a coin in, press the button, nothing happen, get angry and start rocking the machine until it topples on him.
Or is it a case of changing the story to suit radio medium better, I'm choosing this example as an extreme of getting unseen action across to the listener.
Cheers,
Chris

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Anyone have any good resources on writing for radio? I'm finding that getting information on action in the story across ... to suit radio medium better, I'm choosing this example as an extreme of getting unseen action across to the listener.[/nq]
I find that using a monotone, nasal voice to "impersonate" the machine always works best. Make sure the machine's dialogue is as inane and as ridiculous as possible, and has absolutely no relevance to real life machines whatsoever.
"Please insert coin, beep-beep! Cannot compute!"
jaybee

Usenet · Answer

I like it, though you see I find I'm being backed into a corner with Hitchhikers Guide at every turn, especially with the recent release of the wince movie.
a) It's a comedy.
b) A narrator for an English radio comedy screams "the book", to me at least.
c) Talking vending machines. Need I say more

Hence why I'm trying to avoid narrator with all my heart, and obviously talking vending machines is a bit of a touchy area to go.

Feels like Mr. Adams may have cornered the non-worldly British radio comedy market for like, ever

Also considering that I'd be lying if I said my recent reintroduction to Hitchikers wasn't what inspired me to consider writing my script as a radio play.
-\

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Worth pointing out that, beyond the script having a fantastical plot, there is no real similarities to Hitchhikers in the story, just I'm having trouble coming up with a way of presenting the story which wouldn't, either accidentally or intentionally, seem somehow too similar... then I'm not much of a radio play connoisseur so may be worrying about nothing..

Usenet · Answer

Listen to every bit of Firesign Theatre you can. The classic stuff, the newer stuff, all their stuff.
Nobody...nobody...has ever done audio theatre better.

Joe Myers
"Pass the Lord and
praise the ammunition."

Usenet · Answer

Thanks Joe I'll check that out!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Anyone have any good resources on writing for radio? I'm finding that getting information on action in the story across ... a coin in, press the button, nothing happen, get angry and start rocking the machine until it topples on him.[/nq]
Hi, Chris!
Movie writing is a visual medium, so when someone tells you to show actions, rather than having a person narrate them, you're approcahing film properly.
Radio is an aural medium, so you need to apply the same principles to sound. For example, rather than having a man say out loud, "I believe I'll get a snack from yonder machine" and then go through the series of actions above, you'd do it through some dialogue (hopefully natural) and sound effects (SFX). For example, here's how I'd approach your given scene.
SFX: Chair SCRAPES as Joe stands.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS, as Joe walks to the vending machine.

JOE: Hmm...candy, chips...ah, gum sounds good.
SFX: JINGLE of change in pocket.
SFX: Two coins DROP in slot with a metallic CLANK.

SFX: Buttons PUSHED with a slight BUZZ heard as each button is depressed.
Pause.
JOE: Oh, come on...
SFX: Joe's fist as he POUNDS the machine once, twice.

JOE: C'mon, give it up. Drop the gum, you ***!

SFX: POUNDING, harder than before, followed by sounds of Joe ROCKING and WRESTLING NOISILY with the heavy machine.
JOE: Give me my gum, you rat *** vending machine! Ahh!!!

SFZ: The heavy SLAM of the machine, accompanied by BREAKING GLASS, and the sound of COINS JANGLING off the linoleum of the cafeteria.

JOE: Ah, Jesus. Uhh. Help! Hey, somebody get this thing off me!!! Hello? Anybody? I think my leg is broken!
Does that seem to work? Without too much of "here's what I'm doing, Self" out loud monlogue, you get the situation across, I think.

Hope this helps!
steve gelder

Usenet · Answer

That's great! I think this definitely gives me something to go on. So instead of "show, don't tell" it's "say, don't tell"? If that makes sense?

Cheers, much appreciated,
Chris

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]That's great! I think this definitely gives me something to go on. So instead of "show, don't tell" it's "say, don't tell"? If that makes sense?[/nq]
And keep in mind: The Shadow knows.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Anyone have any good resources on writing for radio? I'm finding that getting information on action in the story across ... radio medium better, I'm choosing this example as an extreme of getting unseen action across to the listener. Cheers, Chris[/nq]
You might want to give Bert Coules a shout, he sometimes contributes here. He has written scripts for radio and, I think, has been involved in producing radio plays.
His website can be found here http://www.bertcoules.co.uk

Matthew

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Anyone have any good resources on writing for radio? I'm finding that getting information on action in the story across ... radio medium better, I'm choosing this example as an extreme of getting unseen action across to the listener. Cheers, Chris[/nq]
http://www.luxradiotheater.com/
http://www.genericradio.com/
http://www.simplyscripts.com/radio.html
http://www.greatnorthernaudio.com/audio theater/radio theater.html

http://www.txdirect.net/~griffin/0shadrad.htm

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Thomas Jefferson

Writing for radio

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