Radio OnRadio OnMaking a Radio DocumentaryMaking a Radio Documentary

Documentary, Documentary, adjadj

Relating to or found in documents,Relating to or found in documents,(of films, TV Programmes, etc) aiming(of films, TV Programmes, etc) aimingat presenting at presenting realityreality, presenting , presenting factsfactsnot fictionnot fiction – – n n a film or radio or TVa film or radio or TVprogramme about programme about real peoplereal people or or events without fictional colouring orevents without fictional colouring orprofessional actorsprofessional actors

Chambers Dictionary 2008Chambers Dictionary 2008

What is a Radio Documentary?What is a Radio Documentary?

A A radio documentaryradio documentary or or featurefeature is a is a radio radio documentary programme devoted to covering a documentary programme devoted to covering a

particular topic particular topic in some depthin some depth, usually with , usually with a mixture of commentary, interview and sound a mixture of commentary, interview and sound

pictures. It is pictures. It is non-fictionalnon-fictional in subject matter, in subject matter, consisting principally of more straightforward, consisting principally of more straightforward, journalistic-type reporting – but at much journalistic-type reporting – but at much

greater lengthgreater length than found in an ordinary than found in an ordinary news report. news report.

Principal RolesPrincipal Roles

Director/ProducerDirector/Producer – owner of the initial idea? – owner of the initial idea? Shaper of the programme over allShaper of the programme over all

ResearcherResearcher – backbone of the idea – finder of – backbone of the idea – finder of contributors – the information/knowledge findercontributors – the information/knowledge finder

InterviewerInterviewer – responsible for questions/direction – responsible for questions/direction of interview/Voice of the commentaryof interview/Voice of the commentary

Recordist Recordist – Records all contributions– Records all contributions Editor Editor – edits all contributions, sound effects, – edits all contributions, sound effects,

music and commentary togethermusic and commentary together Post Production Post Production – all involved in shaping the – all involved in shaping the

production at the edit stage.production at the edit stage.

Team work tips & hintsTeam work tips & hints

Go home and Go home and listenlisten to Radio Documentaries to Radio Documentaries Thrash Thrash your idea outyour idea out : collaborate, evaluate, act : collaborate, evaluate, act Make a piece Make a piece you know you can completeyou know you can complete in in

the time frame – what subject have you chosen?the time frame – what subject have you chosen? Make a Make a scheduleschedule & and try to stick to it. & and try to stick to it. assign the rolesassign the roles, and motivate each other., and motivate each other.

Schedule of work Schedule of work

Make one ASAP and send to Tutor for Make one ASAP and send to Tutor for further guidancefurther guidance

THERE IS A BLANK ONE ON BLACKBOARD.

Editing training & availabilityEditing training & availability

Soundtrack Pro with Aquiles trainingSoundtrack Pro with Aquiles training

is timetabled is timetabled *DO NOT MISS THIS!! *DO NOT MISS THIS!! Stations are then available for you use as timetabled or Stations are then available for you use as timetabled or

you can also pop in and use if available on day, but you can also pop in and use if available on day, but always check with Ian Collision (technician of room always check with Ian Collision (technician of room MLG05) and tutor if you wish to book a station in MLG05) and tutor if you wish to book a station in advance, outside of your timetabled time.advance, outside of your timetabled time.

ContentsContents Subject Matter Subject Matter – What is your production about? Can – What is your production about? Can

you make it??you make it?? ResearchResearch – it all begins here – it all begins here Interviewees/Interviewees/Public v ExpertsPublic v Experts Documentary as Documentary as ExperimentExperiment Journalism or Discussion?Journalism or Discussion? CommentaryCommentary Sound PicturesSound Pictures Facts/FictionFacts/Fiction The The need to describe need to describe – painting a picture with sound– painting a picture with sound

Research Research It is vital you research as much as possible It is vital you research as much as possible

about your subject before you venture out about your subject before you venture out into the worldinto the world

Internet Internet – – But are the facts correct??But are the facts correct?? Libraries – Libraries – Many and Varied, including sound Many and Varied, including sound

archives, British Library, Imperial War Museum, Official archives, British Library, Imperial War Museum, Official Archives, Fan bases Archives, Fan bases

Personal Archives – Personal Archives – sound sound materials belonging materials belonging to contributorsto contributors

Specialists & Experts – Specialists & Experts – Who’s who in the fieldWho’s who in the field Fact Checking – Fact Checking – Double your sources, get it rightDouble your sources, get it right Ask Your Mum/Dad – Ask Your Mum/Dad – Because they might just Because they might just

know by firsthand experience!know by firsthand experience!

Recording NotesRecording Notes Always check & test the Always check & test the kitkit before you go outbefore you go out Pack those spare Pack those spare batteriesbatteries!! Always wear Always wear headphonesheadphones when recording when recording Have your Have your microphone close microphone close to the subjectto the subject Be careful of Be careful of microphone handling microphone handling noise/windnoise/wind Pick a Pick a quietquiet spotspot Avoid Avoid “popping”“popping” Watch the Watch the metersmeters Make sure you are not Make sure you are not “paused” “paused” – are you – are you in recordin record Get a test voice/Get a test voice/Interviewee ID Interviewee ID “ Hi my name is . . . . .”“ Hi my name is . . . . .” AlwaysAlways record 2 minutes of record 2 minutes of room tone or atmosphereroom tone or atmosphere

Structuring QuestionsStructuring Questions

Open Ended QuestionsOpen Ended Questions

““What was your school like?”What was your school like?” Be SpecificBe Specific

““When and where did that happen?”When and where did that happen?” Looking for meaningLooking for meaning

““How did you feel when you lost your job?”How did you feel when you lost your job?” Elaboration & Clarification Elaboration & Clarification

““Can you tell me more?” & “Is there anything else Can you tell me more?” & “Is there anything else you would like to add?”you would like to add?”

How to get a great interview!How to get a great interview! Questions should be Questions should be tailoredtailored to the subject – to the subject – what do you want to get out what do you want to get out

of this encounter??of this encounter?? Think carefully – Think carefully – Would you answer the question Would you answer the question you are asking? Is it you are asking? Is it

ethical, legal, decent?ethical, legal, decent? Listen Closely Listen Closely & look the subject in the eyes! & look the subject in the eyes! Be Polite!Be Polite! What isWhat is interesting interesting –– stick with the good stuff stick with the good stuff Take Take Notes!Notes! BeBe descriptivedescriptive – – ask your subject to “paint a picture” with words ask your subject to “paint a picture” with words Record again Record again – if the subject garbles, don’t be afraid to go again – if the subject garbles, don’t be afraid to go again Emotional Questioning Emotional Questioning – – “How does it make you feel?”“How does it make you feel?” BeBe curiouscurious BeBe honest honest in your approachin your approach Additional Info Additional Info – – is there anything else your subject would like to say?is there anything else your subject would like to say? NodNod in reply – let your subject speakin reply – let your subject speak Keep the Keep the tape runningtape running Say Say Thank YouThank You!!

Wrapping UpWrapping Up

Obtain Permission – Obtain Permission – Write a simple “consent” form up & get them to sign itWrite a simple “consent” form up & get them to sign it

Label all materials/TapesLabel all materials/TapesGive the subject the last wordGive the subject the last wordThank the intervieweeThank the intervieweeDrop your material on to a personal Drop your material on to a personal

hard drive/computer for safety before hard drive/computer for safety before returning the equipment returning the equipment

Editing The ShowEditing The Show

Your Duration is 5 – 10 Minutes TotalYour Duration is 5 – 10 Minutes Total Get all your interviews cut down firstGet all your interviews cut down first Submit first cut to tutorSubmit first cut to tutor Write Commentary around the interviewsWrite Commentary around the interviews Send draft script to tutorSend draft script to tutor Fill in with Sound Effects & Music which “paints a picture”Fill in with Sound Effects & Music which “paints a picture” Re – editRe – edit Re – editRe – edit Mix (levelling your sound) Mix (levelling your sound) Burn CD & Burn CD & check it before the assessmentscheck it before the assessments

Your CDYour CD

Your Duration is 5 – 10 Minutes Total on Your Duration is 5 – 10 Minutes Total on AUDIO CD AUDIO CD (they must play in a CD player)(they must play in a CD player)

Label your CD case with a CD PenLabel your CD case with a CD Pen

(don’t use stickers, post-its or plasters!)(don’t use stickers, post-its or plasters!) Label your CD with the name of the Label your CD with the name of the

documentarydocumentary Check your CD on a CD playerCheck your CD on a CD player

InspirationInspiration http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radiohttp://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio BBC i player, all the BBC’s Radio Stations for your to dive intoBBC i player, all the BBC’s Radio Stations for your to dive into http://resonancefm.com/http://resonancefm.com/

Resonance FMResonance FM, the Daddy of all strange sound, great radio station & , the Daddy of all strange sound, great radio station & orchestrator of sonic changeorchestrator of sonic change

http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/ Good for help with understanding the basics of sound (recording particularly)Good for help with understanding the basics of sound (recording particularly) http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/docarchive/http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/docarchive/ BBC World Service Podcast site – documentaries for you to downloadBBC World Service Podcast site – documentaries for you to download http://onlineradiobar.com/download/?geo=AUhttp://onlineradiobar.com/download/?geo=AU On-line Radio Bar – 1500 radio stations available on your browserOn-line Radio Bar – 1500 radio stations available on your browser http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/documentaries/archive.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/documentaries/archive.shtml BBC Radio 1 doc’s archiveBBC Radio 1 doc’s archive http://www.listenlive.eu/uk.htmlhttp://www.listenlive.eu/uk.html

Stations that live stream to the internetStations that live stream to the internet