How to Write a Radio Serial Drama for Social Development
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How To Write a Radio Serial Drama for Social Development A Script Writer’s Manual by Esta de Fossard Population Communication Services Center for Communic ation Programs The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health This publication was edited, produced, and disseminated by Center Publications: Robert J. Riccio, Executive Editor and Kristina A. Samson, Research and Production Manager. Prepared for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs with primary support from the United States Agency for International Development under Population Communication Services Project, Cooperative Agreement DPE-3052-A-00-0014-00. Using This Book This book is a practical manual for script writers preparing radio serial dramas for development projects. It will be useful both for novices and experienced script writers who have not yet written drama that educates as well as entertains. So that this book can be used as a course manual, whether in a formal class or for independent study, each chapter begins with a study guide listing learning objectives and expected outcomes and a suggested exercise. How to Write a Radio Serial Drama for Social Development: A Script Writer’s Manual was originally designed to assist script writers working in projects supported by Johns Hopkins University Population Communication Services. For this reason, many of the samples and examples it contains relate to family planning and reproductive health; however, the script writing principles discussed and demonstrated here apply just as well to other development topics. The manual largely concentrates on the practical aspects of script writing, although a prologue summarizes relevant communication theory. For those writers who would like to learn more about theory, a bibliography/references at the end lists key books. Esta de Fossard 1996 Table of Contents Using This Book . iii Prologue xi Radio Serial Drama: The Theory Behind The Practice Levels of Communication . xi Modern Theories of Communication . xiii Persuasion Theory Theory of Reasoned Action Social Learning Theory Diffusion Theory Communication and the Steps to Behavior Change . xvii Implications . xix Chapter One 1 Introduction to the Use of Radio Drama for Social Development Learning Objectives . 1 Exercise . 1 Radio for Social Development . 2 Enter-Educate Serial Drama . 2 The Writers of Enter-Educate Drama . 3 When Does the Writer Become Involved in the Project? . 3 What the Enter-Educate Writer Needs to Know . 4 The Seven Cs of Communication Blending Entertainment with Education The Strengths and Limitations of Radio Fundamentals of Learning Characteristics of Learning Through Radio Encouraging Listening Literacy . 10 Chapter Summary . 12 v vi Contents Chapter Two 13 Writing Begins: The Writer’s Brief Learning Objectives . 13 Exercise . 13 Program Types . 14 The Design Document and the Writer’s Brief . 16 Contents of the Writer’s Brief . 17 Chapter Summary . 27 Chapter Three 29 Characteristics of Radio Serial Drama Learning Objectives . 29 Exercise . 29 The Meaning of Drama . 30 Dramatic Conflict . 30 Components of a Drama . 33 The Structure of a Drama . 34 Types of Radio Drama . 38 The Multi-Plot Nature of a Serial . 39 Advantages of Multiple Plots in an Enter-Educate Serial . 42 The Structure of a Radio Serial Episode . 43 Chapter Summary . 46 Chapter Four 47 Blending Story and Message in the Drama Plot Learning Objectives . 47 Exercise . 47 Ten Aims of Plot Development . 48 Combining Message and Story in an Enter-Educate Plot . 51 Contents vii Creating Original Plots . 51 Guidelines for Creating Original Stories . 52 1 Plot Development Guidelines . 53 Enter-Educate Plots . 59 Chapter Summary . 60 Chapter Five 61 Character Development Learning Objectives . 61 Exercise . 61 The Importance of Characters . 62 Guidelines for Character Creation . 63 Selecting Characters . 66 Creating Characters and Profiles . 69 Bringing Characters to Life . 73 Non-Characters . 77 Chapter Summary . 83 Chapter Six 85 Developing the Setting Learning Objectives . 85 Exercise . 85 The Importance of Setting . 86 Establishing Time through Dialogue and Sound Effects . 86 Maintaining Real Time . 87 The Use of Flashbacks . 90 Establishing a Drama's Location . ..