How to Write Radio Drama & Get Commissioned
Edinburgh March 12th 2011, 10am to 5pm, Ł85

BBC Radio is the largest commissioner of new drama writing in Europe. It is the entry point for most drama writers breaking into broadcasting. To get commissioned you need to know how to write for the medium of radio, how to present your ideas, who to present them to what the opportunities are. This 1 day course will give writers who are ready to write for radio all they need to win their first commission. Run by producers, directors and writers with decades of BBC Radio drama production experience, this course gives you the inside up-to-date knowledge, theories & information you can’t get from books or academia.

Content:

· The principles of writing radio drama; how it is different from image based drama, what the common mistakes are, how to achieve quality

· All the slots, on all the networks; what are the realistic opportunities and what do they want

· Story structure and format : radio drama has the biggest scope of any drama medium, so just what are the story and format options open to you are huge, from comedy drama to sci-fi, short form drama to classics, special events to dramatised poetry. These and many more opportunities will be covered – the scope is huge.

· Series, serials and singles; the differences and what is expected from you and your ideas

· Adaptation of stage plays and dramatisation of novels for radio

· Short stories and novel abridgements for radio

· Being original vs. what gets offered every round

· Crafting your radio drama; the relationship between the writer and the producer/director

· The benefits and pitfalls of narration

· Use of music and sound effects ; how much detail is required from the writer

· Script layout for BBC Radio drama

· How the radio drama studio works, writer’s role in studio and preparing scripts for studio

· Location drama recording ; the scope, advantages and disadvantages

· The common mistakes from writers ; in submissions and once commissioned

· Contracts, fees and other financial realities

Attendees :
Designed to inspire and equip all writers to write radio drama. All of the following types of writers are regularly commissioned to write BBC radio drama and are actively encouraged: stage playwrights, poets, novelists, sketch writers, comedy writers, critics, short story writers, journalists, TV writers, essayists, screenplay authors, emerging writers ; in fact any writer of professional standard who has radio drama ambitions. This course helps you understand what’s needed to write powerful radio drama and what opportunities exist. There are slots for all of these types of writers and more.
Tutors : Turan Ali - former BBC Senior Producer who runs TV, radio and film production and training company Bona Broadcasting Ltd. In Edinburgh. He is much in demand internationally to provide broadcast training courses, specialising in drama, comedy and soap. He is visiting lecturer to a number of UK and Dutch universities contributing to Degree and Masters courses. He has also written 3 six part series & short stories for BBC Radio 4 plus Radio Scotland comedy, and abridged many novels for radio.
Marilyn Imrie – former BBC Senior Producer and radio drama Commissioning Editor with decades of experience of producing and directing for almost every BBC radio drama slot and network and in most drama genres imaginable. Since leaving the BBC, Turan and Marilyn have won BBC Radio drama and comedy commissions every year, introducing many new writers to their first broadcast radio drama commission.
Experienced radio dramatists will also contribute advice/ experiences and be available for questions.
To book : Email: training@bonabroadcasting.com to check availability.

Demand for places is likely to be high.

OTHER UK DATES FOR THIS COURSE IN 2011 TBC