Radio Drama Analysis

Radio 4 Drama

Home Front - 2 April 1918 - Oscar Hendrickx

This Drama called Home Front has several different episodes based in World War 1 1918 of personal stories of soldiers going off the war and also how others lived. This specific episode was about a young man Oscar and his soon to be wife Esme who were supposed to get married but then found out that he has to go off to training in Belgium. Esme is heartbroken as she really wanted to get married but now has to be postponed.
Her mother Alice then comes in saying she's in debt and has to pay it before someone she knows Jo gets hurt. Oscar then sells his watch which is expensive to help his future mother-in-law with her debts and gets £6 for it. It turns out the guy she was paying it for had gotten shot in both of his legs by British soldiers. Oscar comes by to meet Esme late at night and she's upset because she wanted to marry him, they exchange their vows to take each other as husband and wife and then it ends with someone playing the harmonica.

The target audience for this drama is aimed at 26 - 75 years old as the fictional stories are really interesting and focus on stories of young people back in 1918. I feel an older target audience would appeal to this drama as they may have lived their lives during the second world war or want to settle down with someone and could possibly relate to their stories. At 0:45 seconds of the drama, they reveal they can no longer get married, and this would interest the aimed audience.

The narrative devices used to portray a drama is they have begun it with a bit of the couples backstory where they are suppose to get married but then young Oscars life drastically has to change as he has to go back to training meaning he is a soldier who is off to fight for his country. You then realise they are quite poor and Alice, Esme's mother says 'I've sold everything I can possibly sell but i'm still £8 short' which denotes her being in a tough situation that she needs to get out of. Also, when Oscar goes to get his hair cut done, his barber says 'You won't be defending your country, you'll be defending the upper lot' which clearing states he is not of any wealth and despises them.

At the end of the drama there is a little plot twist where at the beginning they said they could not get married to each other, however, they end up both exchanging vows together which makes the ending perfect for those hopeless romantics who want to see a happily ever after.
Home Front use a frame story to have the main story hatching onto a series of shorter stories and this is to get a point of view across from a range of different characters all living in the same time period which gives it a sense of historical aspects and themes.

At the beginning of every episode, there is an song intro to introduce the drama and to also make the jingle represent this specific radio drama. This is known as the Home Fronts soundtrack which is significant to that very drama. The sound is very lighthearted but is only based on musical instruments such as the trumpet and violin. These instruments make the sound quite old fashioned and reminds me of a lovely day out on a farm which helps given the time period it is set in (1918).
Straight after the soundtrack, you hear a person speaking something in French at 0:12 seconds. This line of dialogue denotes where the main character originates from which is somewhere in France given his accent. The more the drama goes on, we find out that he is from Belgium where he is supposed to train when going to fight in the world war. Speaking two language, French and English connotes his intellect and determination to learn a language other than his own. Also, him wanting to fight in war portrays how brave he is to put his life on the line for his country.

When Oscar goes into the barbers, there is a sound effect denoted at 4:48 minutes conveying the sharp sound of a razor blade and scissors snapping. This connotes he is getting his hair cut short which represents him getting ready for war as all soldiers must keep their length short. It is quite upsetting to Esme at 7:11 minutes when she sees Oscars new look as it reminds her that he is leaving and symbolises the danger that he may endure when training in Belgium, therefore is wary. Normally when males get their haircuts, it is a happy occasion and is to make them look cleaned up where they choose when to get it cut, however in Oscars occasion it is crucial that he and the other soldiers going to training must have it done and have no choice in the matter.

All the sound that are used illustrate the events that are happened and can be heard, such as a knock on the door and then heard being opened. This sound is a good way of introducing characters into the drama which will be really useful when making my own. I could use this to allow the main characters family to be introduced as they come into her room and also if leaving the house or a location, we can hear the bang of the door shut and then followed by footsteps. Also, the soundtrack at the beginning of every Home Front episode is a good idea to introduce our Radio Drama and could make up our own theme song so it is copyright free.

Recording Foley and Wild Track Sounds

I learnt how to create Foley sounds using random objects and this was to create the effects of fire crackling, rain on gravel, a school, restaurant and a crowded street. To create these sound effects, I used three different sound recorders to contrast the difference in sounds created and what worked more effective. The three recording conditions I worked with were; 
- Voice Recorder
- USB Condenser Microphone
- Rode Boom Mic attached to a HD Camera

In the video above, me and my group created a video with all our Foley sounds we created together. Our first sound between 0:06 - 0:29 seconds was the atmosphere of a Restaurant. To create this sound we used a range of different props such as cutlery, empty beer bottle and a glass bowl. All these elements together formed movement in a Restaurant of all the people eating and staff clinking glasses together. These sounds were recorded on the USB Condenser Mic which caught all the different sounds nicely. The sound was quite loud, therefore we used GarageBand to lower the volume. This was to make all the sounds together sound distant. We added in distant chatter from our school surroundings which we used the Rode Mic with the headphones. This recording device picked up such clear sounds from a far distance away and i thought it was brilliant to use to pick up random chatter. I had also tried picking up the same sounds on the voice recorder, however thought the Rode Mic was a better recorder in that scenario. To add in extra sound to make it officially sound like a restaurant, I added music in the background to convey a jolly, mellow atmosphere. The song choice was by KARD called Afternoon Tea. 

The second sound we created was the school which is heard at 0:34 - 0:58 seconds of the video. We waited for the exact moment of when our school bell rings so we could capture the sound of the bell and all the students coming out of lessons. This created chatter of several students which created the atmosphere of a school. We also used the chatter from the school for the restaurant which I mentioned before. What I also mentioned before was what recording device we used to record the sound chatter which was the Rode Mic and this picked up the sound loud and clear. I also compared this by using the voice recorder. 


The next sound at 1:03-1:10 was the park which I found quite difficult to copy various Foley sounds using props. The sounds I wanted to indicate was wind, distant chatter, horses and the sounds of birds chirping. We had created several wild tracks and put them together to overlap and form the setting of a park. Out of all the sounds I created, this was the most difficult, yet I did not give up and found several different props I could use to create the park noises. I used a big sheet of paper the create wind, classmate Edi to signify birds chirping by whistling into the USB Mic and horse footsteps by tapping cups on the table.
 To convey the bird noises, I used the USB Mic and the voice recorded to contrast the two sounds and see which one sounded better. We was having trouble hearing sound on the USB Mic afterwards and could barely hear the noise we were trying to record. Therefore, I used the voice recorder to record the sounds. This sound was such clearer than the USB Mic when recording the bird whistles.

We competed the sound for rain on gravel and used iced sprinkles and and plastic container to represent the sound for the rain pouring. We wanted the sound to start of slow and then increase to make it sound more realistic. The video on the right reveals my classmate Patryk sprinkling 100&1000's from a high distance and making it fall onto the plastic container. We also tried it on a metal cheese grater to see which material made it sound more like rain on gravel. Playing back these two sounds together and comparing it, I found the plastic sound sounded more accurate. To record this sound I used the USB Mic which picked up the sound really well . I found the sound was too loud, therefore moved the mic further away to make it like more faint. 

Lastly, to convey the fire crackling, I used the USB Microphone and then with the Voice Recorder. I used two different objects to represent the fire which was paper which we scrunched up and tore and lastly a plastic packaging wrapper which I also scrunched up and slowly rustled it to make the crackling noise. Listening back to the sounds we created, we found the plastic wrapper sounded more like rain on gravel and the rice on the plate sounded my fire crackling. Therefore, we made the decision to switch the two sounds.  

Sound Elements of Production

There are several different techniques and processes used to create sound elements. It is important to think about how we can create sounds in media products by using different types of diegetic and non-diegetic sound.

Foley Sounds - This is the production and recording of sound effects that are used to convey the background noises or the atmosphere around them. These sound effects could include; breaking glass, walking on gravel or creaking doors. These sounds are often created by Foley artists to enhance the realism. An example of Foley sounds used is a scene where they have encapsulated a clip of a sailboat cutting water at 4:32 minutes of the video. They had used props and junk to create the sounds of the sails by using a batman cape to illustrate wind riding through it and created the sound of the boat rushing through water by hitting their hands in a tub full of water. 

Wild Tracks: This is audio that is recorded on location known as off-screen sound or extra takes on lines whilst not filming - unsynchronised sound. This is diegetic sound. In film and video production, wild sound is recorded so that it can be inserted into the video in post-production. 

The theme music used for a title sequence is called a soundtrack. Sound motifs are used to form a specific character whether it be in a radio drama or a film. This music is significant to a character that could portray a protagonist or antagonist. This is called the character's signature tune. The theme music that is also used ensures the audience knows when it is the start or ending of the film. The film score is important because it includes incidental music and all other music. Fans of the film can buy or download the soundtrack to remind them of the movie and have recognisable songs which are specifically created for the movie. An example of a composer who has made a soundtrack is Hans Zimmer who created it for Pirates of the Caribbean. 


Voice-overs - They are used in two ways in audio-visual products. The first technique is that it is used for the narrators voice who is unseen in the film,TV programme and advertisement and the second is when a characters thoughts are being expressed to themselves. Using voice-overs gives the audience more insight into the character or general information. Examples of a TV show where voice-overs were used is in Jane the Virgin. The clip conveys a recap of the previous episodes but has used a voice-over to explain the events have have happened so far. This is a narrative voice used to help the audience remember what has happened so far before they watch the new episode. 


Scripted Speech - Using scripts in media products helps the actors deliver their lines in a specific way so that the dialogue spoken creates a specific meaning. In a radio drama such as The Archers, it is important that dialect, tone and accent all need to be clear to the audience. This is the ensure they know the time, place and characterisation. In The archers they use dialect to convey where the characters are from because of their accent. The sound of their accent sounds like somewhere in England but also have a farmers accent shown at 3:09 minutes, which also gives away their occupation. This programme is recorded live with the cast members in the studio so they can say their lines together. This is to make sure they react as believable as possible. 

T2 - Sound Characteristics

There are many sound elements that are used in several different media products. These sound elements are used across media industries such as Film, TV, Computer Games and Advertisements etc. Here are the following sound elements:

Educate:  Narrations in media products explain information to the audience to help them understand a particular point of view to anchor meaning. It uses diegetic sound where the narrator is explaining the events happening on screen to educate the audience. There are many media texts that are educational and use narrations such as Documentaries and Radio Dramas. 

In this documentary New Zealand: Earths Mythical Islands that I have chosen as an example of educating, the episode is about learning and acknowledging the astonishing wildlife that exists in New Zealand. The images captured in the documentary reveal the breath-taking creatures that live within the most geologically active country on earth. 

 At 2:14 minutes we hear the narrator explaining about a specific breed of penguins, however it is only the penguins we see and their behaviours and the sound of the narrators voice explaining their activity. We hear the narrator say dialogue, 'This Snares Penguin has been out with hundreds of others catching fish for their chicks'. This demonstrates him educating the audience as we now know the name of it and what it does for a living. 

Entertain: In fictions they use audio to portray everyday activities and make it believable and entertaining. It has the use of both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. Audio-visuals are essential to creating entertainment and an engaging text. Many radio dramas use audio-visuals in their episodes such as sound motifs where the sound effects are associated with a character or a setting. This is helpful for the audience as they can clearly distinguish the characters arrivals or actions because they can only hear them and not see. 

An example of a Radio Drama is a Radio 4 broadcast called The Truth About Hawaii which is based on a story of how antibiotics have been restricted due to limited resources of the medication. A girl and her family is in desperate need of them as she has a cut on her leg that has gotten infected and may soon die. In this episode we hear her hallucinating about a volcano in Hawaii that is erupting and hear the bangs of rocks cracking and liquid of hot gushing lava in the background. These sounds signify the girl’s imagination and the location she is in to help the audience visualise what she is seeing. 

Inform: The news informs the audience by using dramatic sound during the start and end of TV news broadcast. Advertisements - another media product- creates sound by using jingles to portray a brand identity of the product or company. This is created by using slogans followed by a tune that is designed to be easily remembered. The audience identify the companies signature sound with the product they are promoting. 

An example of this is Haribo, a brand that uses a slogan in their jingle at the end of the advert to effectively use brand identity. For the advertisement, they use jingles to help the product become recognizable. The slogan they use is ‘Kids and grown-ups love it so, the happy world of Haribo' which they have been using since 1995, making it memorable and significant for the audience. 

Sell Products: Many media products have voiceovers used to help sell the product and be engaging. The voice actor will describe the product to give the audience more insight to what the product’s like to appeal to them. These are mainly done in advertisements where they have described what the product tastes like or explained what the product does and how to use it. 

An example of this done is in the Muller Simply Bliss advert with Nicole Scherzinger. In this advert there is a lot of dialogue where the actors speak describing the yoghurt. The actress say’s ‘It’s so creamy, it’s divine’ which will sell the product as she describes the delightful taste in an optimistic tone of voice. Another voice at 0:12 seconds explains what the yoghurt is and states, 'A Greek style yoghurt that's luxuriously creamy because it's whipped' and this voiceover engages the audience and will compel them to buy it.

Wild Tracks: This is audio that is recorded on location known as off-screen sound or extra takes on lines whilst not filming - unsynchronised sound. This is diegetic sound. In film and video production, wild sound is recorded so that it can be inserted into the video in post-production. This is desirable for many reasons, including helping keep the background noise consistent between shots, to help set the mood of the scene and to accompany any new audio that is added to the scene. Typical examples of wild tracks would be narration, phone conversations, and answering machine messages playing back in a scene.

An example that wild tracks are used in a film scene from He's Just Not That Into You where a group of actors are listening to a person’s voicemail. This audio is added in to be part of the scene where the voicemail creates humour. 

Atmospheric Sound: This is background sounds that are atmospheric such as wind, birds chattering, rain pouring etc. This is put in to prevent unnatural silence in a scene and to set the location of where it’s held. In some media texts they have added in audio-visuals in the background to set natural settings. 

In the Direct Line advertisement, the scene is set outside, therefore the producers have added in sound effects of bird chirping in the background and also the revving of the car that the old man drives. Also, right at the beginning of the advert, we can hear gas hissing in the background which represents that the car has broken down. 

Sound Effects: These can be both diegetic and non-diegetic sound that are enhanced sounds used in many different media products. This can also be known as Foley effects where the production record sounds such as breaking glass or walking across water to enhance realism of a specific soundtrack. This is created by Foley artists. The sounds they create need to be convincing. 

In the end scene of Fast and Furious 7, there is a soundtrack of spanish music that plays at the beginning and also another song 'See You Again' towards the ending which is added in by producers. There are also the sounds of the waves that are added to illustrate the sound of the sea that they are near. 

Dialogue: This is speech that is made from characters when they speak/talk. Things that are considered in dialogue is language, tone, accent and volume they speak in. It is used in creative ways to anchor the time and place such as if the film was set in Italy, the actors would have to put on an Italian accent to portray the time and place it is set in. 

An example of accent change is in Meet Joe Black where Brad Pitt changes his accent to sound Jamaican as he speaks to an old Jamaican lady in the scene so that she understands him. However, the accent is intended to create humour for the audience as that is not his normal everyday speaking accent. 

Music (Incidental/Theme):  Music is used to develop mood or meaning in a media product/text. this is called Incidental music that builds atmosphere and creates tension to portray emotion. I have already used this example, but it is perfect for depicting teary and heartfelt emotion. My example is in the end of Fast and Furious 7 where they play the soundtrack See You Again to dedicate Paul Walkers death and the part he played in the film. 

Music included in TV shows use Stings where a sound indicates an end of a scene or a dramatic climax. This is used in Eastenders where they use their significant 'duff duff' moments which notifies the audience on something important. In this scene the duff duff ends after Max witnesses his two daughters fall off the Queen Vics roof which is very shocking for the audience, hence the duff duff moment. 



How it enhances visuals:  Sound enhances visuals you hear to create tension and establish mood. It is created to excite and appeal to the audience along with illustrating insight in the background which depicts the time and location of where the characters are to make the audience aware. This is really important for radio dramas as all the sounds need to be clear and concise throughout otherwise it might confuse them. In an episode of the The Archers, at the beginning we can hear two characters eating breakfast as there is background noise of cutlery hitting a bowl and also hear the sound of the newspaper pages shuffling around. This shows that it is early in the morning. 

Silence: This creates extreme tension in media products or in radio dramas it is used to give time for each character or voice to speak so that their voices do not overlap with each other and confuse the listeners. An example of where silence is used is in a BBC podcast called GrownUplLand where they sometimes use silences to distinguish a different speaker is talking. These are only brief silences as sometimes it could make the conversation quite awkward if the silences were a little too long.