No Coconuts Were Harmed In The Making Of This Programme
Let me give you a bit of advance warning so that you don't miss a cracking bit of radio this week. On Friday morning at half past eleven we're airing a play which is set in a mountain rescue centre. Much of the story is told using the radio messages coming in from the rescue team and the pilot of the rescue helicopter. In that sense it makes best use of the medium of radio. The play is called Wings of the Morning.
I mention this because I'm aware that radio drama is not everyone's cup of tea. I've seen audience research that suggests there are a good many listeners who react to a play by imagining the actors standing around in a studio banging empty coconut shells together whenever the script calls for the arrival of a horse. For those listeners the idea that the "pictures are better on radio" simply doesn't make sense.
Yet a darn good story can conquer all and as Wings of the Morning builds to a climax you'll be on the edge of your seat wondering how that story will play out.
So go on, give it a listen. There are no coconuts or horses involved.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~40~RS~)
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Oh good. An opporchancity to get back on my favourite hobbyhorse!
'Bampot Central' is one of the finest radio dramas ever to come out of Scotland. It is also very funny. I know there are issues regarding copyright, but it was broadcast by the BBC. On more than one occasion!
It is, surely, in the best interests of everyone concerned that the play is made available to a wider audience. It is set in Edinburgh during the festival. August would be a perfect time to hear it again.
Do this for me, and I'll stop signing dodgy cheques with your name.
I thank you!
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SG
Also a good chance for me to explain some of the rights and costs issues around drama.
Drama is one of the costliest things we do on radio. A simple half hour can cost us about £7000 and, for that money, we have the right to repeat it just once. Any further repeats and we would have to pay again.
The costs include those of the writer, actors, production..and sometimes the rights to adapt an existing story or book.
I've taken the decision to invest in commissioning new drama...about one a month, sometimes more. That means I'm not spending it on the cost of repeating plays from the archive..like the one you mention.
I hope that gives you a bit of context, if not the happy ending you might want.
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#2
Jeff,
Thank you for the insight. Do you know how I can ascertain if the play is available to purchase on CD or some other format?
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How will this work with the iplayer / listen again function because I am pretty unlikley to be able to hear it "live"?
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Hi Jeff,
For many years, I lived without a TV, so radio was my sole source of entertainment. I loved listening to radio dramas, both old and new. I would record them on tape and listen to them over and over.
Perhaps the contracts can be looked at again so that more repeats are allowed, or so that a more cost effective residual fee can be paid. After all if it is only played twice, the content creators don't receive any more money.
CVBruce
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Norrie & CVB
The deal negotiated for the iPlayer means a programme is available for 7 days after transmission...and another 7 days if it is repeated. It can't, however, be downloaded...only listened to on the site.
So Wings of the Morning will be on the iPlayer later on Friday.
The BBC continues to negotiate new rights deals to make things more convenient for audiences, but all that takes time and, of course, money.
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managed to catch the broadcast .....celever diarising of meetings played dividends.
Excellent stuff.
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