SCRIPT
The script is where it all begins and it doesn’t have to be complicated. There are scriptwriting programmes out there. Some are free, some are decidedly not. I myself have successfully scripted in Google Docs from the start. The golden rules are:
Remember the big 3: Clarity, Consistency and Space (always double-space)
Use page numbers - this helps more than you think during read-throughs and in the studio
Remember that if it’s not heard it won’t be seen (in the mind of the listener)
LENGTH OF SCRIPT
Bear in mind how long you want your episode/show to be. Some audio dramas are 15-20 minutes, others are 50 minutes and more. Consider your target audience. Who will be listening to it and when? Adapt the length accordingly. As a rule of thumb, a 32-35 page script like the one above will run for 25 minutes.
SETUP
Many people think they will have to spend thousands up front to get quality results. This simply isn’t true. For a long time my own home setup has consisted of a Logitech Blue Yeti USB Microphone (£107.99) and a BXI Portable Sound Recording Vocal Booth Box (£31.99). This is a box that’s big enough to stand the microphone in, and it’s lined with soundproof foam. I have also deployed the duvet-fort when I wanted to ensure top quality home recording (£0 + fun). I am now upgrading to a more permanent home studio setup, but my duvet fort/soundproof box has got me through two seasons of Dex and more!
VOICES
Finding the right voices can be challenging. Professional actors cost money (though not as much as you might think), so the temptation is to recruit your friends. There are two things to bear in mind with this approach:
Unless your friends have acting experience it might be hard to get the results you want, and delivering critique can be a minefield if you want to stay friends afterwards.
Friends can lose interest and drop out - especially if they’re doing it as a favour. This is a real problem and has derailed some great shows in the past.
If paying actors is too much of a stretch financially, there are social forums you can visit where you can find fledgeling voice actors looking for experience. Find one, put out a casting call and see what comes back! You never know what gold you’ll find.
DIRECTING
I could deliver a whole course on directing alone, so I can’t cover everything here. What I will say is:
Don’t tell the actor how to deliver a line. They’re a skilled professional and bring so much more to their performance than just their voice. Do not treat them like a parrot.
Provide lots of context. Actors work best when they understand their character and have enough information to inhabit their world. So go well beyond the script when it comes to briefing them on their character’s motivations and concerns.