February 29, 2012 - Leap Day Special (or Effective Radio Storytelling)

Auditory Storytelling has been since the campfire. People grunted excited stories at each other and others grunted feedback. We've come a long way since then, but the process of storytelling without any visual element remains a viable medium. Think of radio in the early 20th century or streaming audio and podcasts in the 21st century.

You've come a long way, baby.

And if you want to be effective at aural storytelling, you've got to examine the masters of the medium. In 1938, Orson Welles wrote a radio production for the Mercury Theatre entitled "War of the Worlds." Most of you know it already and it scared the bejesus out of millions of people.

Them martians!

But why did Welles frighten the public? There are several things to look at that show his prowess on the radio.

Echoed Real Emotion

-When people were terrified they sounded terrified, and when they were authoritative, they were authoritative.

Echoed Real Lingo

-Similarly, the radio announcers used phrases like "This just in" and "breaking news" while the military man used the language of the military: "martial law" and "evacuate," etc.

Although, maybe I should have declared "martian law." Eh?

Unscripted Quality

-Since Welles wanted his story to have a ring of authenticity, it was imperative that his story did not sound as though actors were reading it. That's why you get Carl Phillips saying things like "Am I on?" and the farmer asking if he can tell more of his story.

Create Necessary Suspense

Welles used musical interludes that made the audience wish to hear about the attacks at Grover's Mill. It's a similar suspense method to reality shows cutting to commercial break. Just when things get good, they take it away from you.

Paint a Word Picture

This is the most important. item to remember. Welles used flowery, descriptive language so listeners could imagine the martians themselves.  "The eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. The mouth is V-shaped with saliva dripping from its rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate." As long as you are imaginative and descriptive, Orson Welles will be proud.

A rotund, engorged head lay amidst the endless fat rolls and enshrouded by what appears to be a cape.