HAVE AN IDEA

The first thing is to be inspired to make a drama in sound. To make an audio drama usually needs a commission – money to pay for dramas to be broadcast or released.

The pitch is a short document that the producer sends to a commissioner, to sell the drama. The idea might come from the writer; it might come from the producer – wait – what does producer mean?

A producer is someone who leads on an audio drama. In the old school BBC structure, we were called producers, and did everything - finding writers, developing ideas with them, pitching to the BBC radio networks, writing the budget, casting the drama, supporting the writer develop the script, directing the drama in studio, working alongside the sound designer to create the final mix, writing the publicity, and completing any paperwork necessary for the audio drama to be broadcast, such as music reporting, BBC compliance to ensure content fits with BBC editorial guidelines, the announcement that the BBC radio announcers make before and after the drama. 

There are also producers who don’t direct, so they run the budget/logistical side of things, and  there is a director who leads on creative side of the production.