UNIT 42: RADIO DRAMA “ ”BY JACK TANNER

STORY

Two best friends Gary and Steve share a flat in east London, the two are unemployed, painfully lazy and get up to legally questionable activities. The two have a third friend named Neil, Neil used to be just like Gary and Steve when they were younger going to college but managed to make something of himself when he left college, he is now successful and has a family of his own and is always pushing Gary and Steve to make something of themselves. Neil attempts to get Gary and Steve jobs and they go to a series of job interviews and make complete fools out of themselves.

TARGET AUDIENCE• Up In Smoke is aimed at an ABC1 audience

• ages of 15 and 35

• comedy - very wide audience

• The main bracket Up in Smoke will be aimed at is college/university students

CHARACTERS - GARYAbout – 35 years old white British, Philosophical conspiracy theorist. He believes that Neil is just like the rest of society in that he is brainwashed by the man and that there is more to life than sucking up to corporate fat cats to earn money. Gary spends most of his time on the internet posting about 9/11 conspiracy theories and the Illuminati. Gary considers himself a hard-core Liberal.

Best friends – Steve, Neil (through college)

Family life – Raised by a nuclear family which consists of Gary’s mother, father and younger brother with highly conservative values. Gary is considered a disappointment by them but it doesn’t bother him as he believes his family is brainwashed by the government.

STEVEAbout – 35 years old, white British, Struggling (and terrible) musician. Steve is very spaced out all the time and doesn’t say much but attempts to express his opinions and emotions through music. Even though he is told all the time that he is a terrible musician, he insists that he has almost found his sound and that he will soon be an accomplished musician.

Best friends – Neil, Gary (through college)

Family life – Steve came from a broken home, raised by his mum who was also a hippie from back in the 60’s and would often offer him drugs. She is also the reason for Steve’s passion for music as his mother would play endless amounts of Jimmi Hendrix and dance like she was out of her mind on LSD which she usually was.

NEIL About – 34 years old, Successful business/family man. Two children Oscar (7 years old) Louise (10 years old). He is resigned to the fact that his lot in life is born work and die which causes clashes between his peers although they remain best friends. His wife Sandra is always on his case about everything, especially when he is with Gary and Steve and Neil often does what his wife tells him.

Best friends – Gary, SteveWife – Sandra

Family life – Neil had a standard family upbringing, his family had high aspirations for him and although they were worried about him in the college years the worry didn’t last long when it became clear that he was very intelligent and well motivated to succeed.

SANDRA

About – 32 years old, white British. Neil’s wife, controlling evil and neurotic, she doesn’t like Neil’s friends and although she is never present these things become obvious in conversation and phone calls.

Husband – Neil

Family life – Raised in a very traditional way, conservative political beliefs

BUDGET

I have been given £20,000 per hour for my radio drama but I am only having 5 minutes of radio drama so my budget is £1666

Writer - £555Actors x4 - £138Foley artist - £550

Free use of Henley college equipment

QUESTIONS?