Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

14 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE Volume XII, No. 2 Speech for the radio. Professor Jane Dorsey Zimmerman. A course in voice and diction for those who wish to prepare for speaking, reading, and acting in radio. Attention will be directed (1) to the acquisition of a good radio speaking voice, through consideration of the vocal factors of pitch, quality, volume, and tempo, and (2) the development of clear, intelligible diction and acceptable pronunciation of American English. Instruction will involve the use of the microphone, recordings, and speaker system in the speech laboratory. Radio announcing. Mr. Kelly. A course dealing with the fundamentals of commercial and sustaining copy for radio. Extensive laboratory work in microphone practice with criticism and utilization of recordings and playback equipment. Guest lectures by leading announcers, newscasters, narrators and sport analysts with opportunity for discussion followiirg the lectures. Acting in radio. Mr. Filion The techniques and special problenrs of acting in radio. Lectures, demonstrations, and practical nricrophone experience, with the emphasis throughout on individual development. Uses of broadcast and television equipment. Mr. Wankel. A course planned for the studeirt who desires a general knowledge of technical broadcast aird television equipment. It is particularly designed for prograirr prodircers, writers, annourrcers, and others who will work with broadcasting technicians and engineers. Lectures are presented in non-technical language, and demonstrations are given using standard equipment in NBC broadcasting and television studios. Broadcast subjects discussed include the technical operating organization and its functions, microphones, transcription turn-tables, control booth equipment, volume control, transcription equipment, master control room operation and equipment, network circuits, and “flash” studios. Television subjects include television cameras, boom microphones, lightingequipment, control booth equipment, film and slide projectors, video effects, and frequency allocations. Sound effects. Dr. Knopfke. A course designed, first, to familiarize the student with the purpose and use of sound effects and the problems connected with the work of the sound effects technicians; second, to familiarize the student with equipment and operational problems using manual, recorded, electronic, stylized, imaginative, and other sound effects employed currently in the professional field. Class discussion, guest lecturers, demonstrations by professional sound technicians, studio observations, and extensive laboratory work using sound effects equipment under expert supervision. Production of radio drama. Mr. McGraw. A laboratory and lecture course in radio production and direction. The students have experience in the handling and directing of acting, sound, and engineering. In addition, the writing and creating of diamatic shows, the bases of radio criticism, and the use of radio in the classroom will be dealt with briefly in the Spring Session. Workshop equipment is used primarily. Field trips will be made to observe network equipment and methods. Advanced production of radio drama. Messrs. Maynard and Papp. A practical workshop for students who have had previous experience and training in radio acting and producing. Each student is assigned an important element of production activity under the close supervision of the instructor. Students are trained to evaluate, define and interpret the script, to analyze the characters, to audition and select a cast from among the members of the class, and to carry the play through rehearsals to an actual production. Television production problems. Mr. Royal, assisted by members of NBC Television Staff. Lectures and demonstrations will familiarize the student with the production of television programs in the studio, in the field, and from films. The course deals with the problems of selecting and editing material, clearing rights, design of scenery, casting, rehearsal, and final production. It is conducted as a workshop and will give students many opportunities to attend actual rehearsals and broadcasts. Home economics broadcasting. Miss Wagner. This course deals with the fundamentals of radio homemaking programs from the home economics approach. New techniques in the building of educational or commercial home economics programs are discussed as well as planning, research procedures, script writing and production. A workshop is conducted for analysis and discussion of material. Guest speakers — script writers, producer-directors, and educators in the field of radio — will address the class from time to time in order to give the students a better understanding of radio requirements and procedures. Music in radio. Mr. Chase in charge. A sequence of lectures, discussions and demonstrations by NBC experts on music in relationship to radio progiams. Aspects treated include: the place of music in radio, planning musical programs, selection of personnel and talent, production problems, clearance and copyright, writing musical continuity, arranging, composing, musicology for radio, and conducting. Music in radio. Workshop course. Mr. Chase in charge. A practical workshop course in which students will be required to build musical programs, to write musical continuity, and to deal with problems of musical production. Origin of Soap Opera When the history of soap opera comes to be written, one of its roots will be traced to the 6-party telephone line. Louise Baker’s entertaining novel of American village life, Party Line (published by Whittlesey House, condensed in the July issue of The Reader’s Digest, and soon to be released as a movie by 20th Century-Fox) describes the days when party lines, each serving as many as 20 people, were operated at a single local switchboard : The phones provided the women of the town with the midmorning stimulant that the radio now dishes out in soapy drama. Miniature audiences listened surreptitiously to the conversations. The village telephone operator was a goddess who knew all and heard all : Reputations were slain; clothing and personal taste were slandei'ed; food was retasted with discredit to the cook.