Teaching Production Management in Practice: Using Radios

In week one, we got our heads around Radio Lingo.

This week, we have resources to explain why radios are used on set and an introduction to how to use them.

Using a radio can be intimidating for younger students as there is a lot to remember. Students need to know:

• How to use the radio, such as how to turn it on and how to speak

• The correct language to use (also known as radio lingo) for different updates on set

• Which channel to use to talk to the right people on set

Practicing these elements before getting to set will help improve their confidence, and testing their knowledge will ensure they feel comfortable with each part of the process.

Students may ask why a mobile phone isn’t just as good as a radio for on set communication. This is an excellent starting point when introducing the use of radios on set.

Talking Point

Why is a radio better for communication on set than a mobile phone?

Ask students to consider and discuss what it’s like on a working set and why they think a radio is used by crews rather than a mobile phone. They need to consider security, access, clear communication practices, professionalism, and emergencies.

The network would like to thank Poppy Coggins, Head of Production Management at London Screen Academy with TV credits including Channel 5’s Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother, ITV’s The All New Monty, and BBC One’s Pointless, for sharing original teaching sessions to inspire this blog series.