It is the sound in film that adds contextual information sets the right tone or theme for each scene. It invokes the desired reaction from the audience, otherwise the audience would be left confused at certain parts of the film. Sounds in a film includes music, dialogue, sound effects, ambient noise, background music, and soundtracks. Sound creates suspense, enhances the plot, develops the characters, and the setting. For example, when the antagonist of the film makes an appearance, a suspenseful song would play that would get the audience hooked and interested. When the protagonist defeats the bad guy a heroic song would play, hence developing characters. Sound can create the atmosphere by using a particular instrument to evoke a certain mood or emotion. With sound, the audience can connect with the film through two of their five senses, instead of sight alone.
Section A: Definitions and Examples
Score: ______/20marks | |
Word | Meaning and example |
Sound in film | Everything you hear in a film. Ex: Sound effects and music |
Sound engineer | Realize the audio world of a film to enhance the mood and tone. Ex: Person analyzing sounds |
Soundtrack | Recorded sound made for the purpose of being in a film. Ex: Music |
Score | Specific music piece or incidental music that accompanies a scene. Ex: Gone with the wind |
Incidental Music | Music in films is not primarily musical. Ex: Opening music in films |
Theme music | Music created for a film or television shows opening or ending credits. Ex: Shallow from A Star is Born |
Sound effects | Sounds used to emphasize what’s happening in a scene. Ex: Doors closing |
Dialogue | A conversation between one or two people in a scene. Ex: Thor talking to Jane |
Ambient Sound | Background noise that is present in a particular scene or location. Ex: Rainfall and Thunder |
Voiceover | Production technique where a person records their voice to narrate in film. Ex: |
Section B: Becoming a sound engineer. Identify the types of sounds to support each theme.
What types of sound would you select to support the visuals in the introduction to movie set at a Cabin/The Woods?
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Music (List 6 words used to describe this music) |
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Falling Rizlas – Actress, Day of Chaos – Kevin MacLeod, Happiness is a butterfly – Lana Del Ray | |
Sound Effects (List 10 effects) | Trees moving, wood creaking, thunder, rain, grass crunches, blood – curdling screams, running footsteps, rustling, heavy breathing, and slashing. |
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.) | Ghostface: Hello detective Bailey, I’ve got one question for you. Detective Bailey: Yeah, what’s that Ghostface: What’s your favorite scary movie? Ghostface: I’m asking because you’re in one now. You’re in my movie. Scream VI (2023)
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Music (List 6 words used to describe this music) |
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Slime Me Out – Drake(clean), Moonlight- Kali Uchis, Everybody – Nicki Minaj (clean) | |
Sound Effects (List 10 effects) | Basketball dribbling, shoes screeching on the ground, cheers, background chatter, referee’s whistle blowing, coach yelling, basketball falling in the hoop, heavy breathing, running, |
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.) | Coach Carter: Starting today you will play like winners, act like winners, and most importantly you will be winners. Coach Carter: If you listen and learn, you will win basketball games. Coach Carter: And gentlemen, winning in here is the key to winning out there. Coach Carter This contract states that you will maintain a 2.3 grade point average. -Coach Carter (2005) |
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Music (List 6 words used to describe this music) |
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A New Swan Queen - Clint Mansell, Night of Terror – Clint Mansell, The House – Michael Abels | |
Sound Effects (List 10 effects) | Floors creaking, water running, footsteps, earring clicking, running, shuffling, glass’s clicking, feet moving on floor, whispers, and pacing. |
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.) | Nina: What’s she doing here? Lily: He made me your alternate. Lily: Because just in case. Nina: It can’t be her. It can’t be her. – Black Swan (2010) |
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Music (List 6 words used to describe this music) |
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Next Level- A$ton Wyld, Tokyo Drift – Teriyaki Boyz, We Own It – 2 Chainz | |
Sound Effects (List 10 effects) | Car tires on the road, police sirens, car engines firing up, crash sounds, yelling, feet on the peddles, car exhaust, tires popping, and cars flipping. |
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.) | Tej: Last turn. Last turn Brian: Oh, too wide Brian: Home stretch, baby Suki: Yes! -2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) |
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Music (List 6 words used to describe this music) |
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Party- Beyoncé, Comme Des Garçons – Rina Sawayama (clean), Toxic – Britney Spears | |
Sound Effects (List 10 effects) | Laughing, running, shouting, cars speeding away, playful fighting, sirens, tires popping, cars screeching, jumping, and clapping. |
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.) | “Nah y’all my soon wants me here I ain’t going nowhere” “Madea what are you doing?” “What you say about you staying here?” “You know what I guess we’re going to be going”. A Madea’s Homecoming (2022) |
Reflection Paragraph
From this exercise, I learned about sound in film and how it's important to make the film come all together. My team and I all did something to contribute to this assignment. We each did a section on the table above. Our resources was each other, we'd ask one another if we had a question on what to type down or a question on something the other might know then ourselves. I think we did really good on this assignment to complete it.
https://www.lafilm.edu/blog/the-importance-of-sound/
