Preliminary Exercise 13: Introduction to Sound in Film (Be a Sound Engineer)

 Sound in film refers to the auditory elements that supports the visual elements, such as dialogue, music, and sound effects. It improves a film by adding depth, emotion, and context to the story. Audiences hear a carefully crafted blend of sound while watching a movie, from character dialogue and background music to natural sounds and special effects. By establishing mood and reinforcing the narrative context, sound plays an important role in supporting the genre, setting, and characters. In a horror film, for example, ominous music and strange sound effects heighten tension. Upbeat music and playful dialogue help to create a lighthearted atmosphere in a romantic comedy. Sound also contributes to a film's atmosphere by immersing the audience in the world created on screen. Through strategic use of sound, filmmakers can evoke emotions, build suspense, and emphasize key moments. Sound increases audience engagement through providing a more realistic and emotional viewing experience, helping viewers to connect on a deeper level with the characters and storyline.

Section A:  Definitions and Examples

Word	Meaning and example
Sound in film	A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. ·         Ex. Foot steps or clicking
Sound engineer	A sound engineer is responsible for the technical side of a recording or live performance. ·         Ex. Manage sound recording process.
Soundtrack	A track (as on a motion-picture film or television videotape) that carries the sound record.  ·         Ex. Gee whix, its Christmas” being played in a movie
Score	A film score is an original piece of music that is written and tailored for a specific film. ·         Ex. The Lost Weekend (1945), music by Miklós Rózsa.
Incidental Music	Incidental music is music written to accompany or point up the action or mood of a dramatic performance on stage, film, radio, television, or recording; to serve as a transition between parts of the action; or to introduce or close the performance. ·         Ex. Ludwig van Beethoven's music for J.W. von Goethe's Egmont (1810)
Theme music	Theme music is a musical composition which is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at some point during the program. Ex. Home Alone – Main Title ('Somewhere in my Memory')
Sound effects	A sound effect is an artificially created or enhanced sound, or sound process used to emphasize artistic or other content of films, television shows, live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media.   Ex. Beep
Dialogue	Dialogue is a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people, and a literary and theatrical form that depicts such an exchange Ex. Steven- Shutup Garry!
Ambient Sound	Ambient noise is any sound other than the sound being monitored. Ex. The sound of rain
Voiceover	Voice-over is a production technique where a voice—that is not part of the narrative —is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations. Ex. “so now I am putting the egg in the bowl”

 

Section B: Becoming a sound engineer. 

1.      A Cabin/The Woods (Horror)
Music (List 6 words used to describe this music)	Ominous, Suspenseful, Dark, Haunting, Eerie, Foreboding
Sound Effects (List 10 effects)	Creaking of wood floors and doors, breathing, screams, high-pitched sounds, low frequency (infrasound), slams, slicing, knocking on doors, ghost sounds (whooshing, indistinct vocalization etc.), synthesizers.
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.)	·         “Okay I’m drawing a line in the ******* sand. Do not read the Latin.” – Cabin in the Woods ·         “We’ll all go in together” – Evil Dead II ·         “I just can’t take no pleasure in killing. There’s just some things you gotta do. Don’t mean you have to like it.” -The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ·         “Let’s go, let’s go! Are you not scared enough? -The Blair Witch Project

 

 

2.      Basketball Game (Teen Drama)
Music (List 6 words used to describe this music)	Uplifting, Rhythmic, Energetic, Pumping, Exciting, Hip-Hop
Sound Effects (List 10 effects)	Boy/Girl basketball team running, walking, stumping Crowd cheering Cheerleaders chanting Walking/running on bleachers Music Buzzer The ball bouncing The ball hitting the net The ball flying in the air Coach shouting
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.)	"Get your head in the game!" - High School Musical (2006) "It's not about the shoes. It's about what you do in them." - Space Jam (1996) "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." - Friday Night Lights (2006) "We're not here to start no trouble; we're just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle." - The Super Bowl Shuffle (1985)

 

 

3.      Urban City Scene (Triller)
Music (List 6 words used to describe this music)	Energetic, Pulsating, Upbeat, Modern, Electronic, Dynamic
Sound Effects (List 10 effects)	City Traffic Footsteps on Pavement Car Horns Sirens Wailing Urban Ambience Bicycle Bell Subway Rumbling Street Performers Construction Site Police Radio Chatter
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.)	"I'm walking here!" - Midnight Cowboy (1969) "You talking to me?" - Taxi Driver (1976) "I feel the need... the need for speed." - Top Gun (1986) "Welcome to the party, pal!" - Die Hard (1988)

 

4.      Car Chase (Action)
Music (List 6 words used to describe this music)	Intense, Fast-paced, Pulsating, Adrenaline-pumping, Driving, Thrilling
Sound Effects (List 10 effects)	Screeching Tires Revving Engines Honking Horns Police Sirens Crash and Impact Sounds Shattering Glass Engine Roars Skidding on Asphalt Radio Chatter Doppler Effect (as vehicles pass)
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.)	"I feel the need... the need for speed." - Top Gun (1986) "Drive it like you stole it!" - Sing Street (2016) "You can't outrun the truth." - Fast & Furious 6 (2013) "We're not criminals. We just steal shit." - Baby Driver (2017)

 

 

5.      Highschool Romance (Comedy) Create your own!
Music (List 6 words used to describe this music)	Lighthearted, Playful, Cheerful, Upbeat, Sweet, Whimsical
Sound Effects (List 10 effects)	School Bell Ringing Laughter and Giggles Locker Door Slamming Cafeteria Ambience Classroom Murmurs Pencil Scribbling Footsteps in Hallways Squeaky Shoes on Gym Floor Cheering at Sports Events Chatter in the Hallways
Dialogue (List 4 lines or words used in popular movies to support your answers.)	"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) "You can't hide from yourself." - 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) "She doesn't even go here!" - Mean Girls (2004) "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." - Notting Hill (1999)

 

Reflection

Through this exercise, I learned to identify and use sounds in film effectively. Recognizing the importance of music, sound effects, and dialogue, I gained insights into how these elements contribute to the overall cinematic experience. In documenting each team member's responsibilities, we divided tasks based on individual strengths, dividing vocabulary selection and scenario creation among team members. Good communication was required to ensure an effective strategy and alignment of details. We improved the use of resources by utilizing our collective creativity and knowledge. Overall, the team performed well on this assignment by efficiently distributing tasks, maintaining open communication, and collectively contributing to a comprehensive understanding of sound in film.

Preliminary Exercise 12: Camera Movement Videos

 The objective of the assignment is for students to demonstrate their comprehension of camera movement techniques by selecting six frames from their storyboard and producing corresponding videos. The required supplies include a phone for recording and the YouTube app for video creation and sharing. The chosen camera movement techniques encompass tracking for smooth subject following, random movement for spontaneity, zoom in to highlight specific details, dolly zoom out for dramatic effect, tilt for unique perspectives, and pan for horizontal scene coverage. Each technique serves a distinct purpose, such as emphasizing emotions, creating depth, or capturing candid moments. Students will showcase their creativity and storytelling abilities by incorporating these techniques into their videos, illustrating a diverse range of visual storytelling skills.

Video#1: Tracking

Action Line: Dakota is walking from the bus loop to find Kira

Shot size: Establishing Shot

Camera angle: Eye level

Framing: One Shot

Tone: Chill & Determined

 Video#2: Random Movement

Action Line: Kira and Dakota finish talking so they go their separate ways.

Shot size: Full Shot

Camera angle: Low angle

Video#3: Zoom In

Action Line: Dakota and Kira both get home and facetime to talk about their day.

Shot size: Extreme close up

Camera angle: Dutch

Framing: Insert Shot

 Video#4: Push In

Action Line: Dakota is Walking in the hallway and texting Kira

Shot size: Full Shot

Camera angle: Low Angle

Framing: One Shot

Video#5: Pan

Action Line: Dakota is getting ready in the mirror.

Shot size: Wide

Camera angle: Eye level

Framing: Over the shoulder

Video#6: Push Out

Action Line: Dakota and Kira walk towards each other in courtyard.

Shot size: Medium Shot

Camera angle: Low angle

Framing: Two Shot

Reflection

Through this exercise, our team gained a comprehensive understanding of various camera movement techniques and their applications in visual storytelling. Our team gained a thorough understanding of various camera movement techniques and their applications in visual storytelling as a result of this exercise. Individual strengths were used to assign responsibilities within the team, with one member focusing on storyboarding, another on filming using specific camera movement techniques, and another on video editing using the YouTube app. Our collaboration included extensive discussions about the storyboard and group decision-making on the camera techniques to be used. We used each other's phones with the YouTube app to edit, ensuring open communication to address challenges and maintain a cohesive vision for the project. Overall, the team's effective resource coordination and utilization resulted in a successful assignment, demonstrating a creative and well-executed application of the chosen camera movement techniques in the videos.

Work-Cited

7 basic camera movements (and why they matter!) (2022) Seenit. Available at: https://www.seenit.io/blog/6-basic-camera-movements-and-why-they-matter/#:~:text=7%20Basic%20Camera%20Movements%201%20Pan%20First%20up,...%206%20Following%20shot%20...%207%20Pedestal%20 (Accessed: 01 November 2023). 

Preliminary Exercise 11: Camera Movement Storyboard

In this assignment, the primary objective is for students to create an organizer using PowerPoint that defines 12 camera movement techniques employed in film, lists three key points associated with each technique, and includes an illustration to visually represent each concept. The illustration serves as a key element to showcase and understand the intricacies of camera movement. Researching and grasping the intricacies of camera movement is crucial for our task, as we delve into how to illustrate each movement effectively on our storyboards and comprehend the rationale behind their usage in filmmaking. Essential resources include information on camera techniques, examples from films, and access to PowerPoint for organizing our findings. It was a team effort. Each member contributing unique ideas for different scenes within our Cambridge groups. The importance of creating a storyboard is emphasized, as it serves as a visual blueprint that aids in planning and organizing the sequence of shots, ensuring a coherent and impactful narrative in filmmaking.

Reflection

This exercise has given me a better understanding of the various camera movement techniques used in filmmaking. Learning about these techniques not only increased my appreciation for cinematography, but also provided valuable insights into how filmmakers strategically use camera movements to enhance storytelling. The following step is to put this knowledge to use by incorporating the storyboard into Preliminary Exercise 12. The storyboard will be essential in planning and visualizing the shot sequence for Exercise 12, allowing me to convey the narrative coherently and effectively. Me and my teammates will use each illustration to form our movie. We will bring each sketch to life.  This experience has reinforced the importance of careful planning and strategic use of visual elements in the filmmaking process, and I look forward to putting these principles into practice in future exercises and projects.

Work-Cited

7 basic camera movements (and why they matter!) (2022) Seenit. Available at: https://www.seenit.io/blog/6-basic-camera-movements-and-why-they-matter/#:~:text=7%20Basic%20Camera%20Movements%201%20Pan%20First%20up,...%206%20Following%20shot%20...%207%20Pedestal%20 (Accessed: 01 November 2023).