Preliminary Exercise 14: Defining and Analyzing Sound in Film

 In this exercise, our goal is to gain a practical understanding of sound in film by defining and providing examples. We're utilizing our mobile phones to record various sounds, creating a soundtrack that complements the scenario chosen for Preliminary Exercise 13. Each of us engages in a team discussion, exploring the question: What sounds are essential to record to enhance the genre of our film? Understanding the role of sound in film is crucial, as it adds depth, emotion, and realism to the cinematic experience. Our teacher's guidance on concepts like diegetic vs. non-diegetic sound, background noises, and sound bridge and perspective is instrumental for us aspiring sound engineers. Diegetic sound, originating from sources within the film's narrative world, includes both general diegetic and internal diegetic sound, which is audible only to specific characters. In contrast, non-diegetic sound, such as musical scores or voiceovers, exists outside the film's narrative reality and is added in post-production. Understanding the source of sound in film is crucial for enhancing viewer immersion and shaping the emotional tone of a scene. Differentiating between diegetic and non-diegetic elements allows filmmakers to craft a more impactful cinematic experience, manipulating audience emotions and contributing to the overall storytelling effectiveness within and beyond the film's narrative world.

Section A:  Definitions and Examples

Word	Meaning and example from a specific movie.
Diegetic Sound	Sounds that exist within the film’s world, like dialogue. ·         Example: In the film "Casablanca," the diegetic sound includes the sounds of the bustling café, like clinking glasses and distant conversations
Non diegetic Sound	External sounds not part of the movie’s world, like a musical score. ·         Example: In "The Shining," the haunting music by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind, used to create tension, is a notable non-diegetic element.
Source music	Music within the film that comes from a visible source, like a character playing a song on a radio. ·         Example: Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" features source music, like the iconic dance scene with Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell."
On screen Sound	Sounds coming from actions or objects within the frame, like a shot of an alarm clock ringing. ·         Example: In "Jurassic Park," the on-screen sound of footsteps vibrating through the water alerts the characters to the approaching T-Rex
Off Screen	Sounds occurring outside the frame but still relevant to the story. ·         Example: In Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," the off-screen sounds of the shower and the stabbing create a suspenseful and horrifying scene.
Underscore	Background music to enhance the mood, often without a visible source. ·         Example: John Williams' powerful score in "Star Wars: A New Hope" serves as a memorable underscore to enhance the epic space opera
Internal diegetic Sound	Sounds that characters can hear within the story, not audible to the audience ·         Example: In "A Beautiful Mind," the protagonist hears internal voices that reflect his mental state
Background Sound	Ambient sounds that create atmosphere ·         Example: The ambient sounds of rain and thunder in "Blade Runner" contribute to the dystopian atmosphere.
Foley Artist	Creates and records additional sounds to enhance the realism of a scene. ·         Example: In "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark," a foley artist created the distinctive sounds of the rolling boulder in the iconic opening scene
Foley Sound Effects	Sounds created by Foley artists ·         Example: In "The Matrix," the foley sound effects of martial arts punches and kicks were carefully crafted to enhance the intensity of fight scenes.
Sound motif	Recurring sound element representing a theme or character. ·         Example: The recurring five-note melody in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is a sound motif representing communication with extraterrestrial beings
Monologue	A long speech by one character ·         Example: In "Taxi Driver," Robert De Niro's character Travis Bickle delivers a powerful and infamous monologue expressing his frustration with society.
Sound Bridge	Overlapping sound between two scenes, connecting them. ·         Example: The use of overlapping sound, like waves crashing, connects scenes in "Apocalypse Now," emphasizing the surreal and chaotic nature of war.
Sound Design	The overall creation and arrangement of a film’s auditory elements. ·         Example: "Blade Runner" showcases intricate sound design.
Sound Perspective	Manipulation of sound to create a specific perception for the audience. ·         Example: In "Saving Private Ryan," the sound perspective in battle scenes is intense.
Sound Mixing	Balancing and adjusting different audio elements. •           Example: “Whiplash” masterfully blends the intense drumming sequences with the overall soundtrack, showcasing intricate sound mixing.
Stings	Sharp, brief sounds used to punctuate moments. •           Example: Hitchcock’s “Psycho” uses sharp violin stings to heighten the suspense in the famous shower scene.
Melodic Sound	Harmonious, musical sounds contributing to the mood.             Example: The melodic sound of the main theme in “The Godfather” becomes synonymous with the film’s narrative.
Discordant Sound	Jarring or dissonant sounds creating tension.             •           Example: In “Requiem for a Dream,” Clint Mansell’s discordant score enhances the film’s portrayal of addiction and despair.
Contrapuntal Sound	Contrasting sound against the visuals for impact. •           Example: “A Clockwork Orange” uses Beethoven’s music in a contrapuntal manner, juxtaposing classical beauty with violent scenes.
Room tone	Ambient sound recorded at a location to maintain consistency. •           Example: “Lost in Translation” captures the ambient room tone of Tokyo, contributing to the film’s contemplative atmosphere.
Walla Sound	Background murmur of crowd chatter, often inaudible. •           Example: The bustling walla sound in the market scenes of “Slumdog Millionaire” adds authenticity to the setting.
Synchronous Sound	Sound matching the on-screen action precisely. •           Example: In “Casablanca,” synchronous sound aligns with the actors’ lip movements, ensuring realistic dialogue delivery.
Asynchronous Sound	Sound not matching on-screen action intentionally for effect. •           Example: “Blade Runner” uses asynchronous sound to create an eerie atmosphere, disconnecting sounds from visible actions.
Direct Sound	Recorded on set during filming.             Example: Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” extensively uses direct sound to capture the realistic audio of war, recorded on location.
Parallel Sound	Sound mirroring or complementing visual elements.             •           Example: In “The Social Network,” parallel sound connects with the visual narrative, enhancing the storytelling.
Loudness	Volume and intensity of sounds. •           Example: “Saving Private Ryan” employs loudness in its intense battle scenes, immersing viewers in the chaos of war.
Silence	Absence of sound for dramatic effect. •           Example: The strategic use of silence in “A Quiet Place” becomes a central element, heightening tension in a world of noise-sensitive creatures.
Crescendo	Gradual increase in loudness or intensity. •           Example: The gradual crescendo of tension in the closing scenes of “The Dark Knight” builds to a climactic moment.
Rhythm	Pattern of sounds contributing to the film’s pace. •           Example: The rhythmic editing and sound in “Baby Driver” synchronize with the protagonist’s driving skills, creating a unique cinematic rhythm.

 

 

 

Section B: Analysis 1: General analysis of film opening. 

Opening of “The Giver”
What is the film about?	A society with citizens who have no memories of its past, except for the individual known as the Receiver of Memory.
Production Company/companies	Tonik, As Is Productions, Walden Media
Director	Phillip Noyce	Sound Engineer (s)	Jeff Ross
Genre (s)	Sci-fi and Action	Movie release	August 15, 2014
Audience (s)	12-18year olds
Original music titles from the soundtrack. (Only from the opening.)	Main Titles by Marco Beltrami
Music (List 3 words used to describe this music)	·         Sincere ·         Upbeat ·         Enticing
Sound Effects (List 8 effects)	·         People talking in the background ·         Bicycle bell ringing ·         The sound of the bike tires ·         The sound of the drones ·         Wind ·         Kids talking and laughing. ·         The medication machine beeping ·         The medication machine talking.
Dialogue (List the most important line in the film’s opening and why? 3 sentences to describe information.	Line: “I always felt like I saw things differently, saw things other people didn’t.”
	Explanation: This line is important because it hints to the audience what the movie might be about. The background has already been established and we know the setting and the circumstances. Now we know that the main character is likely to defy the rules or have some kind of internal conflict over the fact in this statement...

 

Section C: Analysis 2: 

Diegetic Sounds (Dialogue, Music and Sound Effects the audience and characters can hear.)	Non-diegetic Sounds ( voiceover, sound effects and music)
Jonas talking to his friends The bike bell ringing	The opening music The voiceover by Johnas

 Reflection

Throughout the sound in film assignment, I gained a deeper understanding of the pivotal role that sound plays in cinematic storytelling. Categorizing sound into diegetic and non-diegetic elements revealed the subtle ways in which filmmakers manipulate auditory elements to increase viewer engagement and emotional resonance. As a team, we divided responsibilities effectively. While I focused on gathering definitions from dictionary websites to ensure clarity on terminology, my teammates delved into researching the movie "The Giver" to fill out the assignment chart. This collaborative approach allowed us to combine theoretical knowledge with practical application. While reflecting on our team's performance, I believe we did an intermediate job on this assignment. We successfully completed the task, but there remains room for improvement. Going forward, we could enhance our collaboration by incorporating more diverse sources for comprehensive research. Overall, this assignment served as a valuable learning experience, highlighting the importance of both theoretical concepts and practical application in the realm of film studies.

Progress Check  

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Diegetic, non-diegetic sound and sound techniques researched.     Ready to move on
• Demonstrate an ability to identify aspects of all the technical elements of sound in media text.   Almost there
• Demonstrate understanding of how technical elements of sound communicate meaning to audiences.           Ready to move on

Heckmann, C. (2023) Video: Diegetic sound - storytelling for your ears, StudioBinder. Available at: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-diegetic-sound/