Use of Sound in Movies

Question 1

Direct sound

Answer 1

Live sound. This may have a sense of freshness, spontaneity and ‘authentic’ atmosphere, but it may not be acoustically ideal.

Question 2

Studio sound

Answer 2

Sound recorded in the studio to improve the sound quality, eliminating unwanted background noise (‘ambient sound’), e.g. dubbed dialogue. This may be then mixed with live environmental sound.

Question 3

Selective sound

Answer 3

The removal of some sounds and the retention of others to make significant sounds more recognizable, or for dramatic effect - to create atmosphere, meaning and emotional nuance.

Question 4

Effects and Risk of Selective sound

Answer 4

Selective sound (and amplification) may make us aware of a watch or a bomb ticking. This can sometimes be a subjective device, leading us to identify with a character: to hear what he or she hears. Sound may be so selective that the lack of ambient sound can make it seem artificial or expressionistic.

Question 5

Sound perspective/aural perspective

Answer 5

The impression of distance in sound, usually created through the use of selective sound. Note that even in live television a microphone is deliberately positioned, just as the camera is, and therefore may privilege certain participants.

Question 6

Sound bridge

Answer 6

Adding to continuity through sound, by running sound (narration, dialogue or music) from one shot across a cut to another shot to make the action seem uninterrupted.

Question 7

Dubbed dialogue

Answer 7

Post-recording the voice-track in the studio, the actors matching their words to the on-screen lip movements. Not confined to foreign-language dubbing.

Question 8

Wildtrack (asynchronous sound).

Answer 8

Sound which was self-evidently recorded separately from the visuals with which it is shown. For example, a studio voice-over added to a visual sequence later.

Question 9

Parallel (synchronous) sound

Answer 9

Sound ‘caused’ by some event on screen, and which matches the action.

Question 10

Commentary/voice-over narration.

Answer 10

Commentary spoken off-screen over the shots shown.

Question 11

Uses of the voice-over narration

Answer 11

• introduce particular parts of a programme;
• to add extra information not evident from the picture;
• to interpret the images for the audience from a particular point of view;
• to link parts of a sequence or programme together.

Question 12

Why use the Voice-over?

Answer 12

The commentary confers authority on a particular interpretation, particularly if the tone is moderate, assured and reasoned. In dramatic films, it may be the voice of one of the characters, unheard by the others.

Question 13

Sound effects (SFX)

Answer 13

Any sound from any source other than synchronised dialogue, narration or music.

Question 14

Use of SFX

Answer 14

Dubbed-in sound effects can add to the illusion of reality: a stage- set door may gain from the addition of the sound of a heavy door slamming or creaking.

Question 15

Function of Music in films

Answer 15

Music helps to establish a sense of the pace and mood of the accompanying scene.

Question 16

Ways to implement music in film

Answer 16

The rhythm of music usually dictates the rhythm of the cuts. The emotional colouring of the music also reinforces the mood of the scene. Background music is asynchronous music which accompanies a film. It is not normally intended to be noticeable. Conventionally, background music accelerates for a chase sequence, becomes louder to underscore a dramatically important action

Through repetition it can also link shots, scenes and sequences. Foreground music is often synchronous music which finds its source within the screen events (e.g. from a radio, TV, stereo or musicians in the scene). It may be a more credible and dramatically plausible way of bringing music into a programme than background music (a string orchestra sometimes seems bizarre in a Western).

Question 17

Use of Silence in film

Answer 17

The juxtaposition of an image and silence can frustrate expectations, provoke odd, self-conscious responses, intensify our attention, make us apprehensive, or make us feel dissociated from reality.