Film Analysis Part Four Sound in Film Film Analysis Part Four

Origins No completely silent period Organists, pianists or even full orchestras supplied live musicals accompaniment in theatres Sound effects created on spot by specialists October 1927: The Jazz Singer Al Jolson says “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!” Not first, but most remembered

Origins (cont.) Sound drew more ticket buyers However, created new problems technically: Cameras in sound proof boxes Actors close to microphones Emphasized speech more than movement In theatres- can’t keep up reels with sound Comical misalignments (male voice with female) Movietone sound-on-film standard by 1931

Diegetic Sound Sound in film divided into two major categories: diegetic and non- diegetic Diegetic: sound that is within the world of the film Dialogue Sounds made by objects in the story Example: Pulp Fiction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =xNe3mp7ross&feature=related

Non-Diegetic Sound Sound that is not present within the world of the film: Score (aka background music) Narrator’s commentary Example: The Breakfast Club http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Sv1I4q6lOpo

Diegetic or Non-Diegetic? Which is which? Scene Number One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8- 8xeUvS1g Scene Number Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHgvErjAbpo

Categories Three main kinds of sound: Spoken Word Sound Effects Music

Dialogue Intertitles: frames with written text, coming between image shots, used in silent films to transmit necessary verbal information, such as explanations or dialogue (Nosferatu) Conversations between two or more people, includes voiceovers/narration Not all dialogue recorded live: ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) to fix unstable live track or change actors’ lines Narration/voiceovers/specific sound effects are recorded post-production “Humans can focus on a maximum of two sounds at a time.” (tune out background noise)

Sound Effects All other sound (except most dialogue) is added later Foley is performed while watching projected film and is sometimes called “walking Foley” b/c of footsteps required The Foley techniques are named for Jack Foley, a sound editor at Universal Studios Car engines, explosions, etc. are added by the sound effects editor(s)

Foley Artists Foley artists at work View film while creating sounds

Musical Score Film score conveys mood, emotion and character in ways dialogue cannot 1908 first score tailored for film Leitmotif: short musical phrase representing and recurring with a character, situation or emotion (examples: Jaws, Star Wars) Hints at unspoken conflicts or feelings Film scores are usually composed after the film has finished shooting.

Songs Use of existing popular songs, composer takes advantage of the audience’s prior associations with music. Well-known songs can establish historical periods/time Original songs, written specifically for a film, may highlight a particular moment or entire film’s theme In musicals, songs function as a type of dialogue—closely interwoven with script Songs for musicals are written and recorded before production begins.

Guessing Game Scene One: Wayne’s World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STt9dqPsFTE&feature=relate d A. Dialogue B. Sound effect C. Score D. Use of Popular Song Scene Two: Reservoir Dogs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enJwYaeolXc D. Popular Song

Guessing Game (cont.) Scene Three: Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dDwPSjFCeI A. Dialogue B. Sound effect C. Score D. Use of Popular Song Scene Two: The Last of the Mohicans (START AT 2:00!!!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9SEFMIBwAs D. Popular Song