Do Now Listen to the following pieces of music and decide on the following: What genre of film it would suit? What might be happening on screen whilst the music is playing? What kinds of characters might the music accompany? Adjectively describe the mood the music is supposed to evoke in the audience.

Sound

Sound Sound can be split into two sections: Diegetic. Sound recorded at the time of shooting – dialogue and natural ambient sound. Non-diegetic. Sound added or ‘dubbed on’ during the post production stage – music, voiceover and sound effects.

Starter Watch this clip from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’, directed by Peter Jackson (2001). Task: Watch the clip without the sound. Can you tell what is happening? Make notes on what sounds you expect to hear, such as music, effects, dialogue, voiceover. Be specific.

Sound Design. Sound like every other department has to be planned and designed. The director will work with a sound designer and other members of the sound department to ‘layer the sound’. The non - diegetic sound is mostly designed before the shoot. The music is composed and recorded, sound effects are collected before and during the shoot. Any voiceovers (if required) are recorded and dubbed on and are often the last part of the post production. ‘Over dubs’ of dialogue are also recorded at this time.

Film Music Film Music again can be split into two sections: Music Score – instrumental background music which is composed for the film. Scores are often recorded after the film has been roughly edited so that the composer can compose the music according to the story: e.g.: a quick tempo ‘techno’ sound will often accompany a rapid, exciting action sequence. Popular songs- ether written and composed for the film or borrowed fro the film’s soundtrack. Many films do not feature pop songs at all. Film music can be incredibly effective in making meaning for the audience. Think about the impact music has in horror and thriller films particularly.

Sound Effects Sound Effects are recorded if a sound cannot be recorded at the time of the shoot. Sound Effects are recorded by the Foley artists who use whatever they can to ‘simulate’ a sound.

Watch making of sound effects from ‘King Kong’, directed by Peter Jackson (2005).

Layering Sound Designing sound is much like recording music in a studio. Each layer or track is designed on the page before it is recorded. Once all the sound has been recorded it is then mixed on a mixing desk. Task: design the sound for the following genres/scenarios: A stalker / slasher horror movie. A shoot out in a western A bank robbery in a crime movie Consider music / dialogue / effects

Sound words Brainstorm a list of sound adjectives you could use in an analysis to describe voice, ambient sounds and music. For example: TONE…… Here are a few you might have heard of…or not: Cacophonous – a non-rhythmical noise Crescendo – a build up of sound to a climax Oscillating-sound that goes up and down in pitch and tone Symphonic – a collection of instruments in an orchestra. Discordant – sounds that don’t go together. Monotone a single tone

Sound Analysis. ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’, directed by Peter Jackson (2001). ‘The Lord of the Rings’ films are praised primarily for their special effects but the sound design is also very impressive. Now watch the clip with the music and make notes on the following technical aspects and their audience meaning: Diegetic sounds: dialogue and natural ambient sound Non diegetic sounds: voiceover, effects and music. H/w: How does the sound in the intro to ‘Lord Of The Rings’ create meaning for the audience?