Moving images in television, films, the web, animation and hand held devices, such as iPads and tablets are known to be the most important thing as it is a visual image along with the sound to match it.
Television sounds are known to be much less theatrical than full motion picture sounds, for example the famous BBC soap ‘eastenders’ use only diagetic sounds during each episode. The only form of instrumental music is during the opening and ending credits. The link below is an example of how sound/no sound is used within the clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgUf9hlTnnU – Eastenders
As you can see there was a range of emotions within the characters and no music occupied any fundamental moments or key points in the scenes dialogue. The famous intro that plays at the beginning and end of each episode conveys suspense to reflect the naturally dramatic tone of the series.
A visual image with no sound isn’t as interesting, it instantly gets the viewers attention. For example, the sounds used in this scene in fast and furious 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM3Cp6E7jAw
As Dominic pulls up ready for the race, you hear the sound of a rock song to show that something serious is about to happen and for the audience to prepare themselves. As the two characters start talking, you hear the song get quieter, then hear Foley sounds. (A Foley sound is any background sound, for example, blowing leaves, foot step, etc.) But in this case, background voices & music is used, to show that there are is a crowd there ready and waiting to see a good race. Before the race is about to start, you start to hear a sound track get louder, then visually see the lady looking nervous, this is showing that it is about to get intense. You then see Rita Ora doing the ready, steady go from outside of the car, then the scene switches to the intense feeling of Dominic in the car, ready to go. Then the two engines loudly starting along with a screaming crowd. These are all important elements of sound, each and every sound is there to give it a realistic effect. The most intense moment of this scene is 1:32 seconds, where the beat of the sound track drops while the race is getting intense passing through Central London. Throughout this whole scene Foley sounds are used. Traffic, horns, talking, skidding, wind, etc. This scene wouldn’t be as interesting if the realistic sound effects such as fast cars weren’t used along with the sound track used. Visual image isn’t the most important, without sound it would be nothing. The things we hear give us a better understanding of the scenario and manage to make it more pragmatic to the viewers.
Narration/Voice overs
The opening sequence of American beauty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMqwSTe5rvo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
The voice over of Lester works to set tone, in the tone of his voice and the way he talks pessimistically but also optimistically. It also sets up the plot so this moves the narrative forwards. He is commentating on what the audience sees. He his guiding the look of the audience making us relate to him and in turn create sympathy for him.
The sfx used here are called spot effects. The small inserted sound we here when we see objects. Those being the sound of the shower, the garden clippers, the dog barking and the brief case falling on the ground, etc. These are all synonymous with suburbia, which is a main theme of this film. The film is a suburban drama. So this relates to iconography of genre.
The music is an original score by Thomas Newman. The song was written specifically for the film so it has been created with the themes of the film in mind. Notice the dream like and floaty nature of the music. This helps us understand the voice over coming from beyond the grave. As the music starts the camera floats above the city. Sound and image work together here to create a dream like feeling.
As the opening sequence develops so does the music, the voice over dives deeper under the surface of what we see (that’s the key to the relationship between sound and image) as we approach a crescendo in the music the voice over does a similar thing.
Diagetic sounds in film:
(The sounds we hear that are there for a sign of realism)
- Sounds that are in screen with the characters
- Sounds the characters do or make
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQkbq-OC7PU :
17 Again – classroom scene One example of the use of diagetic sound in this scene is when you see two people kissing and hear the sound effects of how a kiss would sound to give a sign of realism to the viewers.
Non-Diagetic sounds in film:
(The sounds the characters cannot hear)
- Sound effects that are added in to make things seem more dramatic.
- Mood music. Which is usually added in to create a mood or effect to the scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roT_QbP58Ok – Jaws This scene in Jaws is a good example for non-diagetic sound. Before the shark is coming you hear the intense familiar sound of music whenever the shark is nearby, this is added to add a sign of suspense to prepare the viewers and almost excite them that something is about to happen.
The difference between DIAGETIC SOUND and NON-DIAGETIC SOUND are that DIAGETIC sounds are already there and NON-DIAGETIC sounds have been added in to create an effect on what is shown on the moving image.
Perrie Kurban 