Digitalpickle.

" Before computer editing, sound editor used to reelaudio tape players to record sound."

I have researched my role as a sound designer for our short film. I used filmsound.org to research and learn my own understanding of sound. They are mainly broken down into three main areas these are:

sound effects, music and dialog.

Sounds Effects

Synchronous and asynchronous sounds are used within sound effects.

Synchronous means sounds are synchronized to what is happening within the film. Its basically a combination of visual and sound working together on screen. For example, sounds might be recorded separately for parts of a scene and then edited to increase or decrease the pitch of the sound. I.E. door creak, to create the mood of the film and keep the audience interested. A door creak may make the audience feel anxious and fearful to what might happen next.

Asynchronous means more or less the opposite to synchronous. Sound effects would be used that do not match what is on screen. It makes the audience visualise what might be happening in the background of the film (which is not on screen). For example, a couple might be talking in a kitchen in the house and throughout, sound might be used such as an ambience sound that is coming from outside on the street, but the focus is on the characters reaction in the 'kitchen'.

So, I think synchronous and asynchronous would work nicely within our work and I will look further into them both before filming. They would work well braking down the awkward parts during the film, as we have planned to make the connection between the two characters quite uncomfortable. Camera techniques could also be used to grab the audiences attention.

Music

Music is used to set the mood of the scene to keep the audience interested, link to different scenes and to make the audience feel emotional.

Certain short sounds and music can be recognised that relates to a certain action or film. For example, when we here 'durdum durdum' (If you get the gist) we automatically think of sharks swimming in the water I.E. The film, Jaws. Another example would be Randy Newman who sings 'You've got a friend in me', everyone who here's this song would most likely think of the animated film Toy Story, as it is the theme song. This is also popular in the public eye, which makes the music familiar.

This is something to think about when making sound for our film. Even little effects like the 'durdum durdum' makes the audience feel the mood you are trying to create because they can relate to the sounds.

Dialog

Voices can be heard throughout a a film using many different techniques.

One technique is called voice over, usually abbreviated VO in scripts. Voice over is a narrative commentary or concept used over visuals in a film or advert. This means you cannot see the person speaking, you can only hear them. A good example of this is commercials

I.E. http://www.e4.com/video/W3fec1rCXEERjWqtZ9U3eg/play.e4

(Peter Dickson - Voice Over for channel E4 adverts)

Dialog is not always used whilst filming on set. Some dialog is recorded off location and put onto the film when editing. When film making, they sometimes shoot silent, MOS (Motion Omit Sound) which means the crew can film without being perfectly quite. It might also be used in case of background noises on location. Therefore the dialog would be recorded in a studio/booth. Although a highly directional microphone can be used to control the sound on location.

Sometimes when dialog editing, it is common that the editor might use a word in the dialog to complete another, if it was distorted in anyway.

Dialog in film is important to make sure it is clear throughout any film. I think this will be the most difficult part of sound and I will need to practice with the equipment before filming. Yet, it is recommended to record dialog when filming on a external location.

For our first five week project, we were put into groups and given a short script to work from for the next five weeks. The script we have been assigned to is called 'Ticket' which is about a girl and a boy meeting at a bus stop/bench. We were all given roles, these were producer, director, editor, sound and production designer and camera and lighting. I am the sound and production designer. This basically means that I will be in charge of making sure the sound is clear and also what sounds to use within the film. Such as, music, voices, sound effects and etc. This will involve making my own sound effects for the film and using different pitches to enhance the ambience and feel of the scenes within the film which I will work and discuss this with the editor I.E. Samantha :-)

For my own role, I will continue to research, test my own sounds and use the equipment to my best ability. I am mainly looking into creating sound effects such as, crunching of leaves and fizzy drink bottles opening and etc.

I will blog plenty.

In our first lecture back from Christmas, we were introduced to Threshold Concepts and discussed them briefly.
"A threshold concept is like a portal, opening up a new and previously inaccessible way of thinking about something. It represents a transformed way of understanding, or interpreting, or viewing something, without which the learner can not progress. Meyer & Land (2003)"

We then watched a film called eXistenZ for the rest of the lecture. The film was about virtual reality gaming. It was quite strange, but it kept you thinking throughout the film.

We were given three words to write and relate to towards the film. These were:

Narrative

Interactivity

Convergence

The film showed narrative as though you questioned what was happening throughout the film. It showed both fantasy and reality, however it was unsure whether the scenes you where watching were either. It definitely developed a story throughout. Interactivity was used within the characters and theory of the film. It also keeps you, as the audience intrigued about what is going on in the game, making you think, why they are doing this and where its going to end. It also keeps you relating back to previous scenes. Convergence works with what you might think or imagine what is going to happen throughout the film.