Task 28: Analysing the use of sound in previous student title sequences

DUALITY

• The music that these students have used is effective for a horror film as the low pitch orchestral droning sound immediately frightens the audience, and the fact that it is in the minor key makes us feel like there is something wrong. This builds tension.

• During the shots in the forest, they have added ambient sound to the footage, for example, birds. By doing this, they can efficiently set the seen as well as making it seem more naturalistic. This is effective because it makes the audience feel like they are actually there, and as this is a horror film, it makes us feel a more intense feeling of danger.

• As the students themselves have mentioned, they added the captured sound of the fireplace at different volumes depending where the camera is. When there is a close up of the fire, the captured sound is louder. This is effective as again, it creates a more naturalistic setting. The fireplace would not be so loud if you were not standing directly next to it.

• They have also added non-diegetic sound during their sequence. This adds layers to the sound so you are not just listening to the music.

• According to the students, they captured sounds such as the ticking of a clock, and the gnashing of a students teeth, and manipulated it until the sound was unrecognisable. By slowing the sounds down, they almost sound more menacing.

• In editing, they increased the sound of the tea dripping and the girl crying so that they could be emphasized to the audience.

SHUTTER

• They have used a non-diegetic sound track which is typically used in thriller films. It builds up tension and makes you excited to see what is going to happen, which is what you want to do with thriller films (you want to thrill your audience).

• They have added the sound effect of the car so it could be louder and more exaggerated.

• The sound of a camera shot was added to make it clear that she has taken a picture.

• There is also a soundscape of birds chirping that is of a lower volume to the music so it does not really stand out. However, the high pitch makes these sounds distinguishable. They would have used theses sounds because they are located in a forest.

• Diegetic sound of someone speaking has been added on to the clip, but it has been manipulated so it sounds like it is coming from the walkie talkie.

• White noise has also been added over the talking to distort it even further.
• A camera sound effect was also used when the film's title came up. This was effective because the shutter sound effect links with the title "shutter".