Activity 2.4- Sound

Activity 2.4 

Sound effects:  

An example of a sound effect is in the show The Rookie, season 1 episode 8. This scene starts with the main character, Officer Nolan, running after a suspect in a house. When Nolan says for the suspect to turn around, the man pulls out a gun and Officer Nolan shoots him. The gunshot was very loud, and you could hear the gun clicking. Its role was to heighten the sound of the gun and the bullet so people could really see and feel the scene. 

Sound motif 

An example of sound motif is the theme song to Friends, “I’ll be there for you.” This is a song everyone connects with friends, and they can recognize it. Friends is an extremely popular show, and this song adds to the meaning of it since it talks about how your friends will always be there for you even in the worst of times, and that’s really what the show is about.  

Sound bridge 

An example of a sound bridge is in the Matrix where Neo is late for work and his alarm beeps for a bit before he wakes up to switch it off. This is a transition since it shows how late Neo is to wake him up and rushing to get ready. Its role is to show how the start of the sound gets carried over to the next couple of scenes. 

Dialogue and mode of address 

An example of dialogue in film is in the show Greys Anatomy. The show is mostly the doctors talking through the procedures and problems, really showing us what is wrong with the patient and how it is affecting them. When someone dies you can tell by the words of the doctors and their tone, rushed and nervous. They try and act fast to save the patient. The role of dialogue is to help the viewer really understand the film. 

Voiceover 

An example of voiceover in film is in the show, A Series of Unfortunate Events. The narrator, Lemony Snicket, is saying what is happening in the show and he shows up at the start and end. His tone tells us how the episode will be and, in the end, how we should be feeling. He is helping direct the show to the viewers. The role of this is to show how characters feel and what they mean even though the characters themselves can't hear Lemony. 

Sound mixing 

An example of sound mixing is in Greys Anatomy again. The scene is where Mark Sloan dies and the song “All I Want” by Kodaline plays and they are unplugging the life support cord. This scene shows where everyone is and how they feel. Some are preforming surgery, on a plane, leaving the hospital, others are with Mark, etc. It really draws attention to the mood of the episode and how sad the death of your friends really is. How life can turn around so fast, and you don’t even realize.  

Sound perspective 

An example of sound perspective is Jaws. When the people are in the sea and the shark is near, you can hear the sound, and it gets faster and louder, the closer it gets to them. Then when it bites the human, it is at its loudest and then you can hear the people hurting when bitten and the water splashing, etc. It adds meaning by really showing us how the mood is being portrayed how the characters feel. 

Score 

An example of sound is the soundtrack of Hamilton. The songs were written for the musical and nothing else. It really adds to the meaning of the movie since it connects to the viewer on a more personal level. They didn’t just choose a random song and put it in the film. They took time to write the songs.  

Incidental music 

An example of incidental music is in the show “Everybody Hates Chris” When Chris is narrating, and it shows him on the bus playing the radio and the others are listening. It accompanies the scene because Chris says how he would not be the only black kid on the bus while a white woman comes in. So, it shows how Chris can do what he wants when has not the only black kid. Its role is to show where the music is coming from and to help narrate the scene. 

Themes 

An example of theme in film is in the podcast of Alix Earle “Hot Mess with Alix Earle” she has an opening credit scene of a bunch of videos and picture of her and a song that is always show in each episode. This is to signify that her podcast is playing, and it adds to it. When you hear the song or see the videos you know it is Hot Mess with Alix Earle. 

Stings 

An example of stings is again in the podcast “Hot Mess with Alix Earle.” You can tell when Alix is done with a sentence because you see her and hear how she pauses and stops until she thinks of the next line. This is made to create a smooth transition onto the next topic and to help the viewer understand. 

Ambient sound 

An example of ambient sound is in the film “Legally Blonde” when Elle is about to go out the door to her first class as a Harvard Law student you can hear some music in the back as she is speaking to herself in the mirror. It is nice and slow, but it creates a sense of excitement about what's to come. Then as she enters the school it gets faster paced and you can really feel the scene itself. She looks different than the rest because she is dressed very elegantly and she is genuinely nice unlike the others, so the music adds to her character at the same time. 

Melodic sound 

An example of melodic sound is in the film “A Cinderella Story” when a song starts to play and it is slow, but the lyrics are positive like something good is about to happen. When same is about to leave Austin spots her and stops the game so he can run after her. He cares so much about the same he would quit his dream for the girl of his dreams. He runs after same, and he says how he feels about her, and the scene ends with them kissing. It is a sweet scene showing teen love. This song adds to the movie because it gets an emotional response out of the viewer. 

Discordant sound 

An example of discordant sound is in the show “The Vampire Diaries” when Damon has to say goodbye to Elena. A song starts to play, and it is very melancholy and sad. You can see how hurt both characters are. Both are crying and holding each other when saying goodbye. The music again gets an emotional response out of the viewer. Though Damon does not want to leave Elena, he must. When the characters are showing their raw emotion, it creates the same emotion to the viewer. 

Contrapuntal sound 

An example of contrapuntal sound is in “Freaky Friday.” Anna sees that her door is missing, and she is terribly upset yelling at her mother and arguing. Her mother is saying how privacy is a privilege and how she won't get it back until she deserves it. Her brother snuck into her room and trashed it so that it made her even more mad, but the music is upbeat and does not at all evoke an emotion of anger. This creates a confusing tone and mood.