Sound analysis

1) Watch any of the sound clips in the Film Language booklet that we didn't get to in class and write answers to the questions to go with each clip on your blog. E.g. A Clockwork Orange, Life On Mars, Once Upon A Time In The West, Once Upon A Time In America. The clips are all available on the Media Shared drive M: > Resources > A Level > Film Language.

2) Find a film clip on YouTube that uses sound in an interesting way. Analyse the use of sound, making sure you use the key language we have learned about sound in film:

• Diegetic and non-diegetic sound
• Parallel and contrapuntal sound
• Sound bridges

Remember to discuss/analyse all the different types of sound present in the clip:

• Music
• Dialogue
• Voiceover
• Sound effects

You also need to highlight or put in bold any use of media language.

Funny games

How would you describe this use of music?

In the scene, classical diegetic music was played within the car to resemble them as being magestic which was shown through the use of parallel sound. Then it suddenly turns into non diegetical rock music that is paralle which is associated with rebelliousness and a lack of respect for the law. 

How do you think the narrative might develop?

The transition from calm/peaceful to an out burst of rock music which was very unexpected, makes it seem as if everything isn't as it seems. There's more that meets the eye. This makes me think when the car stopped and they all turn and smile towards the camera, they finally had reached their next victims.

Clockwork orange

Discuss the choice of music. Is it the kimd of music you would expect for this scene?

The non diegetic contrapuntal sound track is rather up best, something I'd expect to hear in an opra. This makes the audience believe that classical music which is supposed to be from the wealthy upper class is praising the with the scene.If the directed the scene, i would have chosen a more violent sound track that gradually in correlation to the violence. 

Why do you think the director used this piece to go with the action on the screen?

I think the director chose this sound track to represent the heavy violence shown with the scene. The pace of the sound track is perfectly timed with the slow motion editing of the violence. This made it quite humerus for the audience to watch as the sound sound track fluctuated between high and low which added extra effect to the action.

Once apon a time in the west

What sounds do you hear? How do you they help build up tension?

The constant sound of the fly as it gets louder and louder builds up tension as the character becomes more and more annoyed as it gets louder. The breathing sounds of the man as the fly continues to get louder so those the exhaling sounds of the man, this shows how irritated he is becoming and how the scene is about to reach the climax when he captures the fly.

Can you identify the sound bridge? What is the effect on the audience?

The sound bridge in the clip at the start was the constant sound of the windmill as it spins is continuously played throughout the start of the clip through out multiple scenes. This is done to show how quite and peaceful the environment is.

Once Upon A Time In America

Discuss what sound is diegetic and non diegetic.

The dialogue from the actors is diegetic as the other actors can hear what is being said and it hasn't been edited in. The phone ring is non diegetic as the actors can't actually hear it ringing during the actual scene it's all in the mans head so it has been edited in during the production. The drum roll background music is also non diegetic because it has been added during the production of the film. The high pitched squeak at the end is also non diegetic as it's been added after production.

How does the director use the sound of the phone to link the narrative?


The narrator uses the phone to link the narrative effectively. From the first scene throughout to the end the phone ringing is significant. At the beginning it appears non diegetic as the actors can't really hear it, it had been added during post production. As we travel through the scene the ringing of the phone remains to be non diegetic as its been added to show the significant journey. By the last scene the phone ringing becomes diegetic. This is because the phone is actually ringing in the world of film. This helps with the narrative because we are able to identify the first part of the clip as memories and the ending is present day.