THE FUNCTION OF THE VOICEOVER

THE FUNCTION OF THE VOICEOVER

The voiceover is one of the most frequently used conventions of a film trailer and has several functions.

The Voiceover helps us make sense of the narrative by giving us background information such as, where the action is set, who the characters are etc.

showcases the stars appearing in the film

gives us information about important production personnel such as the director and producer and their previous work

helps to build a sense of anticipation about the film’s release

reinforces the title of the film and sets the tone for the film

Sound can help tell the story along with the actual moving image; it often creates a atmosphere of realism from the use of sound effects.

Types of sounds

Non diegetic - Raw footage is usually enhanced through the addition of non-diegetic sound, usually in the form of music or voice over.

Adding music to images is an art form. Music creates mood and atmosphere, often by manipulating the emotions experienced while viewing. Music can be classified as either soundtrack the soundtrack will be used to add to the aesthetic of the trailer; a horror movie trailer many have heavy music or slow creepy music.

Diegetic – Generated by things we can see in the picture sound which is in the mise-en-scene; this could include dialogue or the general sound of where the scene has been shot. Sound effects are also used. For example in a horror movie, the sound of somebody getting killed with a specific weapon such as a knife or sharp object. Most of the time horror movies heavily rely on sound effects to create the atmosphere of the genre.