IGCSEFilm Language - Sound

Objectives

To recognise the use of different types of sound in film

To identify differences in diegetic and nondiegetic sound

To understand how sound can be used to make meaning

Sound

There are four distinct ways of analysing use of sound in a moving image text:

MusicDialogueSound EffectsSilence or Atmospheric Sound

Two aspects of sound

Diegetic sound – sound in the narrative world that characters can hear e.g. dialogue, reaction sounds and some sound effects.

Non-Diegetic Sound – Anything not in the narrative world (added on and not heard by characters, etc. Are non-diegetic e.g. soundtrack, sound effects.

ListeningDraw three boxes like the one below on your page.

You will hear, but not see, the beginnings of three short films.

While the films are playing, make notes in the boxes, on what you are hearing and what you think those sounds tell you about the film.

Viewing

You will now watch the opening of two of the films. Think about how sound is used to:

Create a certain kind of atmosphere

Tell us things about the characters

Help to develop the story.

(Make notes in your book under each of the underlined headings)

The Man with the Beautiful Eyes

The Most Beautiful Man in the World

Linking things together

Write a sentence that describes the sound during the opening of The Most Beautiful Man in the World.

Write a sentence that describes the sound during the opening of The Man With the Beautiful Eyes

Compare/ContrastUsing notes taken in class, compare and contrast the use

of sound in the two film extracts screened.

Viewing

View the opening of Two Cars One Night

Identify the sounds in the film. What effect do they have on the atmosphere?

Why do you think the director decide to include only diegetic sound?

PerceptionComment on the different ways in which sound is

perceived in all three of these film openings.