This is my Media Studies AS coursework. All my research and work that i put into my AS will be documented on here along with the final product, the film opening.
These are Some sound effects I have researched and analysed for inspiration in our sound ideas for our final product. We think that we only want sound/music in the scenes that include the shots of the bathroom as we want to use silence in the bath scenes, to add and build tension.
This clip shows some horror style sound effects, some of which could be very effective in our piece. I like the idea of having a high note pitch bend or repeated high notes, making a fast and very otherworldly noises. I also like the increase in volume as it adds tension as to what will happen next. the sudden and unexpected percussion noises are also very effective in jump scaring the audience, however this may not be the style we are looking for. I like the repeated beeps as if time is running out, through a clock or a bomb timer, adding tension as to when the beeps with stop or when the bomb will explode. The panning of the slashing noises also makes the audience feel as if they are in the scene, adding tension, this is effective along with the panned and enhanced creaks, giving the sense of a scream. I think a build up of most of these sounds with distortion and desaturation in the pictures will give a very effective opening. Also I believe the most simple sounds can be the most effective, especially juxtaposed with the silence of the bath.
This music is very effective as it has an aeolian key and therefore add mystery and suspense because you are not sure of the music and therefore of the action. this music is punctuated with percussion that acts as an almost heartbeat. this is effective because it places the reader into the scene. the clicks are also fast and repeated giving a sense of fast pace action and helps to build suspense, at when they will stop. the moment when these clicks and drum hits speed up, implies a cliff hanger or an ending that is very big and leaves the audience wanting more.
This music is very effective as it implies distortion and unnatural things happening. this is displayed through the use of electric guitar, playing loud and disturbing notes, punctuating the synthesised chordal movement. this chordal movement also implies ambiguity as there is no clear key at the start. the introduction of the strings and their minor, chromatic, ascending movement creates fear and ambiguity whilst also building up to a climax within the music. The layers then build, thickening the texture, implying a dramatic decrease in texture and a sudden jump scare. the distortion continues as the volume increases and there is a loud 'stab' which implies bad things are happening and increases the tension, therefore increasing the pace of the film. after this breakdown, highlighted by the drum's 'stab', there is a lot more use of sound effects that are incorporated into the music, such as a creaking door, radio wave white noise, slashing of a claw, and a roar of an animal. all of these are distorted and made to sound as part of the music, this also implies supernatural events. these sound effects, differ from the conventional forms of music, showing that the film is scary and more unconventional.
03:00 - 04:00
The music for Dawn of the Dead is effective because it uses an innocent motif that is repeated and edited, and this is effective because it builds suspense and gives the viewer and idea that the scene is creepy and eerie. This would be useful for our clip because it would enhance the mystery behind the whole opening. The movement of the orchestra behind this motif, implies that there is something unnatural, due to the change in key and the chromaticism. Also the use of low strings (cells, double bass) juxtaposed with the high piano motif conveys the sense of being out of place and eery. The random effects and percussion within the orchestral accompaniment builds tension and suspense. this is also created through the increase in volume, and texture through the piece. I would like to use the idea of a small motif as it builds the suspense and also adds an element of innocence which, when placed with a more menacing background, this innocence is blemished.
