Analysing Soundtracks in Moving Image
Copyright issues associated with soundtracks, if the soundtrack uses pieces of already produced music it would be considered copyright. For example, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) used many pieces of famous, well known music which was produced in the 70s. When using them for the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack they would have had to have gotten permission or paid to use those songs for the soundtrack. Without permission they would be breaking the Copyright Act of 1988. Most films create their own score, this means the company doesn’t have to spend extra costs on permission to use already produced songs. The soundtrack scores themselves will be copyrighted so that other film companies don’t use the same piece of music.
Diegetic Sound is where the source is visible on screen, for example, a door is shown closing and the sound of the door being closed can be heard. It also is the sound whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film, for example, it could be a TV show about a hospital and to imply a new patient is arriving the sound of an ambulance can be heard but it doesn’t need to be shown. Diegetic sound is sound which is made by an object in the story. It can be on screen or off screen.
Non diegetic sound is sound that is outside of the story space. These are things such as narrators and mood music.
Non diegetic sound is sound that is outside of the story space. These are things such as narrators and mood music.
TV show: Fargo Season 1 - Episode 9 (Elevator scene) 2014
Genre: Crime, Drama
The scene opens with diegetic sounds, the sounds prominent are the characters footsteps and the sound of the elevator being operated. There is also dialogue between the characters; this is to help tell the story, without it the viewer would be confused and unable to work out what is happening. Up until the line “Oh, so you do know me” is spoken, there is no music playing in the background. Once this has been said music begins to play, this music begins slowly to set an eerie atmosphere. The audience will be able to tell that the scene is building up through the visual aspects and through the narrative that is given to them through dialogue.
Throughout the next dialogue that is spoken, slow paced music is played softly in the background, this adds to the dramatic mood which the scene is creating. As the scene progresses the music begins to build in pace, the camera begins to slowly track in and the shots consist of close ups to show the characters emotions. When the character says “Yes or No” the music is much louder, this implies to the viewer that this line is important and that something dramatic is about to happen.
Once the bullets have been fired the background music stops, this is to leave the audience with a sense of shock at the sudden action. Stopping the background music to just the sound of the characters heavy breathing helps to portray a shocking mood. Throughout the rest of the scene there is only dialogue and the sound effects of the elevator, this is to help keep the viewer in a shocked state. Overall it consists of diegetic sounds and has a clever use of music to help strengthen the suspense of the scene.
Genre: Crime, Drama
The scene opens with diegetic sounds, the sounds prominent are the characters footsteps and the sound of the elevator being operated. There is also dialogue between the characters; this is to help tell the story, without it the viewer would be confused and unable to work out what is happening. Up until the line “Oh, so you do know me” is spoken, there is no music playing in the background. Once this has been said music begins to play, this music begins slowly to set an eerie atmosphere. The audience will be able to tell that the scene is building up through the visual aspects and through the narrative that is given to them through dialogue.
Throughout the next dialogue that is spoken, slow paced music is played softly in the background, this adds to the dramatic mood which the scene is creating. As the scene progresses the music begins to build in pace, the camera begins to slowly track in and the shots consist of close ups to show the characters emotions. When the character says “Yes or No” the music is much louder, this implies to the viewer that this line is important and that something dramatic is about to happen.
Once the bullets have been fired the background music stops, this is to leave the audience with a sense of shock at the sudden action. Stopping the background music to just the sound of the characters heavy breathing helps to portray a shocking mood. Throughout the rest of the scene there is only dialogue and the sound effects of the elevator, this is to help keep the viewer in a shocked state. Overall it consists of diegetic sounds and has a clever use of music to help strengthen the suspense of the scene.
Film: The Thin Red Line - (Scene - Each standing in the other's light) 1998
Genre: War, Drama
The scene begins with a very soft orchestral piece of music playing, this compliments the scene where the soldiers are walking in the mist, there are only small piece of ambient sounds which can faintly be heard behind the music. As the music is slow and gradually builds and then falls it almost creates the sense of breathing at a steady pace. This slow rise and fall is repeated several times.
There suddenly is the sound effect of a bullet being fired, adding this sound effect gives the audience a clear indication of the narrative. Through the use of both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds it helps to portray tension and anxiety. As the soldiers move quicker and their expressions and actions become more worried and nervous, more sound effects can be heard. Then all at once a loud burst of gun fire and shouting is heard, this not only is for the narrative but to suddenly make the viewer feel adrenaline.
Although the non-diegetic music doesn’t change in pace, the scene begins to feel must faster and dramatic. The cuts are rapid and the sound is mixed between people screaming and gunfire, it attracts the audience’s attention and tries to make them feel as if they are there.
The music then begins to add another instrument; this has more emotion than the beginning piece. As this begins to play the visual images begin to change, it is no longer fast paced gunfire and soldiers running. It begins to focus on the victims and the wounded. It focuses on the darker side of war, insanity, fear, madness, sorrow etc. All of these can be seen through the expressions of the Japanese soldiers, combining these images and the change in music makes the audience feel moved and emotional but also shocked and the unpleasant but real side to what war is.
The music then becomes quiet and another non-diegetic sound is added, there is a narration from one of the soldiers. This narration, I believe, is to make the audience really think about war. The narration from the soldier is all about how a man can become so evil when given the power to kill, where does it come from and would it be possible that you could act this way as well if given the chance. Along with the images of the dead, dying and injured Japanese soldiers is makes the scene more moving and powerful.
There then is dialogue, this is between an American soldier and a dying Japanese soldier, he is telling him that he’s dying and that although he knows he probably won’t understand him he wants to give him that sense of fear of death. The Japanese soldier then says "Kisama mo itsuka shunin daiyo” which translate to “You’ll die someday too” this shows the audience he is aware of what is being said to him. Adding dialogue at the end of the scene sets the overall tone as dark and evil.
Genre: War, Drama
The scene begins with a very soft orchestral piece of music playing, this compliments the scene where the soldiers are walking in the mist, there are only small piece of ambient sounds which can faintly be heard behind the music. As the music is slow and gradually builds and then falls it almost creates the sense of breathing at a steady pace. This slow rise and fall is repeated several times.
There suddenly is the sound effect of a bullet being fired, adding this sound effect gives the audience a clear indication of the narrative. Through the use of both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds it helps to portray tension and anxiety. As the soldiers move quicker and their expressions and actions become more worried and nervous, more sound effects can be heard. Then all at once a loud burst of gun fire and shouting is heard, this not only is for the narrative but to suddenly make the viewer feel adrenaline.
Although the non-diegetic music doesn’t change in pace, the scene begins to feel must faster and dramatic. The cuts are rapid and the sound is mixed between people screaming and gunfire, it attracts the audience’s attention and tries to make them feel as if they are there.
The music then begins to add another instrument; this has more emotion than the beginning piece. As this begins to play the visual images begin to change, it is no longer fast paced gunfire and soldiers running. It begins to focus on the victims and the wounded. It focuses on the darker side of war, insanity, fear, madness, sorrow etc. All of these can be seen through the expressions of the Japanese soldiers, combining these images and the change in music makes the audience feel moved and emotional but also shocked and the unpleasant but real side to what war is.
The music then becomes quiet and another non-diegetic sound is added, there is a narration from one of the soldiers. This narration, I believe, is to make the audience really think about war. The narration from the soldier is all about how a man can become so evil when given the power to kill, where does it come from and would it be possible that you could act this way as well if given the chance. Along with the images of the dead, dying and injured Japanese soldiers is makes the scene more moving and powerful.
There then is dialogue, this is between an American soldier and a dying Japanese soldier, he is telling him that he’s dying and that although he knows he probably won’t understand him he wants to give him that sense of fear of death. The Japanese soldier then says "Kisama mo itsuka shunin daiyo” which translate to “You’ll die someday too” this shows the audience he is aware of what is being said to him. Adding dialogue at the end of the scene sets the overall tone as dark and evil.
Film: Shaun Of the Dead - (Scene - Record scene) 2004
Genre: Comedy, Horror
The scene begins with the two characters sat watching TV, there are diegetic sounds of the presenter on the TV; this is to portray the narrative to the viewer. The comical aspect of this scene is the characters expressions and reactions to what is being spoken. Once the zombie has entered the house there is a quickened dramatic piece of music. This fits into the horror aspect of the film as it is a comedy horror, using dramatic music portrays the other aspect of the genre. When the character has killed the zombie, there is only the diegetic sound effect of the character breathing. The pause in sound is to add to the comical effect, using a quiet pause allows the viewer to focus on the characters expressions which usually add the humorous atmosphere of the scene.
The rest of the scene consists of the same use of non-diegetic background music to create the tense mood, combined with dialogue and sound effects to set the narrative and add to the comical atmosphere.
Genre: Comedy, Horror
The scene begins with the two characters sat watching TV, there are diegetic sounds of the presenter on the TV; this is to portray the narrative to the viewer. The comical aspect of this scene is the characters expressions and reactions to what is being spoken. Once the zombie has entered the house there is a quickened dramatic piece of music. This fits into the horror aspect of the film as it is a comedy horror, using dramatic music portrays the other aspect of the genre. When the character has killed the zombie, there is only the diegetic sound effect of the character breathing. The pause in sound is to add to the comical effect, using a quiet pause allows the viewer to focus on the characters expressions which usually add the humorous atmosphere of the scene.
The rest of the scene consists of the same use of non-diegetic background music to create the tense mood, combined with dialogue and sound effects to set the narrative and add to the comical atmosphere.
All three of the clips I analysed use diegetic and non-diegetic sound to create different desired effects. Fargo combined sound effects, dialogue and mood music to build the scene and create a tense atmosphere. The Thin Red Line used mood music, sound effects; narration and dialogue too, not only make the scene dramatic but to also create sadness and shock. Whereas Shaun of the Dead used dialogue, mood music, sound effects and well-chosen pauses to not only create the aspect of horror but comedy as well.
http://www.maintitles.net/features/articles/on-hans-zimmers-the-thin-red-line/
https://youtu.be/9qHAOY7C1go - Shaun of the Dead
https://youtu.be/S2wL9AawlDA - The Thin Red Line
https://youtu.be/VrKbMRDHR7E - Fargo
https://youtu.be/9qHAOY7C1go - Shaun of the Dead
https://youtu.be/S2wL9AawlDA - The Thin Red Line
https://youtu.be/VrKbMRDHR7E - Fargo