Planning sound - Miss Miller

If films didn't have sounds it would ineffective, the sound is what makes the film feel realistic they make the audience aware of everything in the film world as well as building their emotions. Planning is essential to do when organising our opening sequence, we can elaborate on how we want to be effect and also on what where the best place to use them would be. The sounds almost always links in with the shot on screen, they relate to what the audience are seeing, and evolve on the feelings the audience feel.

Non-diegetic


At the beginning of the opening sequence we have added  non-diegetic sound, it is as the girls are walking down the pathway and then go their separate ways, it also stay for some of the section and Cathryn is walking down on her own. throughout this scene there is going to be music playing, we have chosen an eerie, slow track which isn't going to be played to loud. We picked this because we thought it was best when creating the suspense and tension for our film. By using this non-diegetic sound we wanted to emphasis on the fact that the victim is becoming an easier target further and further into the opening sequence as she gets deeper in to forest and separate from her friends and only chance of help. The suspense built makes this sound technique conventional because it is the most effective emotions to have within in a thriller film, it engages the audience and leave them with an enigma. The audience become intrigued and in suspense about the action that are being foreshadowed in the film, they also feel slightly sympathetic for Cathryn as they can she her vulnerability.

Silence

There first sound we are going to use is silence, this is when there is barley any sound in the scene, so there is either little sound to completely no sound at all. My group are going to use this as Cathryn (our victim) has left her friends and is alone walking through the forest. The scene is not going to absolutely silent there is going to be natural back ground sounds from the setting for example there could be falling leaves or birds. We are looking to create a sense of loneliness and vulnerability for the victim or to show the audience that she is far away from any help, this sound emphasising on her isolation. This is conventional as she is the stereotypical victim and the sound we are adding to the scene emphasises this by showing her as an easy target. It makes it audience fear for Cathryn, it also builds suspense for them adding to further actions in the opening sequence.

Off screen

My group and I decided to use an off screen sound also as Cathryn has left her friends and is on her own walking through the forest. We are going to use crunching leaves in the pattern of footsteps, which the audience cant see the source of. My group chose to use this sound because we believe it will add to the tension of our opening sequence, it will do this by explaining to the audience that our victim is not alone and that she could be in danger. It portrays he innocence and vulnerability. The unknown footsteps are mysterious and intriguing which engages the audience to concentrate on the films surroundings, this then build suspense and adds to the shock and surprise. This is conventional because of enigma it leave with the audience as the are engaging with the film. The footsteps also allow the audience to build and relationship with the Cathryn as they feel sympathetic for her because she is on her own with no help making an easy target for the antagonist.


Parallel


Another sound technique that is going to be included in our opening sequence is parallel sound, we are going add this to the scene when Cathryn catches a glimpse of the antagonists trick figure. As she turns around and to see the fake silhouette of her murderer she starts to panic, this is when the heavy breathing of her becoming alarmed begins. We chose to have parallel sound in our sequence because we thought it added to the characters emotions as well as the audiences. We hoped to create stronger rapport with the character and audience by making the scene as effective and possible and making the emotions of the characters extremely clear. This sound is conventional to the thriller genre as it builds the stereotypical effects for the audience, it creates suspense and leaves an enigma, making the audience want to continue watching. The audience again feel sympathetic for the victim as result of the sound element, it makes it clear to them that she is worried and beginning to panic. This makes them what her to find help, but they know that she is isolated and in a lot of danger.

Adding these sound into our opening sequence creates macro-elements and deeper meaning into the actions and scene. The sound we have chosen create effective emotions and reactions from the audience, they make the film more intriguing and exciting whilst watching it. They add to the conventions of a thriller by build on the audiences emotions and leaving them with an enigma. The sound planning and preparation was useful for my group and it because it aloud us to think in depth about how we wanted the sounds to react with the audience and how we wanted them to add to their emotions and the characters emotions.