b. Read the texts below.
AN INTRODUCTION TO FILM SOUND
Though we might think of film as an essentially visual experience, we really cannot afford to
underestimate the importance of film sound. A meaningful soundtrack is often as complicated as the
image on the screen, and is ultimately just as much the responsibility of the director. The entire
soundtrack consists of three essential ingredients: the human voice, sound effects and music. These
three tracks must be mixed and balanced so as to produce the necessary emphases which in turn
create desired effects. Topics which essentially refer to the three previously mentioned tracks are
discussed below. They include dialogue, synchronous and asynchronous sound effects, and music.
Let us start with dialogue. As is the case with stage drama, dialogue serves to tell the story and
expresses feelings and motivations of characters as well. Often with film characterization the audience
perceives little or no difference between the character and the actor. Thus, for example, the actor
Humphrey Bogart is the character Sam Spade; film personality and life personality seem to merge.
a
emerges. The viewer sees not an actor working at his craft, but another human being struggling with
life. It is interesting to note that how dialogue is used and the very amount of dialogue used varies
widely among films. For example, in the highly successful science-fiction film 2001, little dialogue was
evident, and most of it was banal and of little intrinsic interest. In this way the film-maker was able to
uacy
of human responses when compared with the magnificent technology created by man and the visual
The comedy Bringing Up Baby, on the other hand, presents practically non-stop dialogue delivered at
breakneck speed. This use of dialogue underscores not only the dizzy quality of the character played
by Katherine Hepburn, but also the absurdity of the film itself and thus its humor. The audience is
bounced from gag to gag and conversation to conversation; there is no time for audience reflection.
The audience is caught up in a whirlwind of activity in simply managing to follow the plot. This film
presents pure escapism largely due to its frenetic dialogue.
Synchronous sound effects are those sounds which are synchronized or matched with what is viewed.
For example, if the film portrays a character playing the piano, the sounds of the piano are projected.
Synchronous sounds contribute to the realism of film and also help to create a particular atmosphere.
of a door being opened may simply serve to convince the audience that the
image portrayed is real, and the audience may only subconsciously note the expected sound. However,
the sound mixer may
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of suspense.
Asynchronous sound effects, on the other hand, are not matched with a visible source of the sound on
screen. Such sounds are included so as to provide an appropriate emotional nuance, and they may
also add to the realism of the film. For example, a film-maker might opt to include the background
arguing couple. The
asynchronous ambulance siren underscores the psychic injury incurred in the argument; at the same
We are probably all familiar with background music in films, which has become so ubiquitous as to be
noticeable in its absence. We are aware that it is used to add emotion and rhythm. Usually not meant
to be noticeable, it often provides a tone or an emotional attitude toward the story and /or the
characters depicted. In addition, background music often foreshadows a change in mood. For
example, dissonant music may be used in film to indicate an approaching (but not yet visible) menace
or disaster.
Background music may aid viewer understanding by linking scenes. For example, a particular musical
theme associated with an individual character or situation may be repeated at various points in a film
in order to remind the audience of salient motifs or ideas.
Film sound comprises conventions and innovations. We have come to expect an acceleration of music
during car chases and creaky doors in horror films. Yet, it is important to note as well that sound is
often brilliantly conceived. The effects of sound are often largely subtle and often are noted by only
our subconscious minds. We need to foster an awareness of film sound as well as film space so as to
truly appreciate an art form that sprang to life during the twentieth century the modern film.
Questions 1-5
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
1. In the first paragraph, the writer makes a point that
A. the director should plan the soundtrack at an early stage in filming.
B. it would be wrong to overlook the contribution of sound to the artistry of films.
C. the music industry can have a beneficial influence on sound in film.
D. it is important for those working on the sound in a film to have sole responsibility for it.
2. One reason that the writer refers to Humphrey Bogart is to exemplify
A. the importance of the actor and the character appearing to have similar personalities.
C. the value of the actor having had similar feelings to the character.
ue to be as authentic as possible.
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