sound analysis within trailers- music and effective dialogue
When it comes to any genres of movies, sound should be the most essential piece to the trailer. Sound is important as it can change a situation in the scene and also represent a character. These sounds can be music, dialogue and sound effects. When it comes to horror, you'd need to have music that fits the title. So when we think of horror we think of suspense, spooky and chills running down our spine. Therefore a soundtrack that is suspenseful and sounds creepy would fit perfectly with the title. With the pace of the soundtrack being slow, this will create an eerie vibe. However using up-beat fast paced music, will make your horror look more like a comedy as it turns the situation of being scared to being happy. Using soundtracks will affect the audience's feelings, depending on the type of music and it's pace. Dialogue in a sequence creates a context for the audience. Dialogue, unlike sound track, can be used partially during the sequence or it can be applied in every clip. Voice-over includes dialogue, but the voice-over person can be in the original clip if they wanted. Communication will create the environment for the sequence, and will help the audience acknowledge the situation. Sound effects improve and add a feel of the whole sequence. These effects can apply more sounds to a clip or it can be used to enhance sounds excising in the clip. If the sound of the clip is difficult to hear in the production. Consequently if there were no sounds in any sort of production. In our trailer would not look real and as effective, as it is without added soundtrack and sound effects.
Our group decided to watch lots of trailers in the obvious sub-genre, paranormal; to see if the sounds in each trailer are most common or different. After this research of multiple horror movies in multiple sub-genres. We established that most of them use eerie music in the background; which is non-dietetic. But also, there is alot of face pace movement in the trailers, as each scene is being shown towards the end. Therefore No Pulse took this idea, and applied this to our trailer. An eerie suspenseful music that starts to get more face paced near the end.
Our group decided to watch lots of trailers in the obvious sub-genre, paranormal; to see if the sounds in each trailer are most common or different. After this research of multiple horror movies in multiple sub-genres. We established that most of them use eerie music in the background; which is non-dietetic. But also, there is alot of face pace movement in the trailers, as each scene is being shown towards the end. Therefore No Pulse took this idea, and applied this to our trailer. An eerie suspenseful music that starts to get more face paced near the end.
paranormal activity: the ghost dimension
In the beginning of this trailer a woman in the background is speaking, since she is speaking and the two girls are aware of this sound this sound would be diegetic. Therefore I wouldn't class this sound as a narrator, as a narrator is non-diegetic. The tone and pitch of the woman sound normal, which gives an effect to the audience; as they wouldn't have any emotion or think much of the situation. The two girls in the video's voices sound normal; these girls ask questions to two of the men in the room. Immediately the audience and the men begin to get suspicious and frightened. A little girl appears in the scene and her voice is high-pitched, which is normal for a little girl. The two girls in the video can identify and hear these men, which the men begin to be scared, then a quick sound effect of a 'boom' plays before little girl walks in room; this is the point where the audience feel a tension.. Once the girl sneeze, the two girls in the video 'bless her'; by then the two men start to worry immensely. Once this happens the girls start screaming before the video stops with fuzzy black and white static. A little girl appears in the scenes and her voice is high-pitch which is a normal tone for a little girl's voice. The background music in the scene sounds eerie and low. The effects eerie and low music make the audience feel tense and immediately they feel a suspense Each time titles appear a sound effect plays of high-pitched piano keys. One of these men discover a big old camera, that can detect sounds and creatures that a normal camera cannot see. The music then starts to become more loud and suspenseful whilst trailer is playing and situations start to get more tense. The little girl starts repeating words backwards which was 'Bloody Mary', the music stops at this scene then jumps back into loud suspenseful music when mirror cracks; and little girl looks back at father. The suspenseful loud music jumps to emphasis the situation, which is tense and terrifying. Near the end of the trailer, the little girl spells 'Bloody Mary' backwards again in the background. This was effective as most of the audience know who 'Bloody Mary' is, and for the name to be said backwards makes the situation sound even more creepy and frightening.
ouija: origin of evil
During the trailer, the main sounds that were used to help elevate and create a tense and terrifying atmosphere, which the provided help top establish that. From the start of the trailer, the sounds provided was peaceful and light and also with the soundtrack of happy; joyful music. The reason behind this is that it presented/ support (TODOROV's theory) of a happy beginning where it sets the normality of a particular family, friends and or situation. This then changes within a particular scene where everything is ruined, in comparison from the start of the trailer/film. Another added sound is the piano, which is played at a soft melody; that was filled with long spaces to create suspension of what's to happen. When the climax of the trailer is shown, the sound then heightens which is used in a way to frighten the audience with the sudden change is sound, becoming more dramatic.
woman in black
At the beginning of the trailer, its starts with a suspenseful and eerie sound track to create a discomforting environment. After a few seconds, a children's toy is played which connotes the idea of innocence and purity, but as it quite calm ad slow its builds the intense feeling. The music is played in the same movement of the toys; for instance on every chime the scene will cut into the next scene. This occurs during the trailer so its a continues reminder for the audience that children play an important role in the film. The tune is also repetitive which suggests the Woman in Black is always there.
Near the end of the trailer, the trailer obtains a faster pace making the sound very minimal. In these scenes, an audience would predict to hear the diegetic sounds of the fire, rain and shrieking of the characters yet the music box must continues to play. The music box tune is in the same series as it doesn't fit any of the actions o the screen. This makes the audience feel uneasy as what they're seeing an hearing are two opposite things. Therefore, the audience is encouraged to use their creativity to think bout what could be on screen. The silence used near the end of the trailer, creates tension at the start and shows at the finish how the scene is suspenseful. TODOROV's narrative structure is used from the silence to show how there isn't a balance of power from the audience and the silence. Furthermore, silences too encourage viewers to se their creativity.
Near the end of the trailer, the trailer obtains a faster pace making the sound very minimal. In these scenes, an audience would predict to hear the diegetic sounds of the fire, rain and shrieking of the characters yet the music box must continues to play. The music box tune is in the same series as it doesn't fit any of the actions o the screen. This makes the audience feel uneasy as what they're seeing an hearing are two opposite things. Therefore, the audience is encouraged to use their creativity to think bout what could be on screen. The silence used near the end of the trailer, creates tension at the start and shows at the finish how the scene is suspenseful. TODOROV's narrative structure is used from the silence to show how there isn't a balance of power from the audience and the silence. Furthermore, silences too encourage viewers to se their creativity.
in conclusion
In our trailer, From Me to You, we liked the theory of TODOOV; being that in the beginning the audience are able to tell the normality of the family and situation. With the background music being happy music used in the recent trailer 'Ouija: Origin Of Evil'; but then in a particular scene where the girl looks through an eyeglass to see a shadow, then this shadow violently putting their hand in the girl's throat. Making her bend backwards and become possessed. The music the stops, at this scene; then after the scene in enters eerie and tense soundtrack. The dramatic sound effects of face paced music near the end, we found effective as it would build drama and suspension.
MR