Sound is an important feature of any film. It helps the audience to connect with a piece and reinforces the information already known through visual imagery. It supports the content that the audience have just witnessed and helps them to suspend belief and adds to the possible interpretation of realism in the plot. Sound be it non diegetic or diegetic adds an extra dimension to a film and often helps to make it a success. In the case of a short film in which the director isn’t able to explore information about the characters and themes of the film as in depth as a feature length would, the music is a strong representation of emotion and conventions of the genre. As short films are artistic by their nature it also conveys the importance of showing the audience information subtly.
The music used within my production was found at http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/ and is royalty free which means it can be used. The pieces I have chosen are from Kevin MacLeod and were chosen due to the tone that exists within them and the fact that they would focus upon the surreal and yet dangerous situation that the characters are in.
A soundtrack is used throughout my short film. It creates an extra dimension to the film and explores the narrative and the emotions that the characters feel. A non diegetic track named “Private Reflection” is played over the film from the beginning till the point of Rhys making his decision. It helps to bridge all of the different scenes and reactions together. The tone of this piece of music is ethereal and strengthens the danger, darkness; as the situation the characters are in is completely unnatural. The base of the music ties all of the voices together, a symbolic gesture of the decision that has to be made. The lone voice that makes up the lead of the piece and performs as a solo for the majority is a representation of the lone choice that Rhys has to make and the fact his decision is the entire premise of the film.
The final track that is being used is “Touching moments three” The soft piano is melodic and is representational of the love that is hidden by both Kathy and Rhys. The simple melody creates strong emotions of sadness which signifies the intense sensations that Rhys is exposed to after having decided his sister’s death. The two tracks are edited so that they link together and portray the contrast of emotion.
Diegetic sound is also crucial to a successful and realistic production, so that the audience can connect to it. Within the production of “two” diegetic sound is found in the dialogue and movement of the characters. An example of this is the friction of rope against skin and the trap door opening. This sound effect is not shown with synchronous action but instead is played over the top of black screen. During the mixing process it will be insure that a balance is correctly found between the diegetic and the non diegetic sound. The soundtrack does not have as much sound perspective as the diegetic actions.
The last piece of sound that is used within “two” is the non diegetic voice over of Lance (The Villain); and at the end of the film Rhys Miller’s. The dialogue at the start conveys Lance’s perverse pleasure about his actions but also highlights the power he has, as he is not required to be at the scene. To the audience this represents the danger and the insanity as well as the choice that they may have to come to terms with. The voice over in the epilogue from both Rhys and Lace conveys the contrast between characters. Lance shows enjoyment and pleasure where as Rhys is broken and dejected. It reinforces the moral message about the difficulty in making decisions, but it also signifies the social genre of the piece. It leaves the audience unsettled by the amalgamation of the soundtrack.
Overall, the soundtrack is used in order to strength the emotions and themes of the film for the audience. The music within itself also acts as a method of advertising, if it features a memorable motif. Within the short film “two” the music is in place to support the action but also to reinforce to the audience the horror of the choice between life and death.
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