Sound and emotional effect

As I have been studying this module, I have learned more and more about the power of sound in films. Sound is a crucial emotive power in the film world .

‘ Telling a film story, like telling any kind of story, is about creating connections between  characters, places, objects, experiences, and ideas’   (Thom 1999)Sound is used to create these, or at the very least enforce them.  I find that in all film, even those that don’t have ‘stand out’ or ‘remarkable sound design’

Throughout my blog so far I have often mention the fact that ‘sound is used to tell the story’. I feel this very strongly and I think that it is often over looked. How something sounds can change the tone of the film or scene completely. It also has a great impact on how the audience views characters.

One such example that springs to mind is the voice of Galadriel in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’. On top of Cate Blanchet’s deep and powerful voice they have processed it more to make in sound booming and vast. This says a lot about the character. Her voice shows her power and knowledge, cementing her place of authority. This shifts how the audience view her character. As much as it pains me to admit it Women are often viewed in the media as weak and feeble, this sound processing is one of the things that shows the audience that Galadriel is nothing of the sort. The effects of her voice is shocking to the audience, it stands up to the most powerful of any king and I think it is a real driving force to how the audience react to her character with respect and a hint of fear.

Another example of sound creating an emotional reaction is in the Hospital scene in ‘The God father’. There is very little actually shown on screen but the sound in utilised to keep the audience of the edge of their seats throughout. The very low volume drum beat in the background keeps the heart beating and the viewer on edge. There is a physical reaction to these low tomes that the body cannot help. Sound designers use this trick frequently to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. This is a key technique that is used especially in thrillers and horrors.

Music obviously plays a big role in this too. I have previously mentioned my fondness for the ‘requiem for a dream’ soundtrack however I think it is the perfect example to use here. It’s melody pulls at the heart strings of the viewer. It makes the overall emotional experience much more intense.

I think that it is all about gauging a balance between sound track and sound design to create a piece that sticks in the mind. However I do not believe music is an essential and strongly feel that sound design on it’s own can create the same emotional responses as a piece of music. I do think tough music gives a film a different dimension.

 Often I feel sound is overlooked in how effective it is. It is used to create a believable film world thorough Foley and dialogue but it is also a key tool in creating an emotional backdrop to support and enhance the performance and picture.