Editing our Sound project

We got the sounds into soundtrack pro and started by making the ambient sound, the bottom layer. After this we added wind, leaves rustling and the first few footsteps. We then started editing some sounds and distorting them to create the sounds we wanted and found that the sounds we made reminded us of the original Predator film. Going with this idea we made whatever was making the noises in our film stick to either a roar or strange reverberating clicking sound. We used pans to create a sense of the listener or audience being in the area and gradually increased the sound of the creature in the film so that it appeared to be getting closer, in the first roar the creature sounds like it is a large distance from the protagonist. We like the effect of the wind and how it dies just before the first roar, we found that in horror movies everything goes really quiet right before something loud or shocking happens so we decided to replicate this. Overall I found this editing quite fun as it gave me a chance to be quite creative and experimental with the sounds I had collected.

Reviewing a film: Submarine

This film had a very laid back and subtle style but still managed to hold my interest throughout. There was a lot to be impressed about such as the Directors ability to create such strange characters and situation yet still manage to make you love the characters, always finding something to like about them. Ayoede "breaks the wall" at one point when the protagonist Oliver Tate, directly addresses the audience and talks about a how if there was a film about his life he would hope it would have a lovely crane shot at this moment, but he could probably only afford a zoom (Then the camera zooms out). I thought this was a very brave gag because it goes against conventions of film making but manages to pull it off. I also like the section in which Oliver Tate is spending time with Jordana and he starts to imagine his experiences as memories in real time and the screen turns into a sort of super 8 effect, this was a really nice touch.  The whole film is quite witty and the constant narration from Oliver Tate is actually quite interesting because the character is just slightly strange enough to want to know what he will come out with next. Finally another thing I noticed was that Ayoede likes to use a freeze frame at key moments to allow the audience to pay sole attention to the narration, usually if the protagonist has something interesting or important to say.

The Idea

The distorted Sounds in this project are supposed to purposely seem out of place in the environment therefore causing an element of uneasiness for the audience and the protagonist alike. The ambient sounds will be exactly what the audience will expect to hear and can easily identify with so that they can immediately link with the corresponding sounds and become more engaged from the outset. Also I have noticed when watching horror movies certain sounds, especially heartbeats or breathing are elevated or exaggerated and this alerts the audience to danger, I will be using this technique in my sound project.

Distorted Sounds to collect

- Radiator
- Microwave
- Oven
- Oven Timer
- Sink (Plug hole)
- Door Creaking
- Cutlery on Plates
- Squeaky Stool
- Crunching paper
- Phone Vibrate

List of sounds to collect

- Ambient base track of woods/cemetary near Eccleshall Road
- Twigs snapping, footsteps
- Rustling leafs
- The Wind
- Brushing past trees and bushes
- Wild life
- Insects (crickets)
- Actors voice

Sound project, breakdown of the story

This is what I have in the way of a script or whatever: The Protagonist in this piece is passing through a forest or wood of some sort, casually as you do. As he gets deeper in the sounds become more vivid and he starts to speed up, talking to himself to calm himself in this strange atmosphere. The pace builds and strange distorted sounds keep cutting up the flow of the space causing more fear in the protagonist. The sounds build and build until they come to a loud and sharp end. There will be a prolongued ambient silence until the protagonist gasps for air.

New Project - Sense of Space (Sound project)

I have decided to make a horror piece for my project in which a man is lost in a wilderness and strange sounds that would not belong in that given area will shock and jolt the protagonist as well as the audience. I have decided to exaggerate sounds such as footsteps, breathing and movement as that is what most horror movies that I consider succesful tend to do in my experience. The distorted sounds that break up the feel of the space will be very loud and sharp, almost uncomfortable or even painful to listen too as I want them to evoke a reaction from the audience. I have compiled a list of sounds I wish too collect and planned a time to go and collect them, also I have a script I will be working too but any dialogue will be minimal and not conversational. I have to be careful not to get lost in Cliche so I will be trying to make sure that there is no predictable conclusion as this is a common error in horror movies (Predictability) and I want the audience to be kept guessing if at all possible.