Editing: Sound Alterations

• When editing our film opening 'Locust Toybox - So 2005' was used as our introductory music.
• When the music was applied to footage it became apparent that it didn't work.
• After the thought that it didn't work I asked peers for their opinion.
• They agreed as well as saying that the music sounded 'too medieval' for the sequence.

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• As an alternative to the non-diegetic soundtrack I thought that diegtic sounds of the environment would provide a better opening to set the scene rather that the non-diegetic music.
• Seeing as the film opening starts on a bridge over a busy road, it made sense for traffic to be in place.
• The diegetic sounds of traffic are more effective as it builds and fades into the non-diegetic soundtrack. 
• This provides a build in tension with the start of a seemingly normal scene which progressively builds in tension and horror.
• Below is the diegetic traffic sound effects that we decided on as a group.

Recording Sounds

Recording More Sounds.

When we continued to edit our final film opening we realised that we needed one more sound in order for the audience to know what was happening in the sequence.

We had to record the sound of a purse falling onto the ground and so we went to a quiet place and recorded this using an actual purse a few times in order to get the right sound effect.

Soundtrack

• When searching for uncopyrighted music, we found tracks created by David Firth, and felt that the tracks 'Mortician's Wife' and 'so 2005' would be effective in out opening.

• I chose the track 'so 2005' as I was inspired by the use of contrapuntal sound in the opening sequence of the film 'The Woman in Black', in which the music has a positive tone, and contrasts with the sinister images seen in the sequence.

• 'Mortician's Wife' is more effective for the second half of the sequence, as its ominous tone is more pronounced.  This is useful for our sequence, as we need the tension to build towards the end of the sequence, in which the killer approaches their victim.

• However, I asked peers for feedback on this use of sound, and some stated that the slow pace of the music contrasted too heavily with the fast, jumpy pace at which the shots change.
• Therefore, I feel that another upcopyrighted piece of music may need to be used.

'Glitch' Non-Diegetic Sound

• As the flashbacks occur in our opening, non-diegetic 'glitch' sound effects can be heard, to emphasise the contrast between the happiness surrounding the victim, and the horror surrounding the killer.
• These glitch sound effects were found on vimeo:

• I also created glitch sound effects by warping recorded sounds, using garageband.
• These sounds are parallel to the flashback shots that occur within the sequence.

• Initially, the sound effects are quiet, but grow in volume as the sequence continues, to give the sequence a 'jumpy' mood.

• Overall, I feel that these non-diegetic sounds are effective as they contrast with the calm mood in the beginning of the sequence and therefore create a sinister ambience.  Furthermore, the flashback shots are less confusing and out of place when paired with the sounds.

Recording of Sounds

For our film opening we would be needing some diegetic sounds to overlay on top of our non-diegetic sound we will have throughout the film opening.

First of all we decided to record basic footsteps to use in the film opening. We waited until our surroundings were quiet and then had one of us walk down a corridor whilst the other recorded the sounds that were made. We ended up with having two sets of recordings for the footsteps as one sounded better than the other in some ways, it was louder and seemed to be more realistic.



The next diegetic sound we recorded was that of a door opening. We found a fairly old door that would make a lot of noise that we could capture when we were to open it. The noise it made was very realistic when we listened back to the recording.




The final sound we recorded was of the same door closing. We used the same door so that it would sound similar to when it was being opened but instead in reverse to portray that fact that the door would be closing instead of opening like in the previous sound clip.




Evaluation.

• Overall I believe the sounds were quite well recorded and sounded like we wanted them to.
• There may be some fuzzy sounds that can be heard in the background from the recorder so we may need to consider re-recording again
• The sounds we recorded were what we needed for our film opening.

Sound Deconstruction: Se7en

The sound I will be deconstructing is the non diegetic music from the opening sequence of 'Se7en'.

• The sound is parallel to the unsettling images shown onscreen, reinforcing the psychological horror genre.
• There is a high pitched, fast paced beat in the background that is present throughout the entire sound and is one of the most regular elements of the sound.
• Throughout the sequence, a distorted squealing sound can be heard that is grating and will shock the audience listening.
• Static can also be heard at various points during the sequence, which makes the music sound more disjointed and unsettling.
• Before the music noticeably intensifies at 1:13, echoing synth notes can be heard. These sound like high pitched vocalising, which juxtaposes with the other harsh distorted noises present and creates a jarring effect.
• At 1:13, electric guitar riffs are added to the music, which then intensifies as the sounds get louder and faster.
• More electric guitar riffs can be heard towards the end of the sequence, which build in volume in a crescendo and give the music a frantic, disjointed feel.

This deconstruction is useful as we can use this as a reference when we create our final soundtrack for our film opening. This sequence uses shocking, distorted sounds to shock and unsettle the audience, which we can incorporate into our own soundtrack to make it more successful.

Soundtrack Test

• As our group struggled to find an un-copyrighted track that would be suitable for our opening sequence, we felt that composing our own track would have better results.
• I have created a basic soundtrack test, using Garageband, which will be developed further after more editing has been done.
• I felt that it would be best for our opening if the track started off slow and quiet and grew louder as the tension in the sequence builds.
• This short soundtrack test includes the quiet beginning and the louder ending.
• I also included white noise sound effects (created by scraping the microphone) that will be synchronous with the flashbacks in our opening.

Overall, I feel that this track must be developed further in order to be effective.  However, this cannot be done until a greater amount of editing has been completed, as it is important that the soundtrack is synchronous with the sequence.

Recording Sounds

I experimented with recording sounds to add to our footage during the editing process to emphasise particular sounds that may not be audible in the footage. I recorded these sounds with household items on my phone.




I created this sound by taking a knife out of my cutlery drawer and scraping it against the metal inside of the drawer as I did so. This sound could be used in a scene where our antagonist sharpens his tools, or removes them from their hiding place. I recorded this sound in my kitchen, so there was some noticeable background noise that interfered with the recording and so it was not very effective.



I recorded myself turning the pages in a notebook to create this sound, which would be used in a scene where our antagonist looks through his diary that contains photos and information about past victims. This recording was the most successful as there is no background noise interfering with the sound and it sounds authentic.




The last sound was created by rustling the branches of my Christmas tree, as every time I tried to record bushes and trees in an outdoors setting there was natural background noise that interfered with the recording. This sound would be used in the stalking scenes of our opening, where the antagonist follows her victims before she kills them. The tree I used was ineffective as it made a different sound to bushes and foliage being moved around and rustled, so this recording was not successful. There is also background noise as I recorded this in my living room and there were other people present.

Evaluation
The recordings are not of the best quality because:

• My phone was the only device I had that could record audio
• There is background noise in two of the recordings
• They might not sound authentic

To improve, next time I should ensure that there is as little background noise present as possible so the sound in the recordings is not distracted from. I should also find another device that records sound in a higher quality.

Killer's Journal

• Once again I kept 'American Horror Story' opening titles as a source inspiration in terms of both the non-digetic sound and also the editing
• By using 'American Horror Story' as inspiration it will help create an uncomfortable ambience to our film opening with the use of the fast paced editing and creepy music

Editing

• When producing this short sequence, I tried to keep the video clips short to give this jumpy and unsettling atmosphere to the sequence.
• Only used straight cuts for a more blunt effect
• Edited for no continuity of motion to portray the ominous killer.
• Within the sequence I shot several 'pages' to show the variety of entries the killer would make such as a daily log of when the killer watches their victim.

• In this screenshot of one of the killer's pages I have focused on the tracking of the times and whereabouts of the victim to show the killer's keen interest in them.
• Used an extreme close up shot to show that the killer keeps the track of the times and the people who they are with.
• Used tungsten light. 
• Achieved this by the room being in the dark with a single desk lamp on over the page.

• Another page idea I looked into was a map of the victim's route home from school.
• This page inspiration came from the killer's journal in 'The Lovely Bones'.
• On this map I have marked out the victim's home, school and friends' homes along with the direction her other friend's live
• There is also a route of the victims route home to show where she walks with her friends and where she walks alone.
• Close up shot used to show a basic layout of the map. 
• There is also several extreme close up shots in the sequence like at the beginning.
• Also used tracking shots to follow the lines which are the victim's route home.

• To show the killer's through research into the victim's life I did a page on their friends full names and addresses to show the obsession to know every detail about where the victim could be and who they know.
• Used an extreme close up shot to show the details

• This page in the journal looked into weapons and which is more efficient 
• Didn't put to much detail into the page because it is still undecided what kind of death the victim will have.
• Extreme close up shot of noose to show weapon of choice

• Only showed the killer's hand in this sequence to keep an element of mystery and anonymity to the killer which would provoke the audience to question who they are
• In the sequence I have the juxtaposition of the hand movements speed up and slowed down to show the killer's unpredictable nature
• In the scenes with the hands I increased the contrast as it the original looked to washed out.
• In the scenes with the killer's hand I made it appear as though they are obsessive and creepy by looking like they are tracing and caressing the map.

• This scene is where the killer is circling their victim's home. This basically pinpoint where they live to the audience
• Here I used an extreme close up shot to show the action of the circling and location.
• In the stages of editing I sped up the scene and spilt it into several clips all of which are still continuously flowing but changed every other clip's colour by adjusting the colour levels, exposure and saturation.
• This can be see at 0.14
• I feel this scene ties into the inspiration of 'American Horror Story'

Non-Diegetic Music

• To create the non-diegetic music for the sequence I used the music software 'Logic Pro'
• For this sequence I tried to make an eerie piece of non-diegtic music to accompany the journal sequence
• Using the 'American Horror Story' opening titles as inspiration I gave the creepy, ominous ambience by using atmospheric sounds
• In terms of instruments I used two synthesisers which played chords which linger
• With the two synthesisers I layered them to create a more textured piece of music.

Evaluation

• Overall I think the short sequence was a fair success but can be improved a lot more in many aspects before making the film opening
• I feel there should be more in depth look into the victim, maybe include an image
• To improve on the editing I think maybe to experiment more with different techniques and maybe some clips of the victim as a parallel 
• There should also be more in depth investigation into the killer's techniques of killing the victim
• The music was also a fair success however could be improved by adding more instruments.
• Another way it could be improved is by possibly added a short snappy and eerie melody
• I think there are aspects of this practical that should be carried forward like the use of the map and notes in the journal inspired by 'The Lovely Bones'

Rerecording Sounds

As some of the last diegetic sounds I created were not successful, I rerecorded one using different materials and in a different location, as well as creating a new sound to replace another unsuccessful one.




I recorded this sound in an outdoors location, so there was some slight background noise but it did not interfere with the primary sound as much as noise in the last recordings did. This sound was achieved by knocking the branches in a bush into each other so the leaves rustled. I made this sound with a particular scene in mind, in which our antagonist stalks her victim.





This sound was created with real tools from a toolbox. I recorded myself taking several metal tools out of the box and knocking them against each other slightly. This sound could be used in a scene where our antagonist selects the tools she will take with her when she stalks her newest victim, as she uses tools as weapons to kill her victims with. I recorded this sound in my living room, but there is no noticeable background noise in this recording, unlike the previous sounds I created in my house. Therefore, this recording is more successful than the ones I made before.

Evaluation
I feel that these sounds are more effective and successful than my previous recordings, because:

• I used more realistic materials
• I was more considerate of potential background noise
• They sound more authentic than some of the previous recordings

To improve, I will use proper recording equipment for the final sounds that will be used in the editing process, so they will be of a higher quality than these ones.

Non-Diegetic sound practical task

This short sound clip is an experimentation with creating a soundtrack for our psychological horror film opening, inspired by the American Horror Story soundtrack.

• The software I used was 'GarageBand.'
• I first of all used the software to create a simple melody in minor key using a string instrument, to set the negative tone of the track.
• I used other 'synth' instruments to create unnatural sounds.
• The static sounds that can be heard were created by blowing air or scraping against the microphone.
• I also recorded breathing and humming sounds and manipulated them:

• On one of the duplications, I lowered the pitch. After recording the sound of breathing/the humming sound, I duplicated the recording two times.
• On the second duplication, I made it a higher pitch.

• To all three of the recordings, I added a 'reverb' effect, to add the the 'unnatural' sound.

Overall, I feel that the task had a decent outcome.  However, unless I further pursue soundtrack creation to achieve more effective results, using uncopyrighted music that has already been created would have a better outcome.

Non-diegetic sound inspiration

American Horror Story soundtrack.

The non-diegetic music in the opening sequence for American Horror Story season 3 (Coven) is parallel to the images on screen.
The loud, static sounds support the 'shock factor' of the images that the audience sees.

• The melody is played on a plucked string instrument in minor key, which gives it an overall negative, 'creepy' tone.
• Furthermore, the melody is played very quietly, so that when the volume suddenly increases, it has an effective impact on the audience (e.g makes them jump).
• These sudden increases in volume can be heard at 0.07 and 0.22.
• Throughout the track, static sounds can be heard.  They come across as unnatural and are a key feature of the disturbing atmosphere of the overall soundtrack.
• At 0.47, many of the sounds become silent.  The audience would interpret this as a sign that the music is coming to an end.  However, at 0.49, the loud, static sounds begin again, after the audience has been lulled into the false sense of calm.  This has the effect of shocking the audience.

I believe that this soundtrack will be a helpful reference when creating a soundtrack for our opening sequence.  The method of using quieter sounds to create suspense and build up, and then using louder sounds to shock the audience is a technique that would be effective in our soundtrack, as the killer will be leading up to a murder and we need to create suspense.
Furthermore, the use of unnatural sounds would be effective in our soundtrack, as it fits with the psychological horror genre.

Music Inspiration

Non-Diegetic

Music used in Psychological Horror:

Donnie Darko

This track used in Donnie Darko is called Carpathian Ridge by Michael Andrews which was used in the opening scene of the film. In the beginning of the film there is use of off-screen thunder as well as this there are sounds of nature such as birds and insects which build up the atmospheric texture to the scene. Soon after we have met the main character a soft piano piece is played. The piece appears to be a prelude. The use of this soft delicate prelude is parallel to the sequence of the mountainous view which is juxtaposed by the sounds of thunder implying there is something underlying which could be quite sinister.

This piece of music here, also used in Donnie Darko has a more ambient approach using what it sounds like synthesisers as the main instrument. The music is good at providing a tense, unsettling and eerie atmosphere which would be of great inspiration to our film opening where we hope to show the past victims of our main character.

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In terms of our own film opening, I feel we could either go down a route in which we source or make an eerie and untuneful piece of non-diegetic music or have a delicate piece in which it develops to become more eerie. If we were to use a delicate and more beautiful piece, when the music was to progress we could layer sounds and tracks onto of the soft music to create an more eerie version of the piece. As for the eerie and untuneful, I feel the theme song to 'American Horror Story' would be of great inspiration due to the use of atmospheric and unsettling sounds featured throughout

I have tried to source some song(s) which we could possibly use:

'Les Silhouettes' is an instrumental which primarily uses the guitar and piano. The instrumental itself has a beautiful and delicate quality which could layers with eerie and atmospheric sounds. The song is quite versatile and can be used for many different types of scenes.

'A Blessed Unrest' is an instrumental which is based around the use of piano and violins. The piece has an underlying eerie tone with the use of violins, which tremble throughout the piece. This instrumental could be an option for our film opening due to the unsettling ambience it gives off.

Dream House Deconstruction

Dream house is a film directed by Jim Sheridan starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts. The film is based around the psychological state of a man called 'Will Atenton' after his family had been murdered. The plot of the film follows his unravelling of what truly happened that night his family were murder and whether he did it or not.

Diegetic 

• Throughout the film 'Dream House' there was an extensive us of diegetic sounds which occurred both on and off screen.
• Within the sequence above there were several diegetic sounds such as: dialogue, whistling wind, heavy footsteps, flick of the light switch as well as the predominant sound which has the biggest impact in the sequence the thud of an awning falling against the panes of the window
• As for the rest of the film they also use music however this is played within in the scene itself making it diegetic
• An example of the point above is when one of the daughter's were playing 'Fur Elise' by Ludwig van Beethoven on the piano

Non-Diegetic

• The non-diegetic music is a score.
• Score meaning it is original music that has been written specifically to accompany a film in this instance the film, Dream house. 
• The music was composed by John Debney and conducted by Robert Ziegler
• The non-diegetic soundtrack has an eerie tone to it with the use of voice
• Predominant use of strings which adds this underlying tone of eeriness which conjures this haunting and powerful effect when used in the film.
• Build up in music which adds tension

• In the sequence above non-diegetic score music has been used to intensify the unravelling of a person called 'Peter Ward'.
• The non-diegetic music is parallel to the sequence.
• The use of the soft piano playing accompanied by long stringed notes creates an atmosphere that is quite somber but leads the audience to be quite apprehensive for what is to come.

'Ghost Ship' Deconstruction

The sequence I will be deconstructing for typography and sound is the opening of 'Ghost Ship'.

Typography

The font is bright pink in colour and looks kitsch and retro as font like this was used in many films circa the 60's and 70's. This is synchronous with the film opening as the opening scene is set in 1962. The bright colour and swooping font conveys a sense of fun, which lulls the audience into a false sense of security as 'Ghost Ship' is a horror film and the tense atmosphere is not made apparent in the first couple of minutes of the opening, making the impending horror even more impactful on the audience.

Sound

The sequence begins with off-screen diegetic music compromised of high strings and piano that is synchronous with a panning shot of a cruise ship. In the next scene the diegetic sound of a woman singing a slow love song is onscreen and synchronous with shots of the singer and people dancing to the music on the ship's deck,creating a relaxed and romantic atmosphere. The singing is overlapped with the diegetic sound of people's general chatter in one scene, reinforcing the relaxed social atmosphere and keeping the audience unprepared for the horror soon to come. Later on in the sequence the now off-screen singing is overlapped with eerie non diegetic music and diegetic sounds of levers cranking and whirring and metal wire grating against more metal. These harsh sounds juxtapose the calm singing and interrupt the previously happy atmosphere while the background music creates a sinister undertone to the singing, foreshadowing the impending horror. The background music intensifies, gradually getting louder than the singing and comprising of tense high string instruments and echoing wind instruments, creating tension and dissipating the previous atmosphere as it's made clear to the audience that something terrible is about to happen. The diegetic sound of metal wire unravelling, snapping and slicing through the air, furniture, and eventually the bodies of the people dancing on the deck overlaps the non diegetic music, followed by the wire vibrating with tension which is synchronous to the sinister background music that has now completely drowned out the previous singing. As a result, the mood from the beginning of the sequence has now changed into a tense, frightening one synchronous with the gory action happening onscreen. The non diegetic background music quietens to a high synthesised note that is overlapped by the grating diegetic sound of the wire swinging back and forth, followed by blood splattering on the floor and people's bodies hitting the floor from where the wire has cut them in half. The last notable sound is of a young girl (the only survivor of the incident) screaming shrilly; the sound of the scream is edited so it sounds slightly echoed which has sinister, supernatural connotations and so is appropriate for the film genre.