SOUND ANALYSIS WITHIN TRAILERS- MUSIC AND EFFECTIVE DIALOUGE
The trailer has to have impact to give the audience insight on the type of film they're watching. It needs to be intriguing for people to continue watching, and audio plays a hugely important role in this.
Why is music important?
- It creates a particular atmosphere
- Conveys the character's feelings
- We get a sense of the genre
- Builds tension
Sound was necessary throughout the majority of the trailer and without it we wouldn't of got the same effect. We also layered sounds to create a greater overall impact, highlighting suspense and building the expectations of our audience. Sound throughout the trailer will be applied, ultimately leading the final shot which will have little to no sound, as this transition from loud to quiet leaves a lasting impact on the audience.
Sound in Horror
What makes horror creepy? When there is a striking difference on what you see and what you hear, it confuses the brain as we are confronted with juxtaposition- the fact that two things are being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. A classic example is the lullaby, as we associate it with the safety of childhood, but then as seen in the woman in Black trailer, it takes a dark and sinister turn.
High frequency sounds are usually created by small things and so the brain automatically thinks of something unthreatening. In the shower scene from Physco, the high strings correspond to the movement of the knife, creating a noise the almost sounds like screams of help. The audience therefore feels more empathy towards the victim.
Low frequency has the opposite effect, as its often associated with something big and menacing. Low woodwinds are typically used for this, an example being the classic jaws theme. The simple alternating pattern of two notes creates a tense atmosphere without the need of the shark being on screen. However, having music constantly within the scene can cause ear fatigue, and as said by Claude Debussy, "Music is the space between the notes." The contrast between loud and soft is much more effective than if played throughout. |
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Jump scares
As an iconic characteristic in horror, jump scares are made more effective if subtle layer of music leads up to it as it creates that false sense of security. If a scene goes to silence, the brain automatically recognises that something is going to happen.
Combing sounds including real life examples to create a new sound can be very effective, as seen this jumpscare from Jaws:
As an iconic characteristic in horror, jump scares are made more effective if subtle layer of music leads up to it as it creates that false sense of security. If a scene goes to silence, the brain automatically recognises that something is going to happen.
Combing sounds including real life examples to create a new sound can be very effective, as seen this jumpscare from Jaws:
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Creating new sounds: - Reversing sounds through editing such as human speech - Reverb creates a echoing ghost voice - Panning- sound comes from the source (usually the monster) -Using household objects like a camera reel, metal surfaces, fans for a humming or whistling effect |
Examples in trailers
Dialogue
As a phycological horror, we wanted to include dialogue to convey what our killer felt but also because it is used in most controversial horror trailers. It will help explain what is going on and gives a hint to the audience of what the character may be going through in the film. it identifies the conflicted nature of our killer and hints to what urges him to kill. First we planned an original speech for Nathan to narrate. Then as we filmed him talking, we allowed him more freedom and the dialogue extended as he improvised some of the lines. It made his speech more natural and the audience still gets a strong feeling or regret and pain from the character. We put dialogue throughout our trailer in a way that complimented our specific storyline. It fitted well with the different shots and scenes and gave the trailer an edge, increasing anticipation and fear. |
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Music
We wanted music that would build tension and suspense for the duration of the trailer. Unconventionally sourced from a game, we decided on a piece of music containing sounds such as evil laughing and murmured voices. It synchronised well with our trailer and the dialogue we overplayed onto it. Music within the trailer also becomes part of the film's identity and can even hint to the genre of the film. The music we used sounds mysterious and relates to the genre by being ambiguous. We decided not to use music with lyrics as this would obscure the dialogue we'd originally planned on using. In some trailers, music with lyrics is effective when it links to the plot of the film, for example "Mad World" was used in the trailer for the 2015 remake of 'The Crazies." |
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