The role of sound in title sequences - establishing genre and atmosphere

Listen to the following sequences for a number of different film openings. You will ONLY HEAR the sound design for the title sequence.

Guess which genre each film is and if you can, name the film!

clip 1



clip 2



clip 3



clip 4

Previous Student Examples for Excellent Use of Sound

Look at the 3 student examples below and listen to how the excellent use of sound adds tone, atmosphere and meaning to the images used and the overall plot of the opening.

They are also excellent at most other elements (editing, camera and mise-en-scene) too!!

Identifying Genres - Film Stills

Look at the film stills below and identify which genre the film belongs to.

Twister title sequence - Watch the Titles

Twister title sequence - Watch the Titles

Some interesting title sequences

A Walk in the Woods

  Black Swan

 


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo




Pi




 Memento

 


Shank

  Legally Blonde

Knowing who your target audience is

Watch the short animated video and list all the different features it suggests you need to know about your target audience. 

Although the focus of this video is for running a successful advertising campaign, films are commodities that are sold to specific audiences and so the information here is vital for identifying target audiences for any media product.

Genre and Audience Research - BFI Statistical Yearbook 2013-14

bfi-statistical-yearbook-2014-2.pdf by candifilmstudies

What is more important - sound or image?

Author and screenwriter Sara Caldwell discusses the idea that sound is 50% of a film - if the sound is unsuitable or jarring, the film won't work no matter how well it is filmed and edited.

Have a look at what she has to say...

The impact of layering sound effects and music

Watch the short clip below. Although this clip is taken from a extract of the Star Wars game rather than the film, the same principles of layering sound to create a stimulating, realistic and tense atmosphere in film can be clearly seen.

Watch each section:

• with just sound effects and dialogue
• with just music
• with both sound effects and music - the final mix

See what a difference the 'mix' of the two types of sound makes to the final impact of the sequence. Which do you prefer?

Why sound is important for film

The use of sound can make or break a film - both a professional film and a student production. Sound is vital for introducing the genre, setting the tone and the atmosphere of the film and it also helps to create realism and give clues to the narrative to help the audience submerge themselves (suspend disbelief) into the world of the film.

Watch the first 9.50 mins of the student made documentary below about the importance of sound in film to develop your understanding of why it is such an important and effective technical element of film making.

Secrets of a Movie Sound Designer (lesson 12 - thinking creatively with sound)

How are sounds for films made and why are they so important?

Watch the interview below with a sound designer and answer the questions on the handout. 

Previous student examples of research into different types or categories of title sequences