Planning Sound***

Sound is an important element within the thriller genre that is used to manipulate the emotions of the audience. From researching into the thriller genre, I have identified the conventional sounds used in the genre, to incorporate this in my own production. In my research, I have focuses on the film 'Obsessed' in terms of conventional sound and as a result, my planning will be inspired by the findings I have accumulated from this analysis. Therefore I have planned the sound in my production to create a similar effect to the thriller openings I have analysed. In turn the audience will deem the opening appealing and the production will be a success in itself.

From the analysis of the thriller 'Obsessed', I identified that off screen sound is used to suggest the presence of the antagonist. This creates suspense, as the audience and victim appear unaware of what will happen next, thus making them feel on edge. When Beyonce is looking around the house for the antagonist, off screen sound is used to suggest that the antagonist is in another room; making the Beyonce feel on edge, as she is unaware of where she is however knows she is close. This inspired me to use off screen sound in my own production to create suspense, making the audience on edge. When the victim is in her bedroom all the power in her room will turn off and then she will hear a sound from another room, an example of off screen sound. The off screen will reinforce her vulnerability, as she is vulnerable in her bedroom and the rooms in the house appear unsafe as well which conveys her lack of escape. Off screen sound will be effective in creating suspense as to who is there, and how the victim will escape from them.

I also plan to use non diegetic sound, by editing the footage in Final Cut Pro. As stated before, the film 'Obsessed' was influential in the planning of my own production. When Beyonce is looking for the antagonist, a sound effect has been added through editing to emphasise her looking around. When the camera is looking around the room, the sound fluctuates to highlight the abrupt camera movement, making the visual jumpy and unpredictable. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it makes the audience feel more on edge. I have decided to incorporate this in my own production to create a similar effect. Throughout the entire narrative, we will include a storm sound effect, to reinforce the victim's vulnerability as her surroundings appear unsafe both inside and out which once again, conveys her limited chances of escape. We will also ensure that the sound track fluctuates simultaneously with key moments in the narrative. For example, when the victim opens the door to see if the antagonist the climatic suspense will come to an abrupt stop by the sudden visual and sound thus making a jumpy narrative. In turn this makes the audience on edge as their emotions are manipulated to feel this way.

I also plan to use diegetic sound. Diegetic sound is sound that naturally occurs in correlational to the visual i.e. character tucks in chair, the audience hear the chair being being tucked away by the scrapping across the floor. In my analysis of 'Obsessed', diegetic sound is evident when Beyonce opens the door, as the audience can hear the door squeak. Squeaks are conventional sound in the thriller genre, because they create an eerie atmosphere from the implication that the object has been isolated. Isolation is often evident in the thriller genre as it increases vulnerability and decreases the chances of escape. Furthermore, because the sound is natural, the audience are often familiar with it and therefore increases the narrative's realism, as the audience can relate to it more. Therefore they are more disturbed by the sound as they previously associated the sound with comfort, which has been subverted in the narrative, making them feel on edge. In my production, diegetic sound will be used through the use of a scream. At the end of the opening, when the victim is touched by the unknown antagonist, she turns around and scream to convey her fright. This also reinforces her vulnerability to the audience because she appears weaker than the antagonist through her reaction. Also, screams are also used to disturb the audience as they are sudden and high pitched and therefore appear discomforting.

The last element of sound I have planned is dialogue. Dialogue is evident in the majority of films and therefore is not specifically conventional to the thriller genre. However, dialogue can be effective is creating conventional atmospheres associated with the thriller genre such as suspense. In the film 'Obsessed' dialogue is effective in conveying the victim's lack of knowledge. Although the audience known the antagonist is in her house, the use of dialogue portrays her lack of knowledge, reinforced when she says she is going back home. This effectively creates suspense as it hints at a later conflict, making the audience feel on edge. In my own production, dialogue will also be used to convey the victim's vulnerability. When the victim is in her bedroom, she is on the phone to her boyfriend and will state that she is home alone. Therefore when she hears a sound in the other room, the audience will be aware that there is no help available, thus increasing her vulnerability. Furthermore, the audience will be able to relate to this, as it is common to be home alone and therefore once again, something they associated with comfort will be challenged. Overall, dialogue will be influential in the audience understanding the narrative and therefore being able to relate to it more.

_____________________________________________________

Overall I have planned the sound in my thriller opening. By researching and planning into the sound conventions of the thriller genre, I have gained an understanding that I can interpret and include in my own thriller. The research I have conducted has helped my plan the sound in my own production. Also, my planning the sound, I am also saving time. I will know to make sure that the sound I have planned will be evident when filming i.e. scream, so that I don't have to film again. Furthermore, I will also be aware that I will have to edit sound in the narrative as well, i.e. storm effect, to fulfil the potential the opening has.