Sound

We have been looking at sound and the importance of it in films recently. There are so many different sound elements in a film sequence that is easier to the group them into certain 'types'. A very simple way to identify and divide the difference sounds is as follows:

• Dialogue- all the words and vocal expressions of the actors
• Music- the music soundtrack that may be in parts or all of the sequence
• Effect- other sounds such as footsteps, gunfire, car for example.

Diegetic and Non- Diegetic

Diegetic:
Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: 

• voices of characters 
• sounds made by objects in the story 
• music represented as coming from instruments in the story space

Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world 
Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame. 

Non- diegetic:
Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action: 

• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space. 

Music helps to create the mood in a piece. However, we watched an extract from the film called Huger. This is a very powerful piece as there wasn't any sound. This isn't common in a film as although we may not always be aware of it, there is always normally some kind of sound. In this film extract there was limited dialogue but the focus was non diegetic sounds as the sound effects were added for dramatic effect such as deep breathing, footsteps and doors clicking. All these sounds made the scene more serious and mysterious as all our focus was on the sound of Bobby's breath.
I will use the idea of non diegetic sound in my own opening as I want to create a sense of isolation and tension. Silence will help me do this with little dialogue and more dramatic effects.