Unit 38: Soundtrack/ Unit 4: Manage a Project

Wednesday 11th September 2019

Mood, Meaning and Atmosphere

Prison Break (S1, E21)
In the escape scene, the prisoners are all waiting in line as Lincoln is the first one to climb across the rope on to the outer walls surrounding the prison. This scene is full of tension and suspense as it is what the whole series has been leading up to and in the scene there is an ongoing soundtrack in the background which sounds like something knocking against a tin and also what I think is a bass drum for that tension. Also the sound effects of the pipe creaking from the weight of them climbing the rope they used to get across with adds to the massive build up to. that point. There a quite a few close ups of their faces as they are breathing heavily and have wide eyes from the thought of being caught trying to escape and quite a few medium shots of Michael checking his watch as he worked out they only have a certain amount of time to escape. Westmoreland also tells Michael about the $5 million dollars that he stole decades ago and after he's revealed the location and the actual amount he did take, the camera cuts to each prisoner in the room and on each time there is a daunting bass sound on each prisoner as there are prisoners in there who can't be trusted once outside of Fox River Penetentionary. Also in-between the scenes it goes back and forth between the wardens office where Michael locked him up in his own cupboard showing the audience how close they are to getting caught. At the point where it's reached the climax in the scene, as Michael touches the rope, the floodlights turn on and the music immediately becomes extreme, fast and dramatic. Also the look in Lincolns eyes as his brother Michael climbs across is fear and desperation as it's his brother and it just adds to the ongoing angst in the scene.


Peaky Blinders (S1 E1)
In the very first scene, with Tommy Shelby in, there is a soundtrack (in sync with the horse he's riding whilst it's moving forward) that almost is screaming dread and fear and it only stops as the horse stops moving forward so that Tommy can talk to two Asian people. There's also a constant kind of smooth chilling noise that adds to it which is like the sort that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. There are also definitely some violins that join in at the end as well adding to the uneasy atmosphere Tommy has created with his presence in the street because as at this point everyone is running away to the side of the streets so as not to annoy Tommy as he's well known for his violence and mannurisms. Also the pace that Tommy is moving on the horse is moving at is slow which gives off a big air of a confident man.
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Friday 20th September 2019

Children of Men

Scene 1 
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=55&v=wCTgUq6hzUk)

This opening scene of the film uses every day noises you'd hear on a busy London street, as soon as the first scene comes up, (52 Seconds) like the sounds of tyres screeching, cars honking and the sound of engines) to give the film that sense of reality and everyday mood and atmosphere. Also the first scene being in a cafe in the middle of London also offers you that every day lifestyle theme for these characters. Through the opening credits the news report of the death of the youngest man on the planet is already playing with the words "Day one thousand of the siege of Seattle" which sets in early to tell the audience that some sort of war or conflict has been going on in the world that has been causing trouble telling you this film isn't going to be a world in which everything is perfect. Also when the news are reporting the death of Diego Ricardo (1:22) there's classical sad music that starts playing as the whole world is mourning at this loss and this music can also be used to foreshadow something in films. Also that classical music fades out, which is a slight use of sound bridge, as soon as Theo walks out of the Cafe into the streets of London where the sound of the streets takes over. At the end of the scene when Theo walks out into the street and the bomb goes off in the cafe that he just walked out of there's a ringing sound that takes over everything else with a screaming woman walking out of the smoke from the cafe holding what looks like her arm that came off from the explosion and then it cuts to the Credits and the name of the film. Leaving that final image in your mind of the chaos.

Scene 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjFHqohaHYU

This scene which is all a one shot take is all of Theo trying to escape from the battle and the war between soldiers. From the start of the scene there is sinister music playing in the background of the scene (0:08 seconds) and it creates a really sinister atmosphere and it carries on right the way through the scene as well giving that continuity of despair and also that feeling that Theo could be about to be killed at any given moment as the camera shoots down a dark and dirty alleyway as the group run through to escape, looking like silhouettes from the lighting. Most of the time the camera is filming from behind the shoulders (0:23) on looking the mess that is unfolding in front of their eyes as soldiers and refugees are dying and debris from explosions is everywhere with the sound of gunfire, bullets, screams, moans, cars and trucks and that is all creating a dangerous and fearful atmosphere. Also the baby crying comes after a lot of shooting and explosions and then the baby's noise slowly fades into the sound mix (5:27) and then Theo gets up the stairs and meets them again after they were separated (6:09).

Scene 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoWvE383hm4

This scene here is about Kee giving birth to her baby that is the going to be youngest person in the world so it is quite a major moment in the film and the sound mix is interesting. The scene stats with Theo taking care of Kee as she is about to I've birth and the sound of her breathing is loud as she goes through the pain of giving birth (0:25). Another important establishing sound to notice are the dogs barking in the background of the sound mix that you can hear from the beginning of the scene (0:00) and the barking gets louder and louder and is in sync with Kee's moans as she almost, then eventually, gives birth and this emphasises the importance of the scene as the child comes out of Kee's vagina. The dialogue between Theo and Kee is frantic and high as Kee is going through what is probably one of the most painful experiences a human can endure and Theo sounds stressed hasn't got much clue of what to do as he is't a doctor and doesn't look like the type of guy who would know what to do in that situation as he's a big muscular man who, for most of the film, is protecting everyone from harm. By the time Kee gives birth (1:36) there is an emotional, classical type of music that fills the scene and it has to be the type of music to give you the chills as it is an important moment in this futuristic era that this film is set in.
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Friday 27th September 2019

Animation: 'Monsters Inc' 

Scene 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCr5ofFhDRM

The first scene in Monsters Inc. is the first human scare that we see and it has a lot of effective use of sound effects and soundtracks all being Non Diegetic as it is an animation. The first being the the sound of the night, like owls hooting, as the child sleeps peacefully in the bed. The door creaks open as the monster creeps into the room and a creepy, slightly sinister sound plays as his arm reaches into the room. The music calms down as he realises it's just a dressing gown and as his shadow goes over the bed that creepy music plays again. Then as the camera lowers down to under the bed and the monster opens his bright purple eyes the music becomes more daunting and dark as he stands up slowly and spreads his claws to scare the child. Then as the child screams that music stops as the monster screams at the child himself and starts falling all over the bedroom and kicking footballs and falling over closets and children's toys because as it's a children's film it needs to have that element of childish behaviour and stupidity to make it fun to watch for the children.

Scene 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0EqRnHEFOg

Monsters Inc is a Disney animation film about Monsters who have to go into the human world to scare kids which gives the monster world power so that they can survive. This scene where they all go off to work has a soundtrack of all the monsters who assist the 'scarers' and it has a quick pace as they are all setting up the doors for the days work and the meaning and mood gives the audience a sort of routine/everyday vibe. As it's an animation basically everything in the scene will be edited in making it all Non Diegetic sound like the sound of the can bumping against metal for the human screams to be collected in. As it is set in a factory there are lots of grinding, metallic sounds you may hear in a workplace and the whirring of lifts going up to bring the doors down. As the Scarers come out to do their jobs the music slows down, into a soundtrack to make them look like there important people in the room, along with a slow motion scene as they walk up the scare floor to the doors. The day to day music carries on even when there is dialogue between scarers and their assistants.

Scene 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPaTaEN2wxY

At the end of the film, when the human child Boo has to be sent back to the human world the music is sad and emotional as Boo and Sully get attached to one another over the course of the scene and the music is very slow with an element of fun to match the excited nature that Boo brings to the film. When Sully leaves the room you can see the tears in his eyes as he turns back for a final look as the scene cuts to Boo in her bed. The dialogue is sad as you can see that Sully is trying to hold back the tears and control himself but he can't help but play and mess around with her one last time as he tucks her into bed and says goodbye and the scene is quite touching as Boo doesn't want hi to go as it's the last time that they will see each other as her door will be shredded up. More effective dialogue is when she goes to the door and opens it and says "Kitty...?" and there's just the cupboard there as the doors been destroyed.

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Wednesday 2nd October 2019

Stacey Dooley: 'Kids Selling Drugs Online'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDHf1D4XKUQ


This documentary was all about the younger generation shifting drugs around in typical areas like Croydon and even Maidstone which you wouldn't really expect to hear about drugs, especially with kids as young as 12/13. Particularly in this documentary, whenever she goes to meet one of the young dealers there is a slightly daunting ambience building as it must be quite nerve racking meeting someone off of the internet, let alone for drugs, so it just offers it that bit extra for the audience to get that sense of realism of what Stacey is doing and what kind of atmosphere and mood there is there at the time. She also uses realism by using non-diegetic sounds when she's speaking to them face to face and its just the background noises that are being picked up from the hidden camera that we hear helping to show the audience the reality of the situation that has been allowed to happen. There are also lots of sound effects embedded into the documentary, particularly where she is talking/texting with the drug dealers to meet up with them so that they can discuss the young people's situation and how they got into it and why and there is that typing sound you can hear on your phone.

The spoken word content consisted of South London accents and slang that people around there will hear and recognise and relate but maybe not be involved in that scene but it will make it realistic instead of dressed up and unrealistic. The voiceovers and in-between parts where she's talking directly to the audience is her giving her opinion and reflecting on what she's just experienced when she met the two 16 year old dealers in Maidstone and Croydon.