2. Starter Task
When watching films we generally take the sound for granted and
assume it is a natural part of the film
However every single sound has been carefully chosen / created,
edited and placed in the film for very specific reasons
Task:
Imagine a busy New York Street scene
You must list all of the sounds you would
expect to hear in a scene like this
Use the whiteboards to mind map your ideas
and then present them to the class

3. Learning Objectives
Identify how silent cinema became
‘talkies’
Introduce Key terms:
Non-Diegetic
Diegetic
Evaluate the use of sound in:
The Godfather
Boogie Nights

4. History of sound in film
Cinema has a longer history with sound than many
of us realise.
The first film was created by Louis Le Prince in 1888.
He shot moving pictures on a paper film using a
single lens camera
The film consisted of people walking across a bridge
in Leeds
The period stretching from the start of
cinema in the mid 1890’s to 1927 has
come to be known as the silent cinema
era
George Melies – The Haunted Caster
(1896)

5. History of sound in film
Filmmakers had attempted to marry sound and image together
the earliest days of cinema
From the inception of motion pictures, various inventors attempted
to unite sight and sound through "talking" motion pictures.
The Edison Company is known to have experimented with this as
early as the fall of 1894 with a film known today as ‘Dickson
Experimental Sound Film’. The film shows a man, who may possibly
be Dickson, playing violin before a phonograph horn as two men
dance

6. History of sound in film
The term ‘silent cinema’ is mis-leading to modern
audiences as early cinema was anything but silent
Live music accompanied films from early on
A Hammond organ or piano would be played by a
pianist live in the auditorium to accompany the
film
Watch Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last
and consider how the inclusion of
a piano track adds to the overall
impact of the short

7. History of sound in film
In 1927 the second major revolution in cinematic
technology took place
The first ‘talkie’ was released
‘The Jazz Singer’ was the first feature
length motion picture with synchronised
dialogue sequences.
It marks the beginning of the ‘talkie’ and the
decline of silent cinema.
Ever since cinema sound has developed and
become an integral part of cinema and
filmmaking

8. Sounds in film
In your note pads write down the different forms
of you cinema sound you can think of
Sound effects
Official Soundtrack (OST)
Dialogue
On screen noise – cars, doors slamming shut etc
Foley

10. Sounds in film
Though we may think of film as a visual
experience, we really cannot afford to
underestimate the importance of sound
A meaningful soundtrack is often as complicated
as the image on screen. The entire soundtrack is
comprised of three essential parts
The Human Voice
Sound effects
Music
Each of these elements can be
recorded during the shooting of a film
or added afterwards

11. Sounds in film
All types of sound within cinema can be split in to two main
categories
Diegetic & Non-Diegetic
Diegetic
Sound whose source is visible on screen
– or whose source is implied to be
present by the action of film
• Voices of characters
• Sounds made by objects on screen
or in the film world
• Music from radios, instruments
seen on screen

12. Sounds in film
All types of sound within cinema can be split in to two main
categories
Diegetic & Non-Diegetic
Non-Diegetic
Sound whose source is neither visible on
the screen nor has been implied to be
present in the action
•Narrators commentary
• Sound effects added for dramatic
effect
• Mood Music (OST)
•Non-diegetic is repsented as coming from a
source outside of the film world

13. Diegetic Vs. Non-Diegetic
Watch the following extracts and note down complete table below:
Diegetic Sound Non-Diegetic Sound
•Salieri’s Voice • Music (Soundtrack)
• Paper being handled • Music Salieri is
imagining
• Salieri describing the • Salieir’s Narration
music on camera
• Female Opera Singer
• Manuscripts hitting
the floor
• Mozart’s wife talking
with Salieri

14. Diegetic Vs. Non-Diegetic
Watch the following extracts and note down complete table below:
Diegetic Sound Non-Diegetic Sound
• TV Commentary •‘Swooshing’ sound of
Suger Ray’s Punch
• Punching sound effects
• Crowd noise • Hearbeat
• Bell Ringing • Breathing?
• Dialogue from LaMotta’s • Lion roar as Suger Ray
Brother hits LaMotta
• Dialogue from LaMotta • Wind / Storm noises
• Camera flashes
• Blood splatters

15. The Godfather
Sound is as important in conveying information and
adding meaning to a scene as cinematography,
lighting and mise-en-scene
As a result scenes can be analysed using the same
method
Watch the following scene from the Godfather
and answer:
List the Diegeitc & Non-Diegetic sounds you hear
How does the sound reflect Michael’s emotions?
Why has the train sound been used like this?

16. The Godfather
The absence of sound in sections of this sequence has
been added to highlight the tension felt by Michael
The characters speak in Italian without subtitles because
the mafia are a secret organisation not open to outsiders
The audience are in the same position as the police
captain and are unable to enter the mafia’s private world
The overhead train sound effect builds alongside Michael’s
tension / apprehension
It aurally signifies his fear and focus – it gives a sense of
being overwhlemed by the scenario – as if the blood is
running to his head and drowning out all other noise

17. Analysing The Godfather
The contrasting use of sound is reflective of
Michael’s emotions and feelings about an
execution he must carry out.
The sound of the train car passing overhead
reflects the inter turmoil and the overwhelming
emotions that he is feeling. It drowns out all other
sound leaving Michael alone with his thoughts
and tension.
In the bathroom the sound effect is used to reflect
this, but as he re-enters the restaurant the sound
returns to silence confirming that he has his
emotions under control and re-establishes the
tense atmosphere from before

18. Boogie Nights
Analysis task
Watch the following extract from ‘Boogie
Nights’ and make notes on the following:
What sounds are diegetic / non-diegetic?
How does the use of sound build tension?
What impact does the use of sound have on
the audience?
Boogie Nights (1997)
How does the sound make you feel in this Dir: Paul Thomas
Anderson
scene?

19. Boogie Nights
Analysis task
Using your notes your must now write a
short analysis of the use of sound in the
Boogie Nights drug deal scene
Include:
What sounds are non/diegetic?
What does the use of sound add to the
scene? Boogie Nights (1997)
Dir: Paul Thomas
How do the firecrackers add tension to the Anderson
scene?

20. Summary
What are the three main categories of film
sound?
Human Voice
Sound Effects
Mood Music/Soundtrack
What is Diegetic sound?
Sound whose source can be seen on screen
e.g. Dialogue, gun fire, cars etc
What is non-Diegetic sound?
Sound whose source is no visible on screen e.g.
Soundtrack, special effects, narration

22. The Sound of Silence
When analysing films it is important to
remember that the absence of sound can have
just as much impact as a complicated
soundtrack
The use of silence can can work against
expectation.
If we are used to being ‘warned’ with non-
diegetic music that a dramatic event is about to
take place then we are shocked if the event
takes place without such warning.
I Am Legend (2007)
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Watch the following clip and make notes on
how the use of sound creates atmosphere and
goes against our expectations

23. The Sound of Silence
Using your notes your have 10 mins to write a
short analysis of I Am Legends opening
You must combine your analysis of sound with
analysis of cinematography and mise-en-scene
Consider:
How effective is the mise-en-scene in establishing
a post apocalyptic world?
How does the camera highlight the characters
I Am Legend (2007)
isolation and loneliness? Dir: Francis Lawrence

24. Contraptual Sound
Contraptual sound is often non-diegetic sound
Instead of emphasising or complementing the image,
this form of sound works in opposition to it
Watch the following clip and make notes on
how the use of contraptual sound plays against
our expectation
What effect does the choice of music have on
this scene?
You have 5 minutes to write your notes up in
essay form

25. Character Themes
When scoring a film a composer must take in to account each
different character and create a theme that aurally signifies their
characters
Character themes can introduce characters
They can also complement the actions they are taking
Arrange yourselves in to teams of 4
You will now hear 14 character themes and other shot types /
sound effects.
1 point for each correct answer
1 Bonus point if you can name the film

27. Character Themes Quiz

28. Shot Types & Film Names

29. Shot Types & Film Names

30. Shot Types & Film Names

31. Shot Types & Film Names

32. Shot Types & Film Names

33. Shot Types & Film Names

34. Shot Types & Film Names

35. Sounds
True of false
This sound is non-diegetic

37. Sounds
True of false
This sound is diegetic

38. Character Themes Quiz

39. Character Themes Quiz

40. Character Themes Quiz

41. Character Themes Quiz

42. Character Themes Quiz

43. Character Themes Quiz

44. Character Themes Quiz

45. Character Themes Quiz

46. Character Themes Quiz

47. Character Themes Quiz

48. Character Themes Quiz

49. Character Themes Quiz

50. Character Themes Quiz

51. Shot Types & Film Names
Establishing Shot
Unforgiven

52. Shot Types & Film Names
Wide Shot
Spiderman 3

53. Shot Types & Film Names
Close Up
Fellowship of the Ring

54. Shot Types & Film Names
Raging Bull
Low-Angle Long Shot

55. Shot Types & Film Names
Extreme Close Up
Kill Bill

56. Shot Types & Film Names
Psycho
High-Angle Shot

57. Shot Types & Film Names
Wayne's World
Two Shot

58. Sounds
True of false
This sound is non-diegetic

60. Sounds
True of false
This sound is diegetic

62. Homework
Pick one scene and complete a 600+ word
analysis of Cinematography, Mise-en-
scene & Sound
Due: Friday 5th October