Princess Mononoke Soundtrack Plan

Sounds

1. Running horses
2. Horse snorts/ whinnies
3. Swords
4. Screaming
5. Arrows flying
6. Dirt
7. Pierced flesh
8. Plants rustling
9. Bridle/ saddle rattling
10. Footsteps
11. Bow creaking
12. Material flowing (cape, balaclava)
13. Bodies hitting the ground (thud)
14. Armour clinking
15. Ambient - birds
16. Ambient - wind

How and where? Props?

1. Tongue clicking or cups? - Inside, on a table?
2. Voice, nose? - Inside, quiet room
3. Keys scraping against each other? - Inside, quiet room
4. Voices - Quiet area
5. Blowing -  Inside, quiet room
6. Scrape feet in dirt - Outside, non-windy area
7. Mouth/ tongue (squishy sound) - Inside, quiet room
8. Rustle plants - Outside, non-windy area
9. Keys rattling - Inside, quiet room
10. Walk/ run in the dirt - Outside, non-windy area
11. Open door (creaking) - Inside, quiet room
12. Rub clothes - Inside, quiet room
13. 'Thud', bang hand on table, fall - Inside, quiet room
14. Can't create
15. Can't create
16. Blowing - Inside, quiet room

We will get the sounds that we can't create from www.youtube.com, www.sounddogs.com and www.pond5.com

08/08/13

It turns out that we need to download some horse whinny sound effects, simply for the fact that we can't make a realistic enough sound. I downloaded the sound effects from pond5. I've also downloaded some arrow sound effects from http://soundbible.com/tags-bow-and-arrow.html

Foley Sound

       Foley, named after Jack Foley, is the process of recording sound (specifically in post production) to enhance the quality of audio in a film. The sound they record tends to be ambient sounds (e.g. birds chirping) that are difficult to record on set. Recording these sounds separately allows the foley artists to play with the levels (adjust the volume) of these elements so that they aren't too quiet or too loud, meaning they won't distract the audience from the main characters in a scene.

       Jack Foley introduced the art of foley in an attempt to give his hometown of Bishop a new source of income. He knew several newly formed movie businesses in Los Angeles and convinced them that Bishop would be an appropriate place to film westerns. This gave the people of Bishop a chance to earn money through foley. In the end, Jack ended up producing foley sound for multiple films such as: Melody of Love, Show Boat (1929), Dat Ol' Ribber, Spartacus, and Operation Petticoat.

      All foley artists need to produce their sound effects is a microphone and some recording equipment (e.g. Audacity). A sound proofed room is also helpful as it eliminates any and all unwanted noises. Obviously they need the props to make the sound with - it doesn't have to be the exact same as those used in the film as long as it produces the same sound. For example, many foley artists use things like coconuts for horses' hooves.

       Foley is usually recorded in a studio that is specifically for sound recording (this way it's sound proof and not echoey). The foley artists need to be able to see a screen that plays the movie/video so that they can get all of the sound fx in time.
       In the film 'Taken' there is a scene that involves a character falling onto a lorry from a height. The noise of the impact was produced by a foley artist and added in at post production. The artist could have used a number of props, like plastic sheets, to create the same kind of "thud" sound.

       There are a range of microphones that are appropriate for foley. However, certain microphones are better for specific things, such as the Sennheiser MD421, which will record a gun shot at fairly close range or a surface effect microphones to record sound fx. However, it's a general rule to not record in stereo and to position your microphone as close to the prop as possible (no mic has perfect directivity).
       Foley allows SFX to  be added in post production to enhance the "soundscape" and it also prevents any issues with copyright, as they've recorded their own sounds and so can't be sued for using someone else's.

Diegetic and Non-diegetic Sound

Diegetic sound

       Diegetic sound is sound that exists within the filmic world (the diegesis), but not necessarily in the shot. This includes: voices from characters on the set, sound made from objects/ interactions (e.g. a chair) and sounds made off screen from other characters or elements. So even if I can't see a particular action happening on screen (e.g. a person clapping) the sound made is still diegetic, because it exists within the reality of the film.
       In the film 'When Harry Met Sally' there is a scene in which Harry and Sally are sat across from each other in a cafe talking. Their voices are an example of diegetic sound, as well as the voices of the extras, even though they're not in the shot. Without the diagetic sound in that scene it would seem very unrealistic, because when is a cafe ever completely empty and silent?
       In the following clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcjY-VN8_l4) from the film  'Taken' uses diegetic sound to amplify the emotions of the character and the audience. Because you can hear things smashing and screaming, it's clear that Sam is being kidnapped even though we can't see it happening. The use of this makes us feel as helpless as her father whose listening to this happen through the phone. These diegetic sounds also build tension for when the father speaks to the kidnapper through the phone. If I wanted to create a dramatic effect in one of my projects I would consider using diegetic sound to tell the audience what's happening off screen, because the uncertainty would put the audience on edge.

Non-diegetic sound

       Non-diegetic sound is sound that is added into the film in post production to enhance the mood of the film. This includes: music that is added in the editing process (the score) and any sound added in post production like a narrator's commentary (like a character's thought track). An example of non-diegetic sound is a wild track, which is background noise (e.g. from a party) that is used for multiple shots or a scene.
       In the film 'Kick-Ass' the main character narrates the beginning of the film to catch the audience up on what the film is about. WIthout this narration, the audience would be very confused as to the topic of the film and the motivation of the character, making this non-diegetic sound very important. Also, the director used an adapted version of the soundtrack called "Surface of the Sun" to bring an epic feel to the "Hit Girl rescues Big Daddy" scene. The long violin notes amplify the emotions of the audience, making the scene more emotional. The music also matches the slow motion used in the scene.
       In the following clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USHi4s_rHqQ) from the film 'Wreck it Ralph' the use of a non-diegetic soundtrack amplifies the emotions of the situation. Without the swelling music to accompany Ralph destroying Vanellope the audience wouldn't recognise Vanellope's anguish as well. The music is also in time with her screaming as Ralph destroys her cart, so the mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic is very effective. I could use this technique in one of my future projects, as it would engage the audience in the video and allow them to empathise and identify with the characters. I've always found that the non-diegetic soundtrack is what makes an emotional scene emotional.

Juxtapositions

       Using a mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic sound can create a juxtaposition. A juxtaposition is when two or more different things are paired to create a comic or scary effect. For example, happy music paired with a scene of someone getting murdered and screaming.
       There is a scene in the film 'The Funny Games' that consists of an upper class German family driving to their holiday home. At first they are listening to classical music, but then heavy metal replaces it. The use of this juxtaposition gives the audience a clue as to what's going to happen to the unsuspecting family.
       In the final scenes of The Godfather 3 you see the family attending a baptism service which is accompanied by calm music. Through parallel editing you can see several murders happening at the same time in a different location, but the same calm/ happy music is played over these. This is a juxtaposition as getting murdered isn't a calm or happy experience, it's quite the opposite. I would use this technique in my own work to make certain scenes funny, ironic or foreshadowing, depending on the nature of the project.

Mood and meaning

       Without a non-diegetic soundtrack, certain scenes would lose their mood and meaning. For instance, if the following scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JfjO1PZxXc) from 'Kick Ass' didn't have the non-diegetic soundtrack it wouldn't be perceived as funny, it'd be perceived as a serious action sequence. The pop/punk music reflects Hit Girl's personality as well, giving the audience a further understanding of her. In my projects I would make sure that the scenes that require a non-diegetic soundtrack have the appropriate music to amplify the audience's emotions.