ASSIGNMENT 1 : Moving Image Soundtrack Report

Children of Men: Car Scene

Dialogue:
The conversations in the scene were very realistic. This shows that they all have some sort of connection with each other and that its not just staged. When the action starts to happen with the people on the bikes, you can hear the panic and fear in their voices, this adds to the plot and makes it sound more naturalistic. This scene uses functional dialogue; this means helping us understand what's happening in the scene. For example, when the driver of the car was saying "we're not going to make it" repeatedly while driving towards the rolling back car. Also when the police are driving past the car, Theo is heard saying "it's the cops, it's the cops". This is functional as we can see them driving past at the moment.
Music:
The music in the scene creates a more laid back feel to it in the beginning, however it becomes quite erie throughout the scene. As the car ride goes on, you can hear the radio in the background playing country pop type music and it plays throughout the whole scene without pause, until it gets to the end of the scene where it gets drowned out. The music in the scene would be diegetic as it goes along with the scene very well throughout the whole thing. The establishing sound in the scene is the snoring, the woman on the radio singing and the wheels driving. This creates a calm atmosphere to begin with. The music from the radio also creates pace and rhythm.
Sound Fx:
There are many sound effects throughout the scene. In this scene most of the sound effect would be synchronous as we can see where the sounds are coming from. In the opening, you can hear the sound of Theo snoring; this is the first thing we hear. We hear the wheels on the road as they are driving down the road. When Theo and Julianne are playing with the ping pong ball, you can hear the sounds that their mouths are making when the spit it out and catch it. When the madness starts to happen, the noise from the first car crash is a poignant sound, also the revving of the engines from the bikes make an impact on the scene as the contribute largely to the fact that something crazy is happening. after the gunshot, you can hear the sound of blood splatting against the car. After the gunshot happens, you hear ringing sounds - this may symbolise that the war is over. At the end of the scene when the car is driving away, it is ended with birds chirping; this may symbolise a few things such as the fact that they got away from the police and the madness or the fact that a few people have just died.
Overall sound mix:
The overall sound mix is louder than what it would usually be. This scene uses hyper-real sound; this means that the sound goes beyond from being realistic. For example, when the glass is breaking, it appears to be louder than if it was happening in the real world. This could represent that there is huge danger happening or in this case, that it has just happened.
Mood and emotional content:
The music in the background is emotional. The woman on the radio is singing about her lover, which is convenient as there is an ex couple travelling together in the car at that moment.

The Shawshank Redemption: Roof Scene

Dialogue:
The conversations throughout the scene is very realistic. This scene uses voice-over to explain what is happening in some parts of the scene. We can see that this scene uses realistic dialogue as there is a differences between the conversations of the guards and the prisoners. This scene uses a bit of functional dialogue. This can be heard when the guard is dragging the prisoner to the end of the roof about to push him off, we can hear the words "you gonna push him off the roof"
Music:
The music in the scene would be considered as non-diegetic as it doesn't play throughout that scene and is only played when the scene is coming to an end. This type of music can be seen as the film score as it has been put in to suit that particular moment. Playing the music at the end of the scene symbolises that there is happiness and that something good can happen after a not so good situation. This creates a mood and atmosphere of the scene. It also has a warm tone to it. In the scene there is music at the beginning when the voice-over is happening but it takes a pause when the dialogue come in. This can be seen as that the full focus needs to be on the dialogue and not the music. The music only happens when the voice-overs are heard.
Sound fx:
The sound effects in the scene would be the sound of the tar when the prisoners are doing the roof. It doesn't sound like a pleasant noise; which may give the effect that it's not a nice job to be doing. You can also hear the of the gun being ready to fire when one of the prisoners goes to the guars. This makes us think that he is about to get shot at that moment.
Mood and emotional content:
Near the end of the scene when the prisoners get a break to drink the beers, it becomes a bit emotional as the voice-over and the music comes on as it represents that something good is happening to them for once in a long time. The Sound of the beers in the bottles may represent freedom as the now have what they want. When one of the workers goes to the other to offer him a beer, it represent friendship between the two of them.