Research into sound - Miss Miller

Research into sound

Sound is one the most important aspects of a thriller film, it helps build tension and keep the audience in suspense. The sound of a thriller goes along side the narrative of the film which manipulates the audience on how to feel whether its to be happy, sad, scared or in suspense in ways in which the actor cannot.

Throughout the clip the non diagetic sound of the constant ringing and murmuring adds suspense for the audience as it keeps them thinking what's going to happen next. This is conventional to a thriller as the eerie, creepy music sets the scene and atmosphere for whats going to happen. By gradually building the tension with one type of sound, this allows another style of music to change the mood afterwards as the audience wouldn't be expecting it therefore creating shock and suspense. At the beginning of the scene when the man is walking down the stairs the atmosphere is created by the creepy non diagetic whistling sound, this puts the audience in suspense as it prepares them for what is going to happen as 'whistling' is conventional to a thriller as it is creepy and suspicious which shows that he is not alone, creating fear of the unknown.

At 0:45 there is a dramatic loud piano sound, this is to show to the audience that something dramatic has happened this helps the audience understand how to feel about what is happening by guiding them with the soundtrack and other sounds that are played. This is conventional to a thriller as it creates a relationship between the audience and character and makes it much more relateable and realistic as it allows the audience to feel the same emotions as the character where they can picture themselves in the same situation, therefore grabbing their attention. At 0:50 the whistling starts again, this prepares the audience for another shock like before when the whistling started and the dramatic piano sound appeared, so the audience will expect to be shocked again.

At 0:59 a non diagetic gunshot is heard, this puts the audience in suspense as it brings the element of danger, this makes the audience fearful for the character as . Later on at 1:20 the gunshot is repeated numerously this indicates more danger and as the man goes to investigate at 1:41 the loud piano sound shows something dramatic has happened and helps the audience how to feel about what is happening.

In my opening scene for my thriller clip i will include dramatic music throughout to build the suspense and keep the audience involved and interested. When something dramatic happens which is key to the clip i will include a loud piano sound which will elaborate how important that particular thing is and will help the audience how to feel and to also build a relationship with the character. I will make sure the soundtrack, diagetic and non diagetic sounds are relevant to my storyline of the clip. I have learned that different sounds can create different moods and feelings for an audience and how it can make twists and plots more dramatic and eery.