Soundtrack Production

Introduction

Hunger
This extract is very much about silence. The sounds that we hear are
set against this silence. In the introduction to this section we have
mentioned that in selecting what sounds we hear in a film can either
be naturalistic sounds reflecting what we see or they can be
heightened sounds, where the filmmaker focuses our attention on particular and important
sounds.
Heightened sound in this extract breaks the silence that surrounds the dying moments of the
central character, Bobby Sands. There is only one moment of dialogue in the extract that is
where Bobbys parents arrive at the prison where he is being held.
Activity 1: Look at the extract and write down the sounds that you hear. Why do you think
that the filmmakers chose to include these sounds? What atmosphere do these sounds give?
Are they soft or harsh sounds?
Sounds include a prison door opening, a pump, bath water and humming sounds (presumably
from machines/outside).
The humming gives a calm and ambient tone. Each sound is loud, as though it is the only
element breaking the silence of the setting. The sounds loudness helps emphasise the action,
making the audience increasingly more aware of what is happening to the character. It also
helps to give a sense as though the audience is in the scene, as in real life there is no music,
only sounds from elements of the world. There are slight echoes in the sound, conveying a
distant tone and the characters isolation. The sounds have a harsh tone, due to their loudness
Activity 2: What is happening in the extract when there is only silence? What does the
camera focus on?
The camera focuses on Bobby being cared for, by the prisoner staff. It helps the audience
to focus only on the actions and the character. We are forced to look into his physical state.
The silence conveys the character as being on his own.
The bird sounds and breathing may relate to freedom. Birds are free to be able to fly where
ever
we like.may
Thealso
breathing
is from Bobby,
from when
his character
wasHis
young
and
able
The silence
metaphorically
emphasise
the protagonists
mind.
mind
may
beto
run.
However,
he lacks as
thethough
energy.everything
It conveys,which
his character
misses
and
empty
and nownow
un-fulfilled,
now happens
to the
himenergy
is
freedom
he once
The breathes
may
also convey
Bobbys
last breathes. The breathing
meaningless.
His had.
pain from
starvation
is gone,
as he feels
nothing.
provides a contrast between young Bobby strength and the adult Bobbys weakness.
The birds are crows and are distinctive by their squawking sound. Crows represent death,
so their sound may convey the protagonists eventual demise too. The flapping of the
wings, represent escaping to freedom. When the protagonist dies, the crows fly away. This
may represent freedom, as Bobby is now freed from his pain and self-starvation.
Activity 3: There are two key sounds in the extract the sound of birds and the sound of
breathing. How do these relate not only to what we see but also to the story that we see
unfold (the death of Bobby Sands)?
Activity 4: Towards the end of the extract there is a flashback sequence when Bobby thinks
back to his childhood (represented by the young boy in his cell). It is at this moment that
music first appears in the sequence. How would you describe the music? How does it reflect
what we are seeing on the screen? Hunger

The introduction of music introduces that Bobby may now be thinking about something,
which matters.
High pitched violin tune occurs. It has a rather sad melodramatic tone. Eventually it
becomes repetitive and turns into a slightly edgy and rather dark tone. This gives an
unsettling tone. The tone may also convey, his realisation, of whom he used to be (maybe
a good runner). He was also shown as independent in his child hood. It contrasts to when
he was rebellious in wanting to be independent and now being under the care of a prison.
The children on the bus sing a prosperous song about their home Ireland in Belfast.
A low violin tune occurs at times, giving a calm sound, as though the character has found
a slight case of happiness. When Bobby slowly dies, the music starts to fade out. Later
there is silence, when the birds are gone.

Sunshine
This extract illustrates the creative approach to
sound with a specific genre science fiction.
Because the world that we are shown is an
imaginary world set in the future, the sound
designer has to decide how to create sounds which reflect what that world might
sound like and which are believable to the audience.
Within the extract we are shown images that take place in space as well as those
which show the inside of what we might call a spaceship.
Activity 1: Whilst we have no idea what sounds might live in space, what ideas are
created by the sounds you hear which accompany the images of the spaceship?
The sounds create the idea of a space ship being made from large engines on earth and
that it is strong and heavy.
Hellium gas sound are used.
Muffled noises
Beeping noises give a futuristic sound. An electrical hum is used.
Heavy breathing is used. It conveys that his character had difficulty breathing outside in
space

Activity 2: How do the exterior sounds differ from those that are created within the
interior of the spaceship and the character with the spacesuit?
The sounds in the space suit scene are muffled, conveying the importance. It sounds like
an explosion under water. It gives another worldly tone, as
The exterior sounds however, give the impression of a loud environment.
The space ship has a calm low humming sound, which is constantly disrupted by high
beeping noises. This gives a very technological tone to the ships interior, but also the idea
of it running on big engines and gas.

Activity 3: How do the sounds that we hear in the interior of the spaceship relate to
what we see? What atmosphere is created?
Activity 4: What does the music that runs through the extract suggest to you? How
does it relate to the sounds that we hear?
The music is loud in tone, but with a rather melodramatic tone, to suggest the character
trying to succeed. The music raises in tone, to create tension.
The tone is raised, to give a sense of achievement and once the music comes to a close,
conveys the scenario to have concluded. The music has a building tone (crescendo).
We do not have big ships which fly into outer space, or ones which would fly beside the
The sounds of the explosion enhance how much endurance the character is suffering from.
sun, which is extremely dangerous.
Therefore, we would not know what it would look like, or what it might sound like. The ship
was a big size. The sound of engine thrusts may not accurately depict what a large space
ship may sound like, but it is a legitimate choice, enough make the audience believe in it
being the sound.
Space is associated with futuristic technology. Computer beeping sounds are anonymous,
but symbolic for technology. There cannot be an accurate sound choice, and so can be

Activity 5: In all of the other extracts you have seen, sounds relate to a world that we
know. Because Sunshine is a science fiction film, why do we believe the sounds that
we hear?

Slumdog
Millionaire
Using the sound analysis chart you should describe what you hear
in each section of the scene and what ideas or emotions you think that the soundtrack
is trying to create in relation to the images that you see.
You should also note down when music appears on the soundtrack and what this
suggests to you regarding ideas and emotions.

Sho
t
1
2

3
4

Action

Descriptio
n of sound

Diegetic/Non
diegetic

Atmosphere
created by
sound

Railway
tracks
Children
playing in
pool, mother
washing
clothes
Shot of train
Shot of
mother then
children
Shot of
mother/train
then
mob running
across
tracks.

Touching the Void

Music
type and
atmospher
e

Activity 1:
The first image that we see is of Joe struggling to
escape from the crevasse at the start of his climb.

Describe how the music follows and underlines Joes climb.

Activity 2:
There is a sudden cut from Joes climbing to the mountainous landscape. How does
the change in music suggest what is going to happen next? What mood is suggested
by this music?

Activity 3:
As Joe lies on the snow, having escaped from the crevasse, how is the mood again
changed by the music? Why should the music change at this moment?

Activity 4:
As the camera pans round the landscape there is another change of music. How does
this music relate to both the images that we see and the voiceover?

Last King of
Scotland
1. As the sequence begins, what sounds do we hear before the music begins?

2. As the music begins we only see Nicholas face, not what he sees. How is the
music used to indicate that all is not well?
3. How does the music change as he picks up the photograph? What mood or
emotion is suggested?
4. As he notices the envelope, how does the music indicate that it is unlikely to
contain good news?
5. How does the music change as he opens the envelope and discovers his new
Ugandan passport? What does the music tell us about Nicholas feelings?

6. The image changes to blurred headlamps. A new style of music is heard. Try to
describe this music and how it changes as he gets to the door.

Whilst there are a number of different types and moods of music within the sequence
it is also worth noting that there are different levels of sound.
At times the music is very loud, at others it is almost silent.
In the music level analysis chart, see if you can plot the differing levels of the music
against
the images that you are shown.

Loud

Level

Quiet

Image

Looking at your analysis, try to explain why you think the levels change at the
moments they do.