Unit 38: Soundtrack Production for Animation

Using Foley Sound

Plan

These are the noises that require Foley sound. They are too difficult and/or complicated to create live on set:

Horse's hooves and other noises, Bow and Arrows, Shouting and Screaming, Characters falling over and being hit with arrows

Props

We will be using props to create Foley sounds. These will include:

We can beat coconuts in a rhythm for the sound of the Horse's hooves

We can blow through a pen lid to create the sound of an arrow zipping through the air

We can spring a rule for he sound of an arrow hitting the ground or a tree

We can stab materials like cardboard or paper to create the effect of arrows hitting characters

Soundtrack

We will select a piece of music to accompany the animation. Because it is a fast, action-packed sequence, we will be using music that is fast-paced. The animation should fit with the music's rhythm.

We used this piece of music because we thought the quick drum beat fit well with the  speed of the sequence and added to the tension.

Unit 21: Understanding Video Technology: Production Equipment

Production Equipment

Camera Setups

History of Cameras

A motion picture camera is a device capable of capturing a series of images at high speed. Typically, motion picture cameras capture images at 24 frames per second, meaning 24 individual frames are captured by the camera in a single second. This frame rate allows for audiences to feel the illusion of movement. However, the first movies only played at a frame rate of 14-20 frames per second, meaning movement appeared flawed and jumpy, as there were not enough frames to allow for smoother movements.

Louis Le Prince was a French inventor who shot the first moving pictures on the first working motion picture camera. The camera was a single lens and Le Prince shot on paper film. He was never able to perform a public demonstration of his invention, however, as he mysteriously disappeared in 1890. Over time, cameras became smaller and more compact until they became portable. It wasn't until the 50s and 60s, however, that the first colour cameras were invented.

In the 20th Century, VHS, a videotape based analogue format, was used. However, in the early 2000s, MiniDV was invented. MiniDV was a digital tape based format that allowed for filming in standard definition (720x576). MiniDV was followed by DVD. Currently used consumer cameras allow for full definition (1920x1080). The current industry film standard is 35mm (which is 10-24 megapixels). The current industry digital standard is 4k. However, some films are currently being shot in 6k for an even clearer picture.

How does a Camera work?

Film is located inside the camera, which is completely dark at this point. The shutter then opens, allowing for light to travel through the lens and the film or sensor to be exposed. Then, the shutter closes, and the next piece of film moves into place.

An inside look at a motion picture camera.

The sensor size of a camera has a huge impact on the actual quality of an image. DSLRs have made a big impact on the film industry, because they allow for affordable filmmaking. The general rule of sensors are the smaller the sensor size, the higher the frame right. However, it will not handle dark situation well and will produce grain. The larger the sensor size, the better the quality of the image produced. If it's larger, it will handle dark situations better.


There are three main functions of controlling how an image is exposed correctly with a camera. These are:

• Shutter Speed - The amount of time that each individual frame is exposed for.

• Aperture - Controls DoF

• ISO - Sensitivity

Lighting Setups

The most common lighting setup is the three point.

An example of the three-point system.

Lighting is important for film because it allows for an image to be made more dynamic and interesting to look at. It creates depth which allows for the illusion of a three dimensional image. The Key light is typically placed 45 degrees to either side of the camera. Fill lights are used to fill in the shadows of a scene, whilst Back lights add dimension. When shooting outside, without access to any lights, a reflector can be used instead.


Sound Setups

How sound is recored on set is very important. There are many different methods of doing so. These include:

• Shotgun Microphone
• Dynamic Microphone
• Condenser Microphone

The key for good sound is to ensure the microphone is facing the actor, meaning no other unnecessary and unwanted background noise is accidentally picked up. Also. it is important to ensure that sound levels on the recording device are peaking, but not hitting maximum, as this can cause the sound to be distorted. Volume can always be raised in post-production anyway. Shotgun Microphones are also a great method of recoding sound as they only pick up sound in the direction they are being directed.

Unit 38: Soundtrack for the Moving Image

Diagetic, Non-Diagetic and Foley Sound

Diagetic

Diagetic sounds are any sounds that are recorded live by the actors. These would most commonly be the actor's lines of dialogue, or any other sound effects that are easy and simple enough to record live (an actor's dialogue/a door slamming etc.) as a pose to being created later on in the filming process. They could still be edited later, but diagetic sounds are simply sounds that are not artificial, and are real and created in the time and place they are seen/heard in the actual movie.

Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall's dialogue in this scene from Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1986) is an example of Diagetic Sound, as their dialogue was recorded live, as opposed to being created at a later time. It exists in the world we are seeing, and can be heard by all of the character by present there.

In this second example from Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master (2012), Freddie is locked in a jail cell after having been arrested. His temper gets the better of him, and he proceeds to smash up his cell as he and Lancaster shout at each other. These sounds (Freddie being dragged through the corridor, the cell door being slammed, Freddie smashing the toilet and Freddie and Lancaster shouting at each other) are all Diagetic sounds. These were sounds that were recorded as they were actually made. This is because the film's director wanted to capture the mental state of Freddie's character in a way that felt as realistic as possible to audiences. Creating these sounds within that same space also allow for some of the sounds to echo (e.g. the slamming of the cell door), which adds to the scene's realistic feel.

Non-Diagetic

Non-Diagetic sounds are recorded later on in the editing process. These are usually sounds that would have been too difficult to record live because they are too quite or complicated. The most common examples of Non-Diagetic sound would be special effects (gunshots, explosions etc.) or soundtrack (score), as these are sounds that are heard during a scene, but not necessarily recorded there and then. Narration is also Non-Diagetic as, although it is heard during the scene, it is recorded separately.

Morgan Freeman's narration from this scene in from The Shawshank Redemption (1994) is an example of Non-Diagetic sound as it accompanies the scene, but is not actually present in the scene being filmed. It does not exist in the world that we see, and can only be heard by us: the audience.

In this second example from Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park (1993), after the park's security is shut down, the Tyrannosaurus breaks out of its pen and attacks the park's visitors. This is when we hear the iconic T-Rex roar for the first time. Because the T-Rex used to film this scene was only an animatronic, it could not produce its own sound. So, the film's designer had to create sound appropriate for the animal's roar that could be implemented at a later date. Gary Rydstorm, the film's sound designer, created the T-Rex's roar by combing a number of different animal noises (e.g. whales, elephants, tigers and alligators). Because this is a sound that was engineered at a later date, and did not exist within the scene's diegesis.

Juxtaposition

This is when two things are placed together with the purpose of conflicting with each other. Sometimes, a filmmaker will choose to place a sound and a scene together that contrast with each other, creating juxtaposition. A filmmaker may choose to do this when creating a Horror film, as a means to create a feeling of discomfort and unsettlement with the audience.

In this example from Insidious (2009), James Wan uses juxtaposition to create an eerie atmosphere that unsettles the audience. Because the accompanying soundtrack is so tranquil and relaxed and yet the images are so terrifying, a contrast is created here that discomforts and disorients the audience. It's this terrifying contrast that makes this scene so memorable.

Foley Sound

This is the process of recording a required sound later on, typically during post-production, to further enhance the film's quality. Because it is not recorded live and on-set, Foley Sound is a form of Non-Diagetic sound. For example, the sounds of character's punches during a fight scene or the sound of an explosion in an action movie are often sound effects that have been added later on in the editing process, as this is much easier than recording theses sounds live on set, and can often be made to sound more realistic.

In this example from The Expendables (2010, Foley Sound is used to make the fight scene that happens here appear more realistic by creating the appropriate sound effects and adding them to the scene. Punches, bullets hitting flesh and knives cutting flesh are all sounds that have been created through Foley Sound, as they are not sounds that can be made on the spot easily or safely. They require time and effort to be made to sound as realistic as possible, allowing for a better viewing experience for audiences.

Mood and Meaning

In Film and TV, Soundtrack is used to create different moods and meanings and to establish different atmospheres within a text. For example, a soundtrack could create the feeling of fear and build up tension within a scene through its use of chords. A frightening and tense atmosphere can be created using dissonant chords. These are chords that feel unstable in their movements. They are used in horrors because they often reflect the panic in a Horror film, and amplify the tension. Consonant chords feel much more stable than Dissonant chords, and feel much more perfect and complete. They can be heard in Children's films, Family films and Comedies, due to their soft and gentle feel.

Example: http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/201392/Psycho-Movie-Clip-Drive-Part-2.html

 
 In this example from Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960),  Bernard Herrmann's score plays as Marion drives through the rainy night, moments before pulling over at Bates' Motel. Herrmann's score is an example of Non-Diagetic sound within the scene, as it is part of the film's soundtrack, which has been recorded at a different time and attached to this scene. The score uses dissonant chords throughout. The sound of these unstable chords reflect Marion's state of mind at this time in the film. It suggests that Marion could be mentally unstable, which concerns the audience, and makes us fear for the character and her safety.

The voices within Marion's head are also Non-Diagetic, as they have been recorded at a different time, and inserted into the scene during the film's editing process. These are the voices of the characters Marion has encountered throughout the film so far (the policeman, the car salesman, her boss etc), all of who are discussing their theories about Marion and her intentions. The way these voices echo and their volume increases suggest that Marion is struggling to ignore these voices. These voices create a feeling of paranoia for the audience, as we now know that there are people chasing Marion, and that they are aware of her crimes.

Together, Herrmann's score and the voices in Marion's voices give he audience an idea as to the character's state of mind. We can tell that she is unstable, that she is paranoid about the people who might suspect, and that her fear of being caught is only growing as Herrmann's score speeds up and the voices in her head become louder and louder.

The History of Foley Sound

It was Jack Donovan Foley who began what is now known as Foley art back in 1927. As a member of the sound crew working on Universal Studios' Show Boat, it was Foley's job to produce the required sound effects, as the microphones being used for the filming of the movie could only pick up dialogue. This meant recording sound effects such as footsteps and doors closing in real time. Jack Foley continued to create sounds for films up until his death in 1967. Although his methods are still used in the industry today, the art of Foley has progressed as recording technology has progressed. Sound effects do not have to be recorded in real time. Also, hundreds of props and digital effects are now available to artists to employ.

In the video above, Foley Artist Noisyid demonstrates the art of Foley, and the effect it has on our viewing experience, by removing the audio from a clip from the film The Brain that Wouldn't Die (1962), and creates his own sound effects to accompany the muted clip. Some of this is done by simply recreating the required sound effects (pouring of water, bottle opening etc.). However, at 1:44, we see Noisyid using a different method to create the appropriate sound effect. The accompany the shot of the lab, where we can see pipes flasks bubbling, the Foley Artist creates the kind of background noise we would expect to hear in this situation by blowing into some water through a star, recreating this bubbling sound effect. He has created the same sound effect in a much simpler and easier way, but the resulting sound effect is so perfect that it allows the viewer to feel a sense of reality within the scene and be placed comfortable within it.

Unit 21: Understanding Video Technology

Broadcast Systems and Television Standards

There are three different television systems:

NTSC

This is the standard format in the United States, but has been adopted in other countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines. The first NTSC standard was developed in 1941. In 1953, a modified version of the NTSC standard was adopted which allowed colour television broadcasting to be received. NTSC was a widely adopted broadcast system until it was replaced with Digital ATSC. NTSC is based on a 525 line, playing at 30 frames per second at 60HZ. Since it was first developed without consideration for the addition of colour, the added effect of colour into the NTSC format has been the system's weakness.

SECAM

Though work began on SECAM as early as 1956, the technology wasn't made ready for general use all the way until 1967, when further improvements to the compatibility and image quality had been made. Though it was first introduced in France in 1967. it was adopted by many parts of Eastern Europe. Like PAL, SECAM is based on a 625 line, playing at 25 frames per second, but is uses a different colour management system than both PAL and NTSC. Countries on the SECAM system include France, Russia, Eastern Europe and parts of the Middle East.

PAL (Phase Alternate Line)

PAL was first developed by Walter Bruch at Telefunken, a German radio and television company, who patented it in 1962. The first ever broadcasts began in the United Kingdom and West Germany in 1967. As a format, PAL is now used across most of Europe. The PAL format is based on a 625 line, plays at 25 frames per second, on a 50HZ system. The signal is interlaced into two fields composed of 312 lines each. This allows for a better overall picture because of the increased amount of scan lines. However, because fewer frames are displayed per second, a slight flicker in the image can sometimes be noticed.

Three different television systems around the world.

Satellite, Cable and Internet as Broadcast Systems

Satellite
Formed in 1990, Sky is a Satellite Broadcasting Company and is the largest Pay-TV Broadcaster in the UK and Ireland with over 10 million subscribers. Sky offer a diverse range of channels including their exclusive chanels: Sky One, Sky News, Sky Sports and more. They also offer channels in HD and even 3D, but these come at an extra cost.

Sky is a form of Satellite Television. This is Television Programming delivered by the means of communications satellites and received by an outdoor antenna. Some major disadvantages to using Satellite Television are the extra costs associated with using it to its full. These costs can include paying to access extra channels. Also, the price of Satellite Television increases as more televisions are connected.

Cable
Formed in 2006, Virgin Media was the first quadruple-play company in the UK, offering television, internet, mobile and landline services.

Virgin Media is a form of Cable Television. This is a system of distributing television programs via radio frequency, which are transmitted through coaxial cables or light pulses through fibre-optic cables. This is usually a stable and inexpensive option. However, many areas only have a single cable television provider.

Internet
Internet television is the digital distribution of television via the internet. BBC iPlayer is a form of Internet Television, allowing for free and on-demand viewing of the latest television. However, not all forms of internet Television allow free access to on-demand television. For example, Sky Go requires a Sky subscription. Though both of these examples are website-based, they can also be accessed through Androids, iPhones and even games consoles.