I downloaded some free to use music to add into our opening. I felt that jazz music would be the most appropriate considering our genre is film noir and this is common convention for the genre.
I dragged the audio from the downloads in to final cut pro. I used the blade tool to cut it at the same time the tape recording started so that I could adjust the volume of that section independent to the rest of it. I reduced the volume so that the voice over could be heard more clearly along with the tape recorder's clicks and whirring. I felt that this music did not fit the second part of the opening where the detective was getting ready to meet the kidnapper, so I had it cut off at the same time the tape recording ended, which additionally created more tension and had a nice dramatic effect.
I think this music was the most fitting I could find and is adequate for the first part, but we need something more tense for the second part.
All sound used in our film opening had to be uncopyrighted and royalty free. I started by looking at websites such as purple planet and incompetech. I searched specifically for jazz music as we had already established that this was the genre of music most suited to film noir. Other members of the group had already edited music into the film however I wanted to see if I could find anything more suitable.
Eventually, I found this video on YouTube.
The music is royalty free and made by the YouTube uploader who said it is free to use. I feel like this music is suitable for our production as it has classic jazz instruments such as the saxophone and has a low, downbeat feel to it.
Here is the track edited into our film. The other music tracks we were using at first are still there but disabled, as I hadn't yet discussed the change in soundtrack with the group and I didn't want to delete it in case they still wanted to use the other one.
I also used the fade handles on the music to get it to fade in and out at the end to make sound more smooth.
Also seen in the screenshot is an eerie soundtrack. Because our film starts to get darker at the end I wanted to see if it was possible to add a creepy undertone to the music to change the atmosphere without entirely changing the music. I added this clip quietly under the main soundtrack as it started to get darker.
However, I'm not sure how effective this was as at times it sounds quite crowded and at others it's difficult to pick up.
Finally, as the tension really starts to build up at the end I edited in this sound clip as it builds up quickly and I stopped it just as the shoe hits to give it more of an impact. I also edited in a series of booms at the dramatic moments.
I think the war horn sound effect was particularly effective as it builds up slowly so adds to the rising tension of our piece. I also liked the boom as it gives the audience more of a shock.
I wanted to investigate the kind of music and sound effects used in film noir. I began by looking at another amateur made film noir, 'Enough is Enough', so as to see what kind of sound effects would be realistic for our own performance.
The scene begins with the man switching on the radio to imply that the music is diegetic before it gradually builds up and becomes non-diegetic which I thought was an interesting idea for introducing music to our piece. The music is a downbeat jazz song which includes brass instruments which are very widely used in film noir and I think would be good for our own piece. I think a downbeat song such as this would be appropriate for our own film due to the dark nature of it. A thunderclap can also be heard partway through the song which then fades into rain, setting a dark, gloomy atmosphere. This film is more of a combination of film noir and silent movies however many of the main tropes of film noir are still present.
In this scene the music is non-diegetic and is very quiet in the background rather than loud and upfront. This enables it to create a tense atmosphere without drawing focus away from the conversation of the characters, whereas in the previous clip there was no dialogue so the music was able to become the main focus. In this clip, stringed instruments are used, presumably a violin, and are played slowly in a minor key in order to create suspense. The tune creates mystery and suspense in order to keep the audience wondering what will happen, then as the younger man reveals what the other did a dramatic boom sound effect can be heard and the music changes slightly. From this point onwards it's in a slightly higher key and sounds almost softer, which is contrapuntal to the scene where the man is being arrested.
In this scene the femme fatale of the film is singing an upbeat song played on several different instruments in order to get the attention of the detective. The song sounds like one that couples would dance reasonably quickly back in the 50s. It doesn't sound like the other two pieces I've found as it has the woman's singing accompanying it and it much faster and creates a relaxed atmosphere rather than a tense, mysterious one. I don't think this kind of music would be appropriate for our piece, however if we used it as a contrapuntal soundtrack it may create an interesting effect but it could just as easily simply confuse the audience if it didn't fit correctly.
Above are two pieces of music I found which I think are similar to the kind of sound we're looking for to use in our own performance. I prefer the second one as it's more dramatic and downbeat, however the first piece I think would sound mysterious due to the ringing sound effects in the music. I don't know yet if these pieces are copyright which would make them unsuitable for use, but they give us an idea of the kind of music we're looking for.
I have also found some dramatic, suspenseful sounding sound effects. I think the first one would be suitable to play subtly in the background when the woman's location is revealed on the tape, and the second would be excellent for when the detective wakes up on the ground as it is disorientating and would confuse the audience. I think if played quietly it would also blend well with some downbeat jazz music.
Sound experiment- creation and examples of non-copyright sound
Before I started doing my practical sound task I wanted to identify the common conventions of sounds that feature in Film noir.
The first part of my practical task that I will do is to find non-copyright sounds that would be suitable for the film noir genre.I wanted to find one example of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds
A good piece of Jazz music I found, that you could download and was non-copyrighted, was called 'Don't get around much' on SoundCloud
Another example of sound that I found is a sound clips of cars passing, as it is a ambient sound of the city, which is a convention in Film noir.
Also, I managed to find a website that a list of non-copyrighted sound clips that may be handy in future.
For my deconstruction I decided to look at old and modern film noirs and compare how they used sounds.
Retro Film Noir: The Maltese Falcon (1940)
Music/soundtrack (Non-diegetic sound)
Dramatic non-diegetic jazz-like trumpets and stringed music plays during the beginning, but slowly fades out when their discussion starts. Essentially this creates the sense of anticipation before Mr Spade enters the room, as it lends mystery to events that will unfold after he steps in.
It also plays again at the end, after Mr Spade slams the door, except this time it's louder and stops, then becomes more triumphant and high pitched. As a result, it intensifies the tension and establishes the climax of the scene.
The Big Sleep (1946)
Sound Effects (Diegetic sound)
This was a very good example for sound effects:
First thing you can hear cars screeching and breaking along the street outside, there's also foot steps of people scattering on the street though it becomes softer once the man is inside. This conforms to the conventions of sound in film noir as most scenes take place along the street.
Rain and thunder can be heard throughout the diegetic dialogue, then the use of pathetic fallacy develops the mystery which suggests something ominous is about to happen, creating anticipation, as he seems to be doing a stake out.
Modern Film noir/neo-noir: Sin city 2 (2014)
Music/soundtrack (Non-diegetic sound)
During intervals of suspense when the men are putting in their poker chips, some ominous string music is playing especially in the beginning. However, when the man opposite the senator puts down his cards high pitch strings are playing, which also creates tension.
As soon as he takes the chips over to his side, a brief base starts to play and again after he wins the game, however by the end it implements more of a jazz beat because it has a chime of a ride cymbal which is used in jazz. This is used to underscore the success and triumph of the man, as it's a more uplifting.
a sudden but subtle drum rhythm plays as the senator looks up after being insulted.
Sound Effects (diegetic sound)
Muchemphasis is on the sliding of the poker chips, as you can hear these clearly over the non-diegetic music.
Sounds of battle-like chanting that seem to be coming from outside the building which can be heard in a room connecting to the room where the game is being played, in parallel editing. Yet, this cannot be heard when there is a cut back to the scene poker table, and the chanting comes to an abrupt end.
In effect, it creates a certain isolation of the poker room as well, as secrecy as sounds of the outside can't be heard from the outside suggesting that this is the case vice versa establishing an element of danger. In addition the woman who is observing from the other room is portrayed as a predatory,as she hinders the privacy of the location by hiding herself and spying on them, and the fact that she's in frame with the chanting outside reinforces her character as an outsider and therefore she is dangerous.
Comparison
The sound example in the retro noir examples encompass the essence of sound from that time period in which the film was made, such as the jazz music and typical urban sounds of the busy street e.g. cars passing. However in Sin City 2, the modern film noir or neo-noir conveys the same archetypes of non-diegetic soundtrack though it's use of low base strumming in certain parts of the extract, but uses more dramatic high pitched string sounds to address parts of tension.
The sound used in film noir’s often set a tone of pessimism to
reflect the mood of the film. The following are commonly heard in the film noir
genre:
Melancholy downbeat music- often jazz- trumpets,
saxophone, piano, drums, guitar
Jazz music can also be used in upbeat scenes
such as in a lively lounge or bar
Heavy breathing
Sudden noises such as gun shots
Voice over of the protagonist
Sound effects of the city- e.g. heavy traffic
and people
Grating music
Sound of footsteps to show authority
“The sound of noir—plaintive sax solos, blue cocktail piano,
the wail of a distant trumpet through dark, wet alleyways, hot Latin beats
oozing like a neon glow from the half-shuttered windows of forbidden
nightspots. You walk the sidewalks of big, lonely towns, with no destination in
mind, following only the sounds, guided by them, wondering where they come
from, what hurt souls cry out with such tones.” (http://parallax-view.org/2009/04/02/keeping-score-musique-noir-investigating-the-sound-of-film-noir/)
I looked at the following clip to see what sounds were used:
0:00-3:24
Jazz music is used all the way through this clip.
0:07
Sound of the door creaking open.
0:08-0:10
The sound of footsteps
0:10-1:26
Voice over of the protagonist
2:15-2:20
Sound of footsteps
2:30- 2:36
Gun shots
2:42- 2:43
Voice over of protagonist
How to get the sound effects
Sound of a door creaking:
This video shows the sound of a door creaking by using a wooden frame with a piece of dowel through the middle. The dowel is then held under pressure by rope. The dowel is then twisted to create the sound of a creaking door.
Sound of footsteps:
The sound of someone walking can be recorded. To make the person seem as if they are getting closer the footsteps become louder. If the person is moving away then the footsteps become quieter. The sound of footsteps can be slowed down to build up tension.
The sound of a gun shot:
A balloon can be blown up and popped to create a bang noise similar to that of a gunshot.
