Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound

YEWDALL, David, Lewis (1950) Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound. 4th ed., Oxford, Elsvier Inc. 

This book caters for people who have foundation level knowledge about Sound Design. The book shows you techniques that you can do when sound designing.  The book dives into the authors early years and how he became a sound recorder.  

This book was helpful because it shows you a sound breakdown (how sound is edit) in films and detail how Yewdall used everyday items to capture sound for motion picture films. The book came with a DVD containing 1000s of sound effects.

Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice, and Sound Effects in Cinema

SONNENSCHEIN, David (2001) Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice, and Sound Effects in Cinema. United States of America, Michael Wiese Productions

This book was an excellent read because it goes into great detail about how important sound design is. It mentions that sound is very important to film as it gives the audience a sense of realism. The book talks about the sound design of Motion Pictures nowadays as it changed from Dolby Stereo to Dolby Digital and this has changed how people watch and ‘listen’ to films. The book contains many examples of Science Fiction films which have been praised when it comes to Sound Design.

In Chapter 1 (Origins and influences) goes into detail about Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and how the film has influenced many other films to do with sound and how sound can work as a narrative aid. The chapter mentions a term called Sound Montage and how Walter Murch used it in THX 1138 (1971). Murch was inspired by 2001. He experimented with different sound techniques and mixed it with dialogue.

This book will influence me into thinking about the smallest of sounds that can be used in my own soundtrack. It was an interesting read because it goes into great detail about major blockbusters that have changed how we listen to pieces of text. 

Sense of Space (Assignment 1) - Phone Call

Phone Call - Created by Rahul Jayakrishnan & Tony Ansell

Phone Call

Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice, and Sound Effects in Cinema.

SONNENSCHEIN, David (2001) Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice, and Sound Effects in Cinema. United States of America, Michael Wiese Productions

This book was an excellent read because it goes into great detail about how important sound design is. The author seems to have great knowledge of sound and how sound is applied to post-production and cinematography. Most importantly, the book gives you a good example on how you go about creating sound design. It also states that sound is essential to film in the 21^st century because they go hand in hand to motivate the viewer to listen and watch.

In Chapter 8: Sound and Narrative it tells you how sound is important in films, in particular moments. “In its most noble and satisfying execution, sound will reveal something that the image does not or cannot” – I feel that this quote will help me understand where certain sounds will need to be in place as I am creating narrative audio piece. Having certain sounds in my audio project, however big or small, it can give a massive impact to the listener.

I feel that this entire book will help me make a professional standard sound project with its tips and advice.

Call Sheet - Phone Call

Call Sheet

Creative Media Project Development

Phone Call

Tuesday 28^th October 2014

Crew

Sound Recorder…Tony Ansell

Sound Editor…Rahul Jayakrishnan

Equipment:

·      Zoom H4N

·      Microphone

·      XLR Cable

·      USB Cable

Stock:

·      Batteries x2

Contact no:

Tony Ansell (Sound Recorder): 07527212150

Rahul Jayakrishnan (Sound Editor): 07467701876

NB – Wear warm clothes for this shoot, we are recording outdoors.

Locations where recording sounds:

Aldi store – South Yorkshire

Sheffield train station- South Yorkshire

The Forge – South Yorkshire

City Centre – South Yorkshire

Sheffield Hallam University- South Yorkshire

The Benjamin Huntsman- South Yorkshie

10:00- The Production team will arrive at Sheffield Hallam University to pick up equipment

10:30– Start recording in the locations (above)

13:30- Lunch/Break

1400- Resume recording

16:00- Wrap recording

Phone call Sound log

Phone call Sound log – Creative Media Project

Date: 28/10/14

Name: Rahul Jayakrishnan & Tony Ansell

Roles: Rahul Jayakrishnan- Sound Editor

              Tony Ansell- Sound Recorder

Equipment:      Zoom H4N

                          XLR cable

                          USB cable

                          Microphone

File type, clip title & comments:

1.     STE-000.wav- Busy pub. This volume of the audio is at a perfect level. A lot of chatter and background noise.

2.     STE-001.wav- Fairground- Not usable as it has copyrighted music in the background. The sound coming from the public could’ve worked.

3.     STE-002.wav- Fairground 2- Again, copyrighted music in the background by the kids talking could’ve worked.

4.     STE-003.wav- Fairground shooting range- Minimal music in this clip. The shooting of the guns are good effects. You can feel the presence of the fair.

5.     STE-004.wav- Fair ride. At the start of the clip you can hear music but it   goes and you can hear the fair ride in motion and a bell ringing in the background. Good sound clip

6.     STE-005.wav- Buses with the engines on and passing cars. Most of the clip is usable but the sound of the clip is very faint.

7.     STE-006.wav- Train station noise.  The sound is too quiet to use unfortunately.

8.     STE-007.wav – Train station noise 2. Recorded a train coming into the station but it’s very quiet. Could be usable.

9.     STE-008.wav – Tram. The movement of the tram has this humming sound that echoes in the middle it fasts up. You can hear people chatting away, which is a nice touch.

10.  N/A.wav – Accident BG 2. Good audio level of this clip.

11. N/A.wav – Accident BG. More dialogue of the talker. Good clear piece of sound.

12. N/A.wav – Accident. Caller. The friend’s perspective of the accident through the phone.

13. N/A.wav – Accident.wav. The dialogue leading up to the accident. Could’ve been better.

14. N/A. wav – Bank 2. Audio clip of the caller talking to the bank.  Again, the dialogue could’ve been better.

15. N/A.wav – Bank automated 2. The dialogue of the bank’s computer. Sounds realistic and usable.

16. N/A. wav – Bank automated. The first part of the bank computer dialogue. Clear audio and usable to the project.

17. N/A. wav – Bank rep 2. The bank rep assistant at the bank talking. Very clear and usable.

18. N/A. wav –Bank rep. The bank rep perspective. Clear audio.

19. N/A.wav – Bank. Very quiet audio. This is unusable until the middle. Could be usable if cut correctly.

20. N/A.wav – Dial tone. Clear dial tone, which will be benefit to the project.

21.  N/A.wav – Distress call.  Good dialogue from the caller. It feels natural to use in the project.

22. N/A.wav – Emergency automated. Clear audio of the automated option service. Usable

23. N/A. wav- Emergency rep. Clear audio of the emergency rep speaking. Usable.

24. N/A.wav- Intro caller. The friend talking to the caller on the phone. Caller misses up his lines so unusable.

25.  N/A.wav - Intro. At first the caller messes up his lines but manages to repeat the first line again and maintain the level of flow.

26. N/A.wav – Keyboard. The keyboard sound is not loud enough. Unusable.

27. N/A.wav – Keypad tone. Good volume of keypad tone. Usable.

28. N/A.wav – Not needed. Not using.

29. N/A.wav – Main street noise. Good amount of traffic moving. Can use to make it more realistic.

30. N/A.wav – Shopping market and in & off of store. – Will use this as this is good.

Phone call script

Keypad tone.

Tony – hi, how are you?

Friend – Hey man, I’m good. What have you been upto?

Tony – Nothing much, just going grocery shopping.

Friend – aah, alright. I went shopping last night. Definitely wanted something other than cold sandwiches.

Both Laugh

Tony – yeah I know what you mean. I need to cook some food myself.

Friend – yeah!

Tony – hang on a minute yeah? Let me just pay for the stuff.

Card declined

Tony – ah man, its happened again. My cards declined. This is the third time this week.

Friends – whats the problem?

Tony – Some problem from the card company. Hey man listen, I’ll talk to you in a bit? I need to call them up to tell them about it.

Friend – Alright man, take care.

Tony – yeah you too. Bye!

Keypad tone

Mumbling a few numbers while typing

Automated – Thank you for calling the bank. For personal banking, press 1. For speaking to a customer relations executive, press 2. For other enquiries press 3.

Keypad tone

Automated – Please hold while your call is being redirected to a customer relations executive.

Musical background -10 seconds

Rep – Thank you for calling the bank. How may I assist you?

Tony – Hey hi, I’m calling to ask about a problem that I’m facing with the card. It keeps declining. I have enough funds to make the purchase and this is not the first time this has happened.

Rep – Alright, I’ll look into  it just now. May I please know your name sir?

Tony – Tony Ansell.

Rep – I’ll put your call on hold while I bring up your details. Please stay on the line.

Tony – ok.

Music back on 5 seconds.

Rep – Sir, the details on our servers don’t show any kind of problem. I am unsure about why you’re facing this problem. What I can suggest is that you can apply for a new card as that might be the problem. You will have to request the bank for an issue of a new card and it will be sent to your address.

Tony – oh man, I can’t go to the bank right now. I’m tied up with work during the day.

Rep – That’s not a problem sir, I can put in a request for you right now if you want.

Tony – Yeah thanks that would be great!

Rep – Alright sir, please hold while I file the request.

Tony – alright.

Music on

 Rep – Mr Tony, your request has been filed. You shall receive a new card within 5 working days. Is there anything else that I can assist you with?

Tony – No that was it. Thanks a lot.

Rep – You’re welcome. Thank you for calling us. Please spare 5 minutes to fill a feedback form after the call. Thank you once again.

Call ends

Phone rings

Friend – Hey Tony. Any plan for the night?

Tony –Hey man, no not yet! What do you have in mind?

Friend – Yeah, there’s this party tonight. I’m a promoter but I can get you in no cost. Drinks are a pound.

Tony – alright mate, sounds good. I will let you know what my plan is, Woahhh. Some guy just had an accident. I’ll talk to you later.

Friend – alright. Let me know. See you in a bit.

Tony – see you.

Call emergency services

Automated – Press 1 for Police, 2 for ambulance, 3 for fire department.

Keypad tone

Operator – whats the emergency

Tony – Theres been an accident. An ambulance is required.

In the background – You alright?

Operator – Whats your location

Tony – Boston High Street, just opposite the Subway outlet there.

Operator – Alright, we will send a medic response team on site as soon as possible.

In the background – You’ve got to hold on mate, ive called for an ambulance. It will be here soon. Just hang on.

Call waiting

Tony – Okay Thanks.

 Keypad Tone

Tony – Sorry, I was on another call. Whatsup?

Friend – Hey man, where are you? Is this a good time to talk? I’m really worried.

Tony- calm down. Whats the matter?

Friend – Im just worried, I lost my purse and all my stuff is gone now. My keys, cards, cash, everything. I don’t know what to do.

Tony – hey its alright. Retrace your steps. Calm down. Think hard and go everywhere that you went before you lost it. You might find it somewhere. Or if a store found it, they might have kept it for you.

Friend – okay okay. I’ll let you know when I find it. Thank you. Thanks for calming me down. I didn’t know what to do. I’ll let you know as soon as I find it. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.

Tony – Hey don’t worry about it. Its alright, take care.

Keypad tone.

*sigh*