Though we might think of film as an essentially visual experience, we really cannot afford to underestimate the importance of film sound. A meaningful sound track is often as complicated as the image on the screen, and is ultimately just as much the responsibility of the director. The entire sound track consists of three essential ingredients: the human voice, sound effects and music. These three tracks must be mixed and balanced so as to produce the necessary emphases which in turn create desired effects. Topics which essentially refer to the three previously mentioned tracks are discussed below. They include dialogue, synchronous and asynchronous sound, and the voice-over.
Let us start with dialogue. As is the case with stage drama, dialogue serves to tell the story and expresses feelings and motivations of characters as well. Often with film characterization the audience perceives little or no difference between the character and the actor. Thus, for example, the actor Humphrey Bogart is the character Sam Spade; film personality and life personality seem to merge. Perhaps this is because the very nature of a film presentation does not permit the viewer to look away, and the actor's demeanor on screen often looks so natural that the audience assumes it must reflect his own personality.
When voice textures fit the performer's physiognomy and gestures, a whole and very realistic persona emerges. The viewer sees not an actor working at his craft, but another human being experiencing life. Conversely, a mismatch between the appearance of the performer and his voice can produce a jerky, irritating effect that ruins the illusion of reality.
The comedy Bringing Up Baby, on the other hand, presents practically non-stop dialogue delivered at breakneck speed. This rapidly delivered dialogue gives the film its dazzling tempo and serves to emphasize the frantic nature of the characters' personalities. In most films the dialogue sounds natural, as if the characters are speaking spontaneously. But in fact, every line has been polished and rehearsed to achieve maximum clarity and dramatic impact.
Synchronous sounds are those sounds which are synchronized or matched with what is viewed. For example, if the film portrays a character playing the piano, the sounds of the piano are heard. Synchronous sounds contribute to the realism of film and also help to create a particular atmosphere. The viewer expects to hear the appropriate sound corresponding to an action seen on screen. If there is a noticeable disparity between what is seen and what is heard, the viewer becomes aware of the technical craft behind the film, and the cinematic magic is broken.
Asynchronous sound effects, on the other hand, are not matched with a visible source of the sound on screen. Such sounds are included so as to provide an appropriate emotional nuance, and they may also add to the realism of the film. For example, a film-maker might opt to include the background sound of an ambulance's siren while the foreground of the film shows an argument between two people within a room. This sound might be included intentionally by the director in order to signify a sense of urgency, terror, or perhaps impending doom.
Background music is often used to manipulate the audience's emotional response. Music can be used to underscore the drama, warn the viewer of imminent danger, or create a feeling of suspense. It often operates on a subconscious level: the audience may not be consciously aware of the music, yet their emotional reaction is profoundly shaped by it.
Finally, the voice-over is another vital sound technique. A voice-over often tells what the character was thinking or provides omniscient narrative commentary. The voice-over can bridge gaps in time and space, guide the audience's understanding of complex plot developments, or offer ironic contrast between an external situation and a character's internal reflections.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
1. In the first paragraph, the writer makes a point that
2. One reason that the writer refers to Humphrey Bogart is to exemplify
3. The writer refers to Bringing Up Baby in order to show that
4. In the fifth paragraph, what does the writer say about synchronous sounds?
5. What does the writer say about asynchronous sound?
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? Write TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN.
6. Audiences are likely to be disturbed by a dialogue where the actor's voice does not match his physical appearance.
7. The film Bringing Up Baby has a slower pace than most other comedies.
8. The actors in Bringing Up Baby improvised their lines while filming.
9. If synchronous sound is out of timing with the picture, viewers become aware of the artificial nature of the film.
10. An ambulance siren in the background is an example of synchronous sound.
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A–E, below.
A. can influence how viewers feel even when they are not paying close attention to it.
B. is more expensive to produce than synchronous dialogue.
C. can reveal what a character is thinking or provide background story details.
D. is rarely used in modern Hollywood productions.
E. gives the impression that the character and the actor are one and the same person.