Sound (Dialogue)

For one scene of our opening title sequence we are planning to include a voice over narration. This is a popular convention in film noir, examples of films that use narration are: Sin City, Sunset Boulevard, Naked City, and Double Indemnity.

A voice over narration is the technique of using an off-screen voice to convey necessary background information, fill in gaps in the narrative, and comment on the action.

The script we created for our voice over is on another post, here. 

We used a Marantz to record our voices, Elliott and Cal were the voice actors. We haven't chosen which of them did a better accent/voice for film noir, we wanted either an American or gritty London accent. As we can't choose which recording to use, we're going to play the clips to our class and ask for their opinions to help us choose the recording which fits our OTS best.

In the picture below, you can see the Marantz we used to record. We used a Music room in school (which you can see in the background - keyboard), the room was empty and didn't echo and so was perfect for recording sound / voices in it as there was no background noise. The Music room is used specially for recording music and so we knew it would be the best room to use.

IMG 1283 from Cal Ives-Keeler on Vimeo.

Here is evidence of us recording the voice over narration on the Marantz, below is the recording we are thinking of using for our final OTS

~~ When we have asked for our classes opinions on our voice overs, we shall record it and upload it to here ~~

ACE props

Link to props post is here -> Cal Ives-Keeler AS media: ACE props: For our OTS it was important to have good looking and effective props. For this reason i decided to take a few from my house because they lo...

1st Recording of first scene (rough cut)

ACE- Rough edit from Cal Ives-Keeler on Vimeo.




Notes for our final film of this scene:

• Add narration
• Improve continuity
• Add bullet wound
• Improve mise en scene

Sound Planning (Effects and foley)

Foleying from Cal Ives-Keeler on Vimeo.

Foleying is the method of creating sound with various objects.

We used foleying methods to get a gun shot sound for our OTS. As you can see, we used a ruler and staple gun against different objects to see which sound is most effective for a gun shot. As a group, we thought the part at 00:10 was the most similar to a gun shot. Elliott and I are viewed creating the sounds here, and Cal is recording.

Although we just filmed within school, I think the sound is perfect for a gunshot. If we were to improve, we could of chosen a better location, with possibly less echo, however I believe the echo makes the gunshot more realistic.

Our group is planning to use this sound for the opening credits, as the first shot I will already have a bullet wound. 

First storyboards

Sound Planning (Dialogue, script)

Script examples:
Double Indemnity script
Naked City

"THE NAKED CITY" NARRATOR


                              (an easy, conversational tone)
                         "A city has many faces --

                         It's one o'clock in the morning now --

                         And this is the face of New York 
                         City --

                         -- when it's asleep --

                         -- on a hot summer night --

                         Does money ever sleep, I wonder?

                         Does a machine become tired?

                         Or a song?

                         Does stone ever feel weariness?"

Narration is used in both of these examples. We will use these to create our narration.

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Script Draft:

written by all of us in the group

Cal - Alex Colt (Anti-hero)

Ruby - Valentina (Femme Fatale)

Elliott - Bruce or Romeo (Villain) 

Timeline

Week beginning 6th January -  
Planning shoots, costumes, music, capture of photo images for photo storyboards


Week beginning 13th January -

filming, music finished, storyboards uploaded to blog, creating studio & production idents/screens


Week beginning 20th January - 

uploads of filming, editing and creation of raw footage / editing to complete the first 'cut', editing images - to produce first cuts ready for feedback


Week beginning 27th January - 
first focus group work (collect feedback from within the group & HY/MO) / re-editing / planning and completion of any reshoots / planning construction of sound


Week beginning 3rd February - 
construction of sound / titles / final edits of film OTS


Week beginning 10th February - 
exhibition and distribution of 'first cut' of final films shared on digital/social networks for the purpose of focus group feedback - use surveys/ questionnaires and allow time for feedback / work on Blogs to ensure all the above is evidenced: talking head, reflective note, production plans, slideshares.....


Week beginning 17th February = Half term - complete focus group research / complete Blogs / plan final improvements to productions in response to the feedback


Deadline for completed Research & Planning Blogs and First Drafts of Productions is the 28th February (Friday after half term)

Sound planning (Background music, context)

The origins of film noir music:


Origins of Film Noir from FilmmakerIQ.com on Vimeo.

Examples of music from film noir: 

http://parallax-view.org/2009/04/02/keeping-score-musique-noir-investigating-the-sound-of-film-noir/

8tracks.com/explore/film_noir‎
(I can't go on the website as the school has blocked it and I am making this post in school, but I will check the link when I'm at home)

Double Indemnity (1944) soundtrack:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036775/soundtrack

Music:

TANGERINE ~ Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra 1942

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2k0fAfInPA‎

02 - 1822 Schubert - Symphony No.8 in B minor, 'Unfinished'.mp3

We are planning to use audiotool to create our music as no one in our group can play musical instruments and it abides copyright laws. If you follow the link http://www.audiotool.com/user/fergiecal/templates/ you'll see two drafts, the song named "bad monday" was created by Cal, we are planning to use this song to base our music on. Cal will be improving and finishing "bad monday" for our OTS.

Our whole opening title sequence will use a small amount of dialogue. 

Costume and prop ideas