Sound in Thrillers - Pulp Fiction

Sound is also used in thrillers to help to make it thrilling and create suspense for the audience.
There is either non-diegetic sound or diegetic. Non-diegetic is sound which has been added after in the editing process. For example, music may be added into a thriller to help create suspense. Diegetic sound is the noise which comes from the scene and is not added or edited in after, for example actors voices.Synchronous sound is also used which is where the sound is synchronised with the object emitting the sound. This help to create tension for the audience viewing the film during an important scene.

The soundtrack in Pulp Fiction is synchronous. The music fits with what is happening in the scene at the time, helps to create the atmosphere in the scene, and emphasising tension, humor and suspense when appropriate. Apart from the soundtrack which is the main non-diegetic sound in the film, there is gunshots and other sound effects.There is silence used at time throughout Pulp Fiction which creates again tension but also a sense of mystery. It gives the audience an uneasy feeling and keeps them hooked on the film as they are wondering what is going to happen next. Once the silence has been broke the scene tends to be pivotal to the film and for the audiences understanding of the storyline.

This sound is typical of the thriller genre as it helps to create tension and suspense which is what is aimed to be achieved with films in the thriller genre. The soundtrack is typical as it helps to create an atmosphere and the extra added non-diegetic sound such as gunshot which make it typical of the genre.


Soundtrack for Pulp Fiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4cLmXml8O0


Sound in Thrillers

Some of the sound features which appear in thrillers are:
- Music
-Sound Effects
-Diegetic Sound
- Non-Diegetic Sound
-Noise
-Pitch
-Added effects - Heartbeat

Asynchronous is sound which is opposite the mood which is in the scene
Synchronous is sound which is in sync with the mood which is relevant to what is going on in the scene. It's also diegetic sound.

What makes a good thriller soundtrack?
Suspense
Tension/ the building on tension
Mixing of pitch
Dramatic
Crescendo
Instruments
Out of tune instruments
Change of pace
Enhances the emotion of the scene
Lots of contrast
The music tends to be in a minor key
Strings (high pitched)
Creates a sense of enigma - sense of mystery

Analysis of Pyscho shower scene, exploring how film technique are used to create effects - notes

Camera
-Mid shot used as the main shot in the scene
-Close up used to show detail and create tension
-Close up/low angle of shower head
- High angle of women showering- shows her helplessness and weakness
- Extreme close up of sink, eye and the plug hole which is a graphic match.
- Slow pan when the killer is introduced
-Tilt to show women falling to the floor
-Handheld used in the beginning to make it appear realistic
-Staggered zoom into her mouth

Editing
- Slow pace (drawn out) -makes you assume that something will happen. It also allows you to see the character in their surroundings.
-Pace speeds up when the women is killed and when the killer is first introduced into the shot. (fast paced shots)
-Shots go on for a long time (calming and natural)
-Cuts to a shot of stormy skies (pathetic fallacy)
-Camera spins, extreme close up of eye, this gives a sense of choas, panic and confusion.
- There is a graphic match of the plug and the eye.

Sound
Digetic
-Slow, calming neutral sounds (shower running)
-Sharp sound from the shower curtain moving
- The women screaming from being wounded and seeing the murdered for the first time
- The water going down the plug hole - this could connote the womens life wasting away

Non-diegetic
-Natural orchestral music - calming
-Sharp violin sounds (piercing)
-High pitch violin
-Low pitched drugs
-Inbetween (signals death/ the end.)

Sound in Thrillers

Some of the sound features which appear in thrillers are:
.Music
.Sound Effect
.Diegetic sound
.Non-Diegetic sound
.Noise
.Pitch
.Added effects - Heartbeat

Asynchronous is sound which is opposite to the mood which is in the scene.
Synchronous is sound which is in sync with the mood which is relevant to what is going on in the scene. It's also diegetic sound.

What makes a good thriller soundtrack?
.Suspense
.Tension - the building of tension
. High pitched music
Mixing of pitch
.Dramatic
.Crescendo
.Instruments
.Out of tune instruments
. Change of pace
. Enhances the emotion of the scene
.Lots of contrast
.The music tends to be in a minor key
Strings (high pitched)
.Creates a sense of enigma - sense of mystery

What is editing?

Editing is how clips of film are joined together, how clips are ordered and structured, the speed/pace of the editing and the use of special effects/CGI.

Transitions
Transitions are the ways which to shots are joined together. The most common transition which is used is the straight cut. This is where a shot cuts straight to another. There is also a dissolve transition which is sometimes used. A gradual transitions is again from one shot to another and helps to show continuity, and can also show a move from one location to another.

Fade to black/white
This is where one shot fades in or out to either black or white. It used because it creates a sense of time passing or if it is done quickly, it can show flashbacks.

Fade in/out
This is when a shot is faded out to a black screen or in from a black screen. This shows progression of time or can give a sense of chaos to a situation. It can also be used as a montage effect and is placed at the beginning or end of a sequence.

Cross Cutting
Cross cutting is where actions cut between sequences to create links. It normally parallels or contrasts between the two storylines and their settings. It's also used because it creates tension and suspense.

Wipe
This is where a line moves across the screen showing a transition from one shot to another. It shows a change in time, location etc.

Jump Cut
This is an abrupt cut between shots. It gives a dramatic effect and can begin and end action scenes. If it is edited poorly however, it can look bad.

Visual Effects
Visual effects can range from using black and white to using CGI. They can be used in many different ways, such as making a new film appear old by using a grain effect.

Graphic Match
This is where two shots are put together against each other that match together.

Continuity Editing
This maintains the spatial relationships in a film. This helps to call the audiences attention to specific objects/characters/events in the film.

Screenshot of Batman with Analysis

This shot is a midshot. This still from the film is zoomed out and has been framed so that there is a lot of the background left in. This helps to create a sense of drama and excitement. The dark lighting in the shot helps to create an atmosphere of mystery and suspense. The clothes batman is wearing are all black, that also helps to connote mystery, darkness and danger.

Why Study Film Noir?

Film Noir is mostly filmed in black and white. It usually has dark themes within the film and it started in the 1950's.

It was the first "Thrillers" in mainstream cinema and it was hugely popular in its day. These films have extremely effective use of mise-en-scene: lighting, characters, make up, proper, costume etc.

What is Film Noir?
. A hero with a past
. A fatal women (femme fatale)
.Mostly set in big American cities
.Most popular after World War 2
.Main themes: sexual politics, crime, the past catching up with you.

Thriller: Sub genres and Audiences

Sub genres
A sub genre is a genre within a genre.
A hybrid is where genres mix together.

Different thriller films mixed with different genres

Speed: Action
Sin City: Action, Noir
District 9: Sci-fi
The Departed: Crime/Gangster
Stigmata: Horror

The Departed - Crime, drama,thriller. Demographic - 18 year old up, targeted at males, and any race/nationality.

Audiences 

Demographics:
.Age
.Gender
.Race/Nationality
.Socio-economic class
.Psychographics
.Interest and hobbies
Lifestyle and jobs

Socio-Economics 
A- CEO's, doctors, surgeons, headteachers
B- Teachers, high manager roles
C1- Nurses, accountants
C2- Plumbers, carpenters
D- Retail
E- Students, pensioners, unemployed

Notes

Composition and Framing
Composition is where objects are placed and arranged in a shot - how we compose and put together a shot.

Rule of Thirds
Rule of thirds is where the points of interest are within in a picture -  where the lines cross. When you compose a shot you imagine a grid over it.

The Golden Mean
When composing a shot imagine a diagonal line over the top of it. Points of interest also occur along this line.

Framing
Framing is what you choose to include in the shot and what you decide to leave out. You have to look how much space is given around the subject. What you leave out can be important, a thriller might exclude objects to create tension.

Camera Shots

.Extreme long shot - This is where the subject isn't clearly visible. The point is to show the subjects surroundings, it's often known as an "establishing shot".

. Long Shot- The subject takes up almost the full frame. It can be used to show a character in their environment.

.Midshot - This shows part of the subject in detail, usually from the waist up. This works well when a character is speaking information.

Medium Close up - This is half way between a midshot and a close up.

Close up - This is where a certain feature or part of the subject takes up most of the frame. This is a useful shot to show detail.

Extreme close up - In this shot you get right in a show extreme detail. It can show important detail on a subject and there needs to be a reason to get this close.

Cutaway - A cutaway is a shot which is usually used to show something other than action. It's also used to buffer between shots.

Two shot - This is good for establishing relationships between two things and could also involve movement or action.

Over the Shoulder Shot - This is framed from behind the person. The person whom is facing the subject should usually occupy about 1/3 of the frame.

Noddy Shot - This shot is common in interviews. It involves the person listening or reacting to the subject.

Point of View Shots - This shot shows a view from the subjects perspective. It is usually edited so that you know who's point of view it is.

Camera Movements

Low Angle Shot - This shot is taken from below the object, looking up at it. This gives the subject a sense of power as it looks bigger,

High Angle Shot - This shot is taken from above the subject, looking down at it. This gives a sense of helplessness,

Tracking Shot - This is a shot which follows the subject. The camera moves on a dolly to follow the subject and gives a sense of speed whilst moving with the action.  

Pan shot - This is where the camera moves from left to right on a tripod following the subject.

Tilt - This is where the camera tilts vertically up and down which gives a sense of size and height.

Canted Angle -  This is where the camera position is not straight towards the subject. This gives a sense of chaos or insanity.

Zoom in/out - Focuses in on particular detail and highlights certain objects.

Steadicam/handheld - This is where the camera moves with the action and gives the viewer  a sense of realism.

Crane Shot - This is a high angle shot looking down on the subject, The crane can track, pan and tilt. It gives a sense of scale.

Aerial Shot - This is where the camera is positioned upon a plan or helicopter