Score - Score goes from start of clip to 0:30-ish and then begins again at 1:09. Score can be used to create a mood for a scene and to manipulate the thoughts and feelings of the audience. The use of score in this scene in particular is mainly used to illicit the sort of awe-struck feeling that comes along when Superman tackles General Zod. The music crescendos triumphantly, to tell the audience, at least initially, that the actions that are about to happen are a sight to behold.
Dialogue/ADR(Automatic Dialogue Replacement) - There is dialogue at: 0:02, 0:11, 0:28 and 0:58 onwards. Dialogue is there to convey the thoughts and feelings of the characters and to also move along the plot. ADR is used to re-record dialogue that may have been lost in filming or to record new lines of dialogue for the sake of continuity. This technique is most often used when a character has their back turned to the camera and that character says something expository. For this scene, ADR was most likely used when Superman is talking to Zod about hearing and seeing everything, as all of the different noises happening at that moment during the scene may have blocked out the speech.
Sound Design - 0:00 onwards - Maybe could have been used for sound of flying through corn field and grinding against ground. 0:05 - Maybe could have been used for silos exploding. 0:21 - Maybe could have been used for explosion and Superman sliding on the ground. 0:28 - Zod's helmet flickering. Sound Design is used to create sound effects and noises that wouldn't be able to be made naturally with Foley. For example, the T-Rex roar in Jurassic Park was created by merging the roars and noises of multiple animals, such as an elephant and a dog.
Foley- See 'Sound Design' for possible foley effects. 0:11 to 0:17 Superman punching Zod. 0:35 - Zod throwing is cape away. Foley is used to recreate the sound effects made by people in everyday life, such as opening/closing doors, footsteps, punching etc. this is done to make the film feel more real to the viewer, as to aid in the suspension of disbelief, in turn, making the audience empathise with the characters on screen more effectively.
Ambiance/Atmosphere - 0:40 onwards - People screaming and running away from Superman and Zod. Also see 'Score'. Ambiance or Atmosphere is used in film to create a tone for a scene and to engross the audience in the world that the film takes place in. For example, in Gravity, the breathing and shuffling of Sandra Bullock's character's body within the spacesuit as well as the reverb heard when she handles objects within space. It is another factor in helping the audience suspend their disbelief.
The elements of a soundtrack are:
- Score/Underscore
- Dialogue & ADR
- Sound Effects/Sound Design
- Ambiance/Atmosphere
- Foley
- Wild Tracks
1- What is a film score and why is it used? A film's score is the music that is written especially for the film itself. Scores are used to manipulate the thoughts and feelings of an audience during a scene.
2- What are Foley sound effects and why are they used?
Foley sound effects are the sounds that already exist in life and that are made by people everyday (e.g. gravel or grass underfoot, doors opening/closing, footsteps.). Foley is used to make the sound effects that are made by people everyday audible during a scene.
3- What is ADR and why is it used?
ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) is used to record dialogue within the continuity of the film. that may not have been heard or recorded properly during the time of filming. It can also be used to record new lines of dialogue for a scene.
4- What is the art of Sound Design?
The art of sound design is creating a new sound for something that does not already exist (e.g. lightsaber hum, phaser gun, dinosaur roar).
