Research into Sound of Thriller films.

The Sounds featured within thriller films are used to create understanding and meaning for the audience. This will then help create an audience's response to the film. The sounds are predominately used to illustrate the characters feelings and emotions, allowing a response to be generated from the audience. This will create a certain mood and atmosphere that is in the context of the visuals and genre, which is often used to symbolise both the protagonists and antagonists actions during a scene. There are many different sound techniques that directors use including: diagetic, non-diagetic, parallel sounds, on screen sound and off screen sound.

Diagetic sound can be anything that a character would hear within a scene; for example, a telephone ring, dialogue and dogs barking. It is also used to distinguish elements of tension from the rest of the scene. Diagetic sound tends to be used to convey realism and meaning within a scene, however the sounds can also have hidden connotations. One example of this could be heavy rainful, which often connotes sadness and stress, whilst the onomatopoeic, 'pitter patter' of slow rain can connote a long wait or gradual build in suspense.

Non-digetic sound does not exist within the narrative of the film, but is placed into the soundscape during post-production editing. Examples of this sound include, a music soundtrack, a voice-over or other sounds that can enhance the meanings and elements of the film. For example, the building of a thick texture of orchestral music within a minor key, would connote extreme tension and infer that something fatal or enigmatic is about to take place within the scene. 

Parallel sound is when the sound we hear goes hand in hand with the events on screen. An example of this would be if we were about to witness a murder and dark, fast tempo music would accompany the action. The opposite of this would be 'Contrapuntal sound', when we hear sound that would not be associated with the events on screen.

'On screen' sound is used to illustrate an action. For example, a shot of the character switching the radio on. 'Off screen' sound does not accompany a visual action, for example somebody shouting in a room next door to the person who has just turned the radio on. Both of these 'Screen' sounds are examples of diegetic sound.

Research into how sound is used within the Film Industry:

Randy Thom, is the current Director of Sound Design at Skywalker Sound.

He has worked on many award winning films including Star Wars Episodes V & VI, Temple of Doom, and the second and fourth Harry Potter films.

Here he discusses:

•  how 'real life' vocalisations are added to a film to convey certain emotions. For example, a manipulation of pitch is often made or a transition to other sounds, i.e. the sound of a tiger. 
• For his sound work he uses Pro-tools and Sound search libraries at Skywalker. 
• He emphasizes the importance of having portable recording setups when coming across inspiration. 
• The use of volume variations between sound and the consideration given to real world sound vs synthesized sounds, where he often favours real sound as storytelling sounds over synthesized, electronic ones.
• Challenging scenes, such as action packed scenes of gun fights and car chases take a while to produce sound for, in order for it to be coherent to the audience. 
• The use of Dynamics.
• The future of sound and how he feel it will develop; increasing advances in technology. 

These were particularly interesting considerations I will take when creating the soundscape for our group's thriller film.