Sound in Context
Listen to the music in this excerpt from the film Vertigo. The music that is being played is this type of sound.
What is non-diegetic?
What is diegetic sound?
What is diegetic sound?
Sound that originates from within the film's world, such as characters talking or footsteps.
This color is representative of mystery, evil, death
What is black?
What does a high-angle shot make a subject seem?
Weak, vulnerable, or small.
What is a close-up shot used for?
To show a character's emotions by focusing closely on their face.
Listen to the music in this excerpt from the film Inside Out 2. The music that is being played is this type of sound.
What is diegetic?
What is non-diegetic sound?
Sound that comes from outside the film's world, like background music or a narrator’s voice.
This color is representative of hope, goodness, light.
What is white?
What effect does a low-angle shot have on the subject?
It makes the subject appear powerful or dominant.
What is a medium shot?
A shot taken from a medium distance, typically showing a character from the waist up, allowing a balance of the subject and the surroundings.
Listen to the voiceover in this excerpt from the film Jane the Virgin. The voiceover that is being performed is this type of sound.
What is non-diegetic?
Is the sound of a door slamming in a scene diegetic or non-diegetic, and why?
Diegetic, because it originates from the film’s environment.
This color is representative of danger, passion, urgency.
What is red?
In what kind of scene would a director use a high-angle shot?
To show a character’s vulnerability or to emphasise their helplessness in a tense moment.
When is a wide shot typically used?
To set the scene and show a character's full body in relation to their environment.
Listen to the percussion in the closing scene of Birdman. The music that is being played is this type of music.
What is non-diegetic that becomes diegetic?
When a character hears a song on the radio in the scene, is the music diegetic or non-diegetic? Why?
Diegetic, because the characters can hear it as part of their world.
This color is representative of peace, calmness, tranquility.
What is blue?
How does a low-angle shot influence the audience's perception of a character?
It makes the character seem intimidating, strong, or in control.
How does a medium shot help tell the story in a scene?
It allows viewers to see both the character’s expressions and some of the surrounding context, balancing emotion and setting.
Listen to the song in this excerpt from the film Magnolia. The song that is being performed is this type of sound.
What is non-diegetic that becomes diegetic?
What is the purpose of non-diegetic sound in a film?
To enhance the emotional impact or mood of a scene, often guiding how the audience should feel without being heard by the characters.
This color is representative of life, growth, money.
What is green?
How can combining both high and low-angle shots in a scene enhance storytelling?
It can contrast power dynamics between characters, showing one as dominant and the other as vulnerable, creating tension or drama.
Why would a director choose a wide shot over a close-up?
To emphasize the environment or situation the character is in, often used to create a sense of scale or isolation.