What Happens If The Soundtrack
Choice Isn't 'Right'?
(Independent research)
(Independent research)
This post relates back to my eailer post named:
It also includes information about the opening of Jackie Brown (1997).
You can view my case study HERE.
If the soundtrack used with a selected clip doesn't fit well, or even isn't even 'right' for the scene, then the whole atmosphere, mood, setting, and mise-en-scene is completely lost.
For example, the opening of "Jackie Brown" (1997) uses an upbeat, powerful, and jazz-like non-diegectic soundtrack called "Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack (birth name: Bobby Dwayne Womack). It immediately establishes the character of Jackie Brown as being glamorous, upbeat and lively.
However, thanks to the director Quentin Tarantino, he has offered an alternative opening sequence in the DVD extras.
He uses the opening to represent the film very differently. He shows us that if a different soundtrack was used, the whole opening loses the correct atmosphere and setting for the rest of the film. The opening of a film is very important as it hooks the audiences' attention.
Instead, he shows the film's genre as being more a comedy because of Jackie Brown's comical movements and by using "Miserlou" by "Dick Dale" as the soundtrack. Whereas the original is very serious because Jackie Brown is standing still without movement because she is working
(has a job) and moving along a treadmill.
(has a job) and moving along a treadmill.
Even through the alternative soundtrack is also very upbeat and powerful due to the use of an electric guitar and the paste of the music, it may capture her upbeat personality, however it still doesn't exactly 'capture' Jackie Brown's characteristics. Whereas in the original, the audience finds it very hard to read Jackie Brown as her facial expression and pose is very neutral.
This is why it is important to pick the correct type of soundtrack to use in mine and James' thriller opening. To keep the audience in suspense and wanting to watch the rest of the film to find out more information about the characters, story, and even how the genre of the film is represented.
How's your planning of the sound track going? You need to post some examples onto your blog. One way of testing your sound track is to listen to possibile tracks whilst editing your film.
ReplyDeleteI've mentioned possible soundtracks to use in an eailer post. This post can be viewed using this link:
ReplyDeletehttp://austenmedia.blogspot.com/2012/01/soundtrack-ideas-unfinished.html?utm_source=BP_recent
It's called ""The Importance of an 'Excellent' Soundtrack Within a Film". Two possible choices which myself and James could use are right at the bottom. I'm temped to make the section called "Soundtrack Ideas" into a separate post. However, the explanation above that section explains why it's there, or in other words, it makes more sense why it's in the same post I believe.
James had found a very dramatically thrilling soundtrack from a website called "Freeplaymusic", along with 2 or 3 more. http://freeplaymusic.com/ However, myself and James need to double check if the music from this site is copyright-free and possible to use. James has said he would email Mr.Seal, yet at the moment I am unaware if he has or hasn't. I'll email Mr.Seal now.
Thanks for reading this rather long, long reply above. It's appreciated very much! :)