Sound in TV Drama

Starter

Define diegetic sound

Sound that can be heard within a

scene.

What does it include?

Speech, shouting,

Define non diegetic sound

Sound that cannot be heard on scene.

What does it include?

Sound effects,

Sound in TV Drama – Dr Who

What does the soundtrack contribute to the sequence? Builds up tension and suspense, sets the mood and sets us up for

something dramatic.

How does the music create atmosphere? Building up tension as the situation is unravelling, helps tell the

story and narrative. What sound effects are evident? Non diegetic- the music, sound effects Diegetic- speech,gunshot

How does the sound signify the mood and/or genre of the television drama?

Sci- Fi- Gun sound – space sound tells us that its not action but SCI-fi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8se21a7FkE&list=CLs52aYF4Kmp4

Analysis of Sound in TV Dramas

For this task you will be watching 4 clips from TV Dramas. Use the ones that I have uploaded for different topics in the other folders as you have seen them before.

For each of the slides give an example of how it was used and what effect it has on the audience/the message it is trying to portray.

Define these sounds

Dialogue- Written or spoken

Voiceover- A narrators voice is heard over the scene

Incidental music- Incidental music is a TV drama’s non-diegetic "background" music,

that adds atmosphere to the action

Ambient sound- consists of the sounds of a given location or space

Themes and stings- sting is a short sound or piece of music, primarily used as a form

of punctuation a

Soundtrack- Is songs that are used as background sounds during the program

recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a

motion picture, book, television program or

video game; a commercially released

soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show

; or the physical area of a

film that contains the synchronized recorded sound.

Dialogue

Medical Drama – Serial Crime Drama – Series A lot of dialogue as well as silence as it used in this

drama because the silence is building up suspense and tension also the current situation that the characters are in is not a clam situation, so to make the conversations between characters look real speaking a lot makes it seem real.

Teen Drama - US Series OC the dialogue is between the main character and

others discussing his future less words are spoken as the subject at hand is emotional.

Period Drama – Series Downtown Abbey the show is from a certain period of

time but the dialogue is not stereotypical as the audience would think.

Voiceover

Medical Drama – Serial No voiceover is used in this clip Crime Drama – Series Used when the male has been shot

and the assassins are discussing what should happen to the man who was assassinated.

Teen Drama - US Series The OC there is no voiceover Period Drama – Series No voiceover is used

Incidental music Medical Drama – Serial Casualty has background music during the conversation

between the waitress and the brothers. The music lightens the mood as the scene is in café where the atmosphere should be happy.

Crime Drama – Series The background music playing helps build tension and

suspense as the main characters are trying to chase the assassins, it helps the audience understand what feelings they should have during this clip such as excitement.

Teen Drama - US Series OC the music played in the background is Jeff Buckley

Hallelujah as the main character is saying goodbye this song is slow and can help give the audience the understanding of what they are supposed to feel as the music is sad the audience is feeling what the character is feeling.

Period Drama – Series No incidental music is played

Ambient sound

Medical Drama – Serial The background sounds that the audience is able to hear are during

the shopping scene the people who are shopping, birds and other cars as well as equipment being used while the male is in the back of the ambulance. During the scene where the male passes out the females heels are heard and in the café scene cups and metal banging are heard as well as the atmosphere of other people in the nearby area. Outside of the café footsteps and other peoples voices are heard.

Crime Drama – Series The sounds of pedestrians and others involved in the scene are heard

along with their shrieking and footsteps as they are running. Teen Drama - US Series The OC footsteps, the movements of the bags and also how the

character moves in heard but also the audience can hear birds and other things etc.

Period Drama – Series Other people around the table can be heard during the characters

conversations along with metal cutlery hitting the plates and also people moving around.

Themes and stings

Medical Drama – SerialCrime Drama – SeriesTeen Drama - US SeriesPeriod Drama - Series

Soundtrack

Medical Drama – SerialNone is heard during the scenes

except for the café where it is instrumental.

Crime Drama – SeriesOrchestra is heard Teen Drama - US Series Jeff Buckley hallelujah Period Drama – SeriesNone

Plenary

What is the function of sound in TV dramas?

To create tension and suspense but also it informs the viewer of what they are supposed to feel.