Prepare

As we have been discussing, the mise en scène of a film is the use of a variety of design elements to create the visual theme. As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:

• Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 5 (Mise en Scene and Actors).

• Review the grading rubric for this discussion.

• Select a full-length film from the AFI 10 Top 10 list.

Reflect

Last week, we examined how different lighting styles and choices affected the final impact of a film. This week, we will consider different types and categories of sound at work in film and assess how they contribute to the overall sense of meaning in a film.

There are many types of sound in a film. Some are diegetic (sounds that are represented as coming from within the world of the film); others are non-diegetic (sounds that come from outside the world of the film). Your text describes the different categories of sound that fall under those types. What types of sounds, and what categories, are most effectively used in the film under consideration?

Write

Please view the video Adding Pictures and Video to Discussions and Introductions for guidance on how to integrate multimedia with your response.

Using specific examples from your chosen film, construct a discussion post of at least 200 words in which you

• Describe each of the three basic categories of sound (dialogue, sound effects, and music).

• Explain how the different categories of sound are being used in your chosen film.

o Assess the impact of sound in establishing the theme.

o How does the use of sound inform the mood of the scene, or the film overall?

o Can you identify specific sounds in your film that allow you to infer a particular genre?

o Since each category of sound may produce a range of effects, how might you characterize the effects in your film? For example, realistic and expected sound effects may have a different effect on a viewer than exaggerated or unexpected ones.

• Assess how the scene or sequence would play differently if you changed or removed a key category of sound.

You must use at least two outside sources, in any combination of embedded video clips, still photos, or scholarly sources. All sources should be documented in APA style as outlined by the Ashford Writing Center. It is suggested that you approach this post by focusing your attention on the same film you will write about in this week's "Establishing Theme" assignment.