Sound in trailers

1. Sound in
trailers

2. Diegetic and Non-diegetic
sound
The types of audio within trailers include both diegetic and non- diegetic.
Diegetic sound is any audio that is present within the visuals, within trailers especially
Thrillers the diegetic sound is usually a way in which the audience can become more
knowledgeable as to what the film the trailer is promoting may be about. Diegetic sound is
usually dialogue exchange between two characters in which audiences can understand
relationships between characters as well as a trailer only including the essential dialogue,
which for the genre of Thriller may help in enhancing the tension and suspense within an
audience. However, sometimes diegetic sound can also include audio that may be from
within the set itself such as footsteps or a door slam, this tends to be intensified within the
editing process to emphasise the sound to help provide a certain atmosphere.
Non-diegetic sound is any audio that is not present within the visuals. Non-diegetic sound is
more important in playing a role in creating suspense and a sense of jeopardy as non-
diegetic sound often includes music which is the element of sound which is the most crucial
in creating certain atmospheres. Moreover, non-diegetic sound may also include voice
overs and other various sound effects which help in either telling a story to its audience.

3. Dan Skinner
Dan Skinner from Teaching trailers explains voice overs and their importance a little further:
Dan Skinner states that voice overs are used for very specific types of trailers these include
trailers that are maybe not so dramatic whereby the visuals attract an audience such as
animation or comedies. However, it is more about the sound, within comedies for example, it
is key for an audience to know whether the humour of this comedy is suited for them so in
these type of trailers a voice over is often used to set up some of the jokes. Moreover, within
animation a graphics card is often avoided as the audience only have a few seconds to read it
so it is not as in depth as a voice over may be. Dan Skinner explains that voice overs used to be
regularly used within film trailers but have been used less and less as times have gone on to
'copying graphics' leading us through the trailer.
Furthering from watching Dan Skinner's interview on voice overs I watched the Toy Story 4
trailer. From this trailer and from Dan Skinner's explanation I noticed that throughout the
trailer there are continuous voice overs of each character that has dialogue within, this helped
me, and other viewers understand the plot and what is going on in that scene. I imagined it
without the voice overs and the visuals would not have been able to explain the story line as
well as the voice overs due to it being an animation.