Audio pro forma

1. Audio
Shanice Yates

2. Idea Generation/Initial Reaction
For my audio project, I decided that I would tell the story and create a soundscape around that to
set the atmosphere for the ghost story. Because the story I chose had ghosts that made lots of
noises and moving objects, I will be able to record a variation of sound effects for the
soundscape. I also thought that I may have a wind sound effect or wind in the background to set
an eerie scene.

3. Story options
‘The Surrency Haunting’ is the ghost story I chose for my audio project. It is a true story of a man
whose house was haunted in the 1870s. Allen Powell Surrency was a sawmill operator and
founder of the small town Surrency, Georgia. It is said that the haunting started in 1872. After
returning from a trip, he entered his house and saw glasses and crockery falling, pots, pans and
shelves. At face value it looked as if an earthquake had struck, but the strange occurances
continued for years. It is reported unexplained screams or voices being heard, objects falling or
moving from nowhere. Surrency says these incidents can be confirmed by several witnesses. This
haunting continued until 1877 when the owner died. The house can not be visited now as it
burned down in 1925. I thought this would be an interesting story to use, and I also have lots of
options when creating sound effects for the soundscape.

4. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=The+Surrency+House+Ghost&safe=strict&source=hp&ei=M7rRYKaxHYjzgAbuo7OwBw&iflsig
=AINFCbYAAAAAYNHIQ5alabcNNnQ_K0KFwNA8Ly-
baqWa&oq=The+Surrency+House+Ghost&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyCAghEBYQHRAeMggIIRAWEB0QHjIICCEQFhAdEB4yCAghEB
YQHRAeMggIIRAWEB0QHjoICAAQ6gIQjwFQiRBYiRBgnBpoAXAAeACAAW2IAW2SAQMwLjGYAQCgAQKgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6sAEK
&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjmltD7gqvxAhWIOcAKHe7RDHYQ4dUDCAo&uact=5
https://random-times.com/2020/08/12/the-real-story-of-the-surrency-ghosts-georgia/
https://www.liveabout.com/the-surrency-haunting-2595940

5. Research- If you are unable to find your own examples, you can use the ones
below.
• The Archers (audio drama)
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr/episodes/player
• Short Cuts (documentary/factual)
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mk3f8/episodes/player
• Lore (documentary/factual)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3RGz7Q_qlI
• Doctor Who (audio drama)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA50biqUB-8
• Soundscapes
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIUTO4gx5Eg
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JVm2IZ3ChU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc5YHodcXpM
DELETE THIS SLIDE WHEN DONE

6. Existing Products Research
• Short Cuts: Hauntings
This audio has a narrator telling the story with a soundscape in the
background. They also have an actor for certain parts in the story. the
audio started off with calm music and it built up with more eerie sounds,
violins and static sound effects to build tension and make the audience
feel on edge. at some points in the story the background music will stop
so it is just the narrator, this also helps build tension and makes you
wonder what’s going to happen next.
I could use these effects in my own audio to build tension and mystery
whilst narrating my story.

7. Existing Products Research
• Haunted House Soundscape
For the haunted house soundscape, it started out with thunder and
lightning sound effects to set the scene. A squeaky gate, knocking on a
door and footsteps are also heard. The rain sound effects gets quieter as
the person goes into the house, this makes it immersive for the audience
and they will feel like they are also in the haunted house. There are static
sound before heavy breathing and circus music suddenly plays. This sets
the scene that something could have scared the character and now they
are nervous or upset. A heartbeat sound effect is then played, whilst a
nursery rhyme is sang. This is unnerving as the audio then finishes with the
thunder sound effect so we don’t get to find out what happened to the
character or what was in the haunted house.
In my audio, I will also use sound effects to immerse the audience in the
story. However, mine will be different as I am also narrating a ghost story.

8. Planning

9. Script
Allen Powell Surrency, founder of the town Surrency, lived in a two story farmhouse with his family. Not
long after moving in, in October 1872 they returned from a trip to find they were not alone, their house
filled with angry and restless spirits. Witnessed by every member of the family, they were horrified to
see windows and doors slamming open and shut, silverware, pots and pans flying from shelves, the
clock on the wall spinning wildly. At first impressions, it would appear that the home suffered an
earthquake, but this unusual activity lasted months, even years. Screams and wailing voices woke the
family through the nights and objects continued to fall from nowhere. Footsteps wold also be heard and
shoe prints would appear that didn't match any of the family.
This story spread fast across the country and soon visitors would arrive to witness the violent
paranormal activity in person. One of these visitors said ‘That place was possessed by something evil’.
Witnesses also report activity such as unexplained screams heard, doors opening and closing, a chime
clock striking 13 and so much more. Allen finally decided he had enough after his son was chased down
the hall by a ghost one night. He moved his family out of the house, but the ghosts followed.
The paranormal activity suddenly stopped when Allen Surrency died in 1877. Whilst the town still
remains, the house is no longer, after burning down in 1925.

10. Sound Effects
Sound Effect Needed How I Will Create the Sound
Wind Record outside if it is windy
Door or window slamming Record opening/closing door
Crashing/smashing sound Use royalty free sound effects
Winding clock/ticking Use royalty free sound effects
Scream/ghostly voices Use royalty free sound effects
Footsteps Record my footsteps
Clock chime Use royalty free sound effects
Fire crackling Use royalty free sound effects

11. Resource List
Resource Owned/Cost What sound effect will it be
used for?
Phone To record the story and sound
effects
Adobe Audition To edit the audio
Door For door slamming sound effect
Shoes For footstep sound effect

12. Music
Band Name Track Name Link
astrofreq (Daniel
Carlton)
Suspenseful Drama Music https://pixabay.com/music/drama-scene-suspenseful-
drama-scene-3492/
Dylan Darby The Stillness of Winter https://pixabay.com/music/sneaky-the-stillness-of-winter-
4192/
Ladislav Weyrostek Horror Ambience 1 https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/horror-
ambience-1-smovi8f9wkhn58sj7.html

13. Evaluation

14. Reflection
For this audio mini project, I worked independently. We were tasked with creating an
audio/podcast/soundscape re-telling a ghost story. When brainstorming ideas, I
decided that I would like to read out a ghost story, and create a soundscape around it
to make it feel immersive to the audience. For research, I searched a variety of ghost
stories and paranormal sightings. The one that stood out the most to me was the
'Surrency Haunting'. This tells the story of a man who buys a house with his family and
ends up being haunted for years until he dies. I also listened to a ghost story on BBC
that had a similar style to how I wanted mine to be, I also listened to horror
soundscapes. When planning my soundscape, I thought that I could add sound effects
that go with the things that the ghosts were doing. For example, a crashing sound for
when plates are dropped, footsteps, chimes, etc. I also planned to use eerie sounding
music, as that was a convention that I found when listening to soundscapes and it also
sets an uneasy, spooky mood. During the production stage, I wrote a script re-telling
the story in preparation. I then recorded it on my phone. Unfotunately, the sound
effects I recorded ended up sounding muffled so to resolve this I used royalty free
sound effects online.