This document defines and distinguishes between diegetic and non-diegetic sound. Diegetic sounds have a visible source in the film, such as dialogue, weather sounds, vehicles or weapons. Non-diegetic sounds do not have a visible source and include score music, narration (if the narrator is not a character), and canned laughter. Examples are provided of films that use only diegetic sounds or remove diegetic dialogue to focus the viewer. The document instructs the reader to analyze the use of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds in the Ender's Game trailer and discuss how other films have used these sounds uniquely.

1. Sound For Moving Image
Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound

2. In this session we shall…
Look at Diegetic and Non-Diegetic
Define which sounds fit into which of these categories.

3. Diegetic Sounds
Is sound who’s source is visible on the screen
•Characters dialogue
•Weather – Wind, Sea etc
•Vehicles
•Weapons

4. Non-Diegetic Sounds
Sounds that are not heard by the characters or not
produced by elements in the film
•Score Music
•Narration (Only if narrator is not a character in the film)
•Canned Laughter
•Sound FX

5. Diegetic and Non-Diegetic
Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juVb1SDHWrk

6. Task
1. Open up the Ender’s Game Trailer.
2. Listen to the original sound file
3. In two separate columns in (Word or on paper), list the
Diegetic and Non-Diegetic sounds existing in this
example.
4. When you have listed them all, write a short evaluation
of the sound of the film

7. What do you notice?
Does the film favour more Diegetic or Non-Diegetic music?
How does the film balance the two?
Are there any unique Diegetic/Non-Diegetic features that
are specific to this film?

8. No Non-Diegetic Music
Some films choose to feature only Diegetic sound in their
product due to a specific feel that they can achieve with
this technique.
Other films choose to remove Diegetic dialogue from their
scenes to focus the viewer on what is being said by the
characters despite the fact it is not replicated in the audio.

9. The French Connection
Gene Hackman and Roy Schneider are tracking a couple of assumed
criminals. The cops stand outside in the cold while the bad guys are inside
eating a gourmet dinner.
The camera sits a few feet from the
criminals as they engage in
conversation. At every other point in
the film, a camera that close, trained
on dialogue, allows us to hear the
spoken words. At this point, though,
Director William Friedkin chooses
to have the dialogue be silent,
forcing the audience into the same
perspective (in an auditory sense) as
the cops. Even if we see better than
they do, our in ability to hear what is
happening adds to the frustration

10. Task
Spend 10 minutes researching how other films have used
Diegetic and Non-Diegetic music to create a unique feel or
to convey a particular emotion to their audience.