Film sound is carefully designed and mixed in post-production to emphasize important sounds and set the atmosphere. There are two main types of sound: diegetic sounds that exist within the world of the film and non-diegetic sounds that come from outside the film, like music soundtracks. Selective sounds emphasize key elements while ambient sounds create a sense of place. Film sound can also be synchronous to match actions, asynchronous from outside the story, or contrapuntal to create alternative meanings. Elements like voiceovers, theme music, and musical scores further manipulate atmospheres and narratives.

1. Sound
Film sound is as important and as carefully controlled as the visual elements of a
text. Although sound is often recorded on set, most film sound is added in post-
production
Film sound will be mixed very carefully to ensure that important sounds are
emphasised and that the correct atmosphere for a sequence is maintained
Selective sound is: Sound which is used to emphasise key sound elements within a
sequence.
Ambient sound is: Sound used to create a particular atmosphere or a sense of
place.
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Sound bridges – The use of sound to help transitions between sequences
pass more fluidly.
 Sound effects – Used to create a sense of realism or to create some
psychological impact or effect.
Sound can be either:
 Diegetic – that is, it exists within the world of the film or
 Non-diegetic – that is, it emerges from outside the world of the film, eg film
soundtracks
Diegetic Sound Non-Diegetic Sound
- Voices of characters
- Sounds made by objects e.g.
props
- Music from instruments in the
story e.g. a radio.
- Can be either in the frame or out
of the frame. Can be used to
create many different means for
an audience.
- Sound which is visible on the
screen or who’s sound is implied
by a person or actor.
- Sound is neither visible on the
screen nor implied to be present in
the action.
- Narrator commentary.
- Sound effects.
- Musical Score/Soundtrack.
- The distinction between diegetic
and non-diegetic depends on our
understanding of the conventions
of the film viewing and listening.
- Certain sounds are represented
as coming from the story, whereas
others are represented as coming
from outside of the story events.

2. Film sound can be either:
 Synchronous – When a sound effect is matched with another technical event
or action – reinforces the effect.
 Asynchronous – When a sound originates from outside of the diegetic reality
of the film; musical soundtrack.
 Contrapuntal – noise or sound effect which does not match the visuals, often
juxtaposition to create alternative meaning
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Voiceovers – The voice of the character. Maybe guiding narrative or an in
head voice.
 Theme music – Music that introduces, develops throughout and ends the
film. Often indicates the ‘personality’ and mode of the address of the movie.
Some characters may have their own theme music
 Musical Score – Used to create atmosphere, links shots or sequences, to
help create the narrative or offer information about characters
 Silence – Film / TV are very rarely completely silent, but this effect is
occasionally used to provoke a reaction from audience