Developing My Own Soundtrack.

Spotting - Going through the film and figuring out what parts of the audio track needs work, or special effects added in etc.

Picture lock - When the edit of the film is completely finished. The film won't be edited again visually as otherwise the sound effects would all be out of sync with the video, and it would all have to be done again.




What sound adds to the image?
-Unless it's a science fiction film, sound is always doing something to the images on screen. The audience shouldn't be aware of the order of the soundtrack.

When is sound added to the film?
-After it's been 'picture locked' and the picture edit has been completed. A spotting session means going through the film scene by scene and making a note of what is expected to be heard in every scene, and what needs to be changed/fixed etc.

The layers of a soundtrack.
-The original recording (dialogue recorded on day of shooting), then atmosphere, music, special effects etc. There's no score during the death of the boy in Ratcatcher, and it is completely silent as they didn't feel that adding effects would make it realistic.

Enhancing sound.
-A door closing/tea cup being put down is directly relating to the image, and they need strong sounds to back this image up. The subtle sounds like clothes rustling add a three diminutional image to the picture. Environmental sounds such as water/a canal surroundings/industrial sounds gives a feeling of reality and can also add to the drama.

Sound and music.
-Demo music is a temporary music track, or a soundtrack from another film which relates to the scene and gives an idea of how they want the final piece of music to be. The first 2/3rds of the film 'Hunger' is more realistic, meanwhile, the last third becomes slightly more stylised and dreamlike where the character is dying, but it isn't something you would be aware of unless you really listen carefully for it.

Soundtrack and audience.
-When creating the soundtrack, you're aware of the audience's expectation and the intentions of the director/writer. The script is read before seeing the images, and the sounds can be mentioned within the script about how the writer/director wants the story to be portrayed with sound.