RESEARCH- Why is sound so important in a film?

The main focus of sound is to enhance the visual image effect and create tone to the audience.

Horror and thriller movies for example, highly depend on sound to enhance the suspense and tension established in the scenes.

Whilst sound initially appears to be simple- music,sound effects or silence- there are a number of different sound terms to help us analyse and understand sound and how it is used or create.

Wild Track: An audio recording - intended to be synchronised with the film or video but recorded separately.

Ambient Sound: Background noise present in the scene.

Score: The score forms part of the films soundtrack, which usually includes dialogue, sound effects.

Song: A short poem or a set of words set to music or meant to be sung.

Voice-over: A piece of narration in the film or broadcast, not accompanied by an image of the speaker.

Dialogue: A conversation between two or more people.

Dubbing: When a foreign language is dubbed, the translations of the original is carefully attached to the lip movement of the characters in the film. - In the post-production.

Foley: The production of everyday sounds that are added to the film, video and other media content in post-production.

Synchronous: Sound which is matched to certain movement occurring in the scene.

Asynchronous: Matches the action which is performed however, is not precisely synchronised with the action.

Sound Bridge: A type of sound editing to create mood.

Sound Motif: A sound effect or combination of sound effects that are associated with a particular character, setting, situation or an idea.

Sound scape: A piece of music considered in terms of its component sounds. - combination to create atmosphere.

Sound Design: Editing audio suitable for the film.

Diegetic: Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film, 

Non-Diegetic: Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor implied to be present in the action.

Sound is used in film to establish tone, atmosphere and to give the audience hints reference the plot, characters or to identify the genre of the film. Sound is also used to contribute 'suspend disbelief' to create realism for the viewer and enhance their experience of the film.

Sound disbelief is knowing something in the film is fiction, but believe it to watch the movie. George Lukas, director of star wars said that about 50% of the film is made up of sound. This shows the importance of sound and how it can have an effect on its audiences.