How Is Meaning Created In Switchblade Romance Through The Use Of Sound

In todays lesson (Tuesday 19th November 2008) we watched a scene from the film Switchblade Romance (2005) directed by Alexandre Aja. We were each given a different micro element to take notes about to understand how meaning is created through this. The micro element i was given was sound.

The scene starts with loud continuous screaming which creates a painful and angry atmosphere, while the screaming is happening there is a sound of something or someone being dropped or pushed away, this shows that there is a struggle between two people or a person and an object.    

With the the screaming is  still taken place a woman runs through a door leading into a bedroom. She is rushing around the bedroom which is shown through the sounds made. In this process there are sounds of objects being moved, dropped and the floorboards moving, with creates a sense of fear and not knowing what to do as she is running around the room from wall to wall.

At this moment the screaming dies out and eventually stops. With this the audience is able to hear a squeaking  or leather boots and footsteps on the wooden floorboards, this allows the viewer to know where the danger is or were it is coming from. As the danger moves the door that it enters through creeks, this tells the audience that the danger is entering or leaving the room. 

Throughout the scene there is a non-diagetic soundtrack which changes in pitch and length. it consists of long high pitched drones which are uncomfortable for the audience to listen to and so create an uncomfortable atmosphere. The soundtrack also has a slow bongo drum beat which connotes the danger mans heartbeat and footsteps. The tempo of the track also changes during the scene. When it increases it shows that the danger is growing, this is helped created by the volume of the track increasing.  

Analysis of professional thriller opening sequence

I will be analyzing how the micro element mise-en-scene is used to create atmosphere in James Bond Casino Royal.

The opening to Casino Royal takes place in a market square in Madagascar where people are betting on a fight between a snake and meerkat. This fight creates a fast and dangerous atmosphere to the movie as well a symbolic reference to james bond and his villain.

The people betting on the fight, who are seen to be locals from the village are wearing t-shirts, jeans and hats. James bond and his fellow 00 agents are wearing shirts, trousers and shoes. This again shows a big contrast between two rase groups and lifestyles.

In the scene james bond, played by Daniel Craig is standing in the first floor of a damaged building watching over the market. This gives james bond the effect of a senior, stronger and vigilant character compared to his villein watching the fight who is, in this scene seen to be a weaker character although still important.