Lesson 5 Plan
Sound and Music
Overview
The soundtrack—music, dialogue, sound effects—is the glue that holds a film together. It has a powerful psychological effect in creating a sense of continuity in a film narrative.
The purpose of Lesson 5 is to investigate
the importance of sound in a movie. Most
people think movies are all about pictures; paradoxically, they are not. That’s
why we started this course with sound only (by listening to a radio show), and
that’s why we’re going to spend a whole lesson focusing on the crucial―and
often overlooked―role that
sound plays.
Time Estimate
It should take 3 hours to complete this lesson’s material.
Objectives
After successfully completing this lesson, you will be able to:
- Understand how important the soundtrack is to the ultimate success of a
movie.
- Describe how a soundtrack is put together in post-production.
- Explain how necessary music has been to film—even during the so-called silent
film period.
- Make an informed decision about buying a home theater system with surround
sound.
Activities
During this lesson, you will complete the following activities:
- At the Movies: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum:
We’ll watch Richard Lester’s film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical
A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The films that Lester
made in the ‘60s had complex and witty soundtracks, so keep an ear out for
some of the throw-away jokes. (He’s also known for his complex frame composition,
so watch closely for the visual jokes, too.) And enjoy Sondheim’s equally
witty music and lyrics!
- Outside the Theater: Studying Sound’s
Importance: We’ll re-watch
part of one of the films we’ve already seen―but this time with the sound
off―to understand how the soundtrack welds together the images of a
movie.