How are the techniques of sound and music used for effect in Hollyoaks

In this excerpt of Hollyoaks sound techniques are used in order to mainly build tension. It helps with the build up of tension through use of many different techniques such as amplifying certain sounds for more dramatic effects. An example of this is at the beginning of the excerpt when we here certain deigetic noises being amplified, such as the sound of the leaves rustling, this creates a build up of tension as we know they are in the forest and this could potentially be a place for danger, this amplified sound makes the audience aware that they are in a slightly dangerous situation, it is useful for dramatic effect. Max’s voice is also amplified during this excerpt, we hear him shout for Tom. This technique is used for effect because it instantly makes the audience more aware of Max’s fear at this moment in time, it also makes it knows that Tom is in a dangerous situation, this is technique is useful for a build up of tension here as yet again it makes us aware of a dangerous situation.

Diegetic and amplified sounds are also used when we see Max fall into the water, the splash is extremely amplified and we also here in detailed the sounds of the bubbles, the use of sound being amplified here adds to the tension that wants to be created, it also adds to the danger, it almost makes the audience seem as though they are in the situation themselves, because a close up of the water is shown on screen at the same moment we here the amplified splash, it makes it all seem much more realistic to the viewer.

The use of non-diegetic sound is also used for effect during this excerpt as after every time someone shouts or after a realisation that something dangerous has happened, we hear the sound of trumpets playing, now this sound is quite high pitched and actually quite jumpy, and at this moment in time it is exactly how the excerpt wants people to feel. You cannot see the trumpets playing, they are not actually part of the scene but the fact that you can hear them is still a factor needed within the scene as it useful to create a sense of drama. This music also gets faster and louder through out the scene to add to this build of tension. The sound of trumpets is also quite a creepy sound, it is quite alert, and this represents how the character of Max and Obe are feeling when you hear it. It is not necessarily a sound you here when you see a character which his up to no good.

Throughout the whole scene the music is generally quite synchronous, it doesn’t tend to sound out of place for example when Max is in the water and we see him trying to stay afloat the music isn’t light, calm or happy, it is generally quite fast, loud and very dramatic again building an extreme amount of tension when we hear it. The music then goes quite calm and sad when Max’s ‘death’ is apparent to the viewer. It is quite sad and reminiscent to suit what has gone on within the action. When action is happening the music generally goes quite fact to keep the audience attentive and to know that what is happening is eventful until we meet a dramatic climax in which the music has been building up to. We also see contrast when the action turns to sadness when the dramatic event has happened, such as Max’s apparent death here.

Sound Motifs are also used to full effect during this scene as when we see the character of Clare stood above Max and watching him drown, the sound of trumpets stop and the music changes to quite dark and weary music when we see her, this tells us even more so that this character is bad. The music establishes the fact that she is a character you should be quite afraid of within this excerpt, it establishes on top of what is scene on screen. It seems like when ever you see this character the music will change, making it a motif for the character of Clare. You will see that this type of music disappears when Clare has been punched, her sound motif disappears and the weary music stops. This therefore means that the characters within the scene are no longer in any danger as this character has been knocked out and cannot harm anyone, there fore her motif stops.

How are Camera techniques and editing used in this screened excerpt of shameless

A long shot of Frank is used, from behind to enable the audience to see his location, the fact that he is walking forward and with another person, it also lets us see his state, he is drunk and the long shot lets us see him staggering about. The long shot used here also lets us see a car moving slowly and up close to Frank on the road, it enables the audience to see that the car is following him. It the cuts to a point of view shot from the view of the person driving the car, this shot reinforces the idea that Frank, the character in this scene, is being followed. A tracking shot of Frank is then used in order to track his and the cars journey, because both of these are in the picture we therefore know something is going to happen.

As the car speeds up more point of view shots from the car driver are used to again reinforce the fact that the car is following Frank, but this time they are used to make it more understandable that the car is actually trying to hit him, when this happens as the car swerves it speeds toward the van, a match on action shot is used here to show the car speeding toward the van, and hitting it. A long shot is then used to enable the viewer to see what has happened.

Close ups are used also, firstly of Franks face so that it portrays his shock after what has happened, and also editing is used here; an eye line match is used to after we get a close up of franks face to show his shock, he is looking at something, we then see what he is looking at, his son Phillip, this reinforces also the look on Franks face.

Pace steadily builds up as Phillip the fight begins, cuts get shorter. The fast pacing here is used in order to show the audience that a lot is going on, also to keep the audiences attention as this is an important part of the story.

When the fight builds up, quick cuts to other characters that are not actually where the fight is taken place are put in. These are mainly medium close ups. These are used to show what other people are feeling; such as we see a medium close up of Sheila looking gout the house window in shock. It also establishes their location, such as these characters are witnessing the fight from the house. A fish eye shot is also used when we cut to other characters, and this is used so that the audience can get a look into Karen’s state of mind at this point she is confused and the fish eye shot shows this as the room is out of focus and unsteady, it represents her state of mind.

The camera seems as though it has become handheld when the fight begins, it is unsteady throughout, this creates a more realistic charm to the scene, it is almost like the viewer is there and also it creates the element of danger, the camera is unsteady there for things in the scene are unsteady. The camera then becomes steady one again when the main drama is over.

Many high angle shots are used in this scene, one reason is so that we can see that frank and Lip are fighting on the floor, this enables the viewer to see properly what exactly is happening, also we see a lot of high angle shots aimed at frank, this is to show that his level of moral is extremely low throughout this scene.

An extreme close up is used to show the viewer the state of franks face from what Phillip as done to him, it also give the scene more of an element of violence, we see blood all over the screen and somebody pressing a tissue on it to mop it up, we instantly no this scene is taking place after the fight. The fight has ended. A zoom out shot is also used here after the close up, so that we can see whom else is in the room and so that the rest of the scene can rake place. Editing is also used in this scene. We see an eye line match from frank toward Karen, and obviously the audience know why he is looking at her at this point, he can’t say anything because of the situation between the three characters.