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IELTS Reading Passage: An Introduction to Film Sound
An Introduction to Film Sound
Though we may conceive of the cinema as primarily a visual experience, the significance of film sound cannot be overstated. A meaningful soundtrack is often as difficult as the visuals on the screen, and it is ultimately the director’s duty. The human voice, sound effects, and music are the three main components of the soundtrack. These three tracks must be blended and balanced in order to get the proper emphasis and effects. The next sections examine topics that are fundamentally related to the three previously stated tracks. Dialogue, synchronous and asynchronous sound effects, and music are among them.
Let us begin with a conversation. Dialogue, as in stage theatre, helps to explain the tale while also expressing the sentiments and motives of the characters. In film characterization, the viewer often sees little or no distinction between the character and the performer. Thus, actor Humphrey Bogart plays the role of Sam Spade; in the film, my online personality and real-life personality seem to mix. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the texture of a performer’s voice provides an aspect of the character.
When the performer’s speech textures match his or her physiognomy and movements, a complete and extremely lifelike character develops. The audience sees another human being battling with life rather than an actor honing his art. It’s worth noting that how the conversation is utilized and how much dialogue is used differ greatly across films. In the extremely successful science-fiction picture 2001, for example, there was little conversation, and much of it was bland and of little intrinsic appeal. In this approach, the filmmaker was able to depict what Thomas Sobochack and Vivian Sobochack describe as the “inadequacy of human reactions when contrasted with the marvelous technology developed by man and the aesthetic wonders of the cosmos” in An Introduction to Film.
In contrast, the comedy Bringing Up Baby has nearly non-stop conversation delivered at a rapid pace. This choice of speech emphasizes not just the dizzy nature of Katherine Hepburn’s role, but also the absurdity of the picture itself, and hence its comedy. The audience is thrown from one joke to the next and from one discourse to the next; there is no time for audience thought. The audience gets swept up in a frenzy of action just trying to keep up with the storyline. This picture is sheer escapism, thanks to its fast-paced language.
Sounds that are synced or matched with what is seen are referred to as synchronous sound effects. For example, if a character in the film is playing the piano, the sounds of the piano are projected. Synchronous noises enhance cinematic realism and serve to create a certain ambiance. The “click” of a door being opened, for example, may just help to persuade the audience that the picture shown is genuine, and the audience may only unconsciously notice the anticipated sound. However, if the ‘click’ of an opening door is part of a sinister deed, such as a burglary, the sound mixer may draw attention to the ‘click’ by increasing the volume; this serves to interest the audience in a moment of tension.
Asynchronous sound effects, on the other hand, do not correspond to a visual source of sound on the screen. Such noises are utilized to convey appropriate emotional complexity, and they may also contribute to the film’s reality. A filmmaker, for example, may choose to incorporate the background sound of an ambulance siren while the foreground sound and picture depict a fighting pair. The asynchronous ambulance siren emphasizes the emotional pain caused by the dispute while also adding to the film’s reality by noting the film’s metropolitan location.
We’ve all heard of background music in movies, which has grown so common that its absence is obvious. It is well known that it is utilized to enhance passion and rhythm. Usually not intended to be noticed, it often gives a tone or emotional attitude toward the tale and/or the individuals represented. Furthermore, background music often foreshadows a shift in mood. Dissonant music, for example, may be utilized in cinema to convey an impending (but not yet evident) threat or calamity.
Background music may help viewers comprehend situations by connecting them. For example, a certain musical tune is connected with a specific character or circumstance. It may be replayed at numerous moments during a film to remind the viewer of key themes or concepts.
Film sound consists of both norms and novelties. We’ve become used to hearing music accelerate amid automobile chases and creaking doors in horror pictures. However, it is also crucial to highlight that sound is often masterfully planned. The effects of sound are often subtle and are only noticed by our subconscious brains. We must raise awareness of film sound and film space in order to really appreciate contemporary cinema, an art form that arose throughout the twentieth century
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An Introduction to Film Sound Reading Questions
Questions 1–5
Choose the correct letter: A, B, C, or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 1–5 on your answer sheet.
1. The writer emphasizes at the beginning of the article that
A. The director should plan the soundtrack at an early stage in filming.
B. It would be a mistake to ignore the importance of sound in filmmaking.
C. The music industry can have a beneficial influence on film sound.
D. Therefore, it is important for those working on the sound in a film to have sole responsibility for it.
2. One of the reasons the writer mentions Humphrey Bogart is to demonstrate
A. One of the reasons the writer mentions Humphrey Bogart is to demonstrate.
B. The audience needs performers to be physically suited for their roles.
C. The importance of the actors has had identical emotions to the role.
D. The audience’s desire for as much genuine dialogue as possible.
3. The writer claims in the third paragraph that
A. Audiences are inclined to be skeptical of film speech that does not match their own experience.
B. Film dialogue that looks to be boring may have a purpose.
C. The ability of filmmakers to handle dialogue varies greatly.
D. The most successful films are those with excellent dialogue.
4. What does the author think about bringing up?
A. The storyline suffers as a result of the filmmaker’s desire to emphasize hilarious dialogue.
B. The dialogue contributes to it being one of the finest comedies ever made.
C. There is a lag between the pace of discourse and the speed of action.
D. The dialogue underlines important aspects of the film.
5. The author uses the “click” of a door to demonstrate the importance of authentic noises.
A. They are often used to mislead the viewer about the happenings in the film.
B. Different members of the audience may view it differently.
C. may be altered in order to influence the audience’s reaction to the picture.
D. It is more prominent in films depicting genuine settings.
To excel in the IELTS Reading section, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the format and practice answering multiple-choice questions effectively.
Questions 6-10
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet, write
True if the statement agrees with the information.
The statement is false if it contradicts the information.
It is not given if there is no information on this
6) Audiences are likely to be shocked if there is no background music in a film.
7) Background music may foreshadow plot changes in a film.
8) Background music has a different influence on different individuals.
9) Background music may aid the viewer in making particular connections throughout the film.
10) Audiences are often aware of how background music affects them.
Questions 11–1
Complete each sentence with the correct letter below.
Write the correct letters, A – E, in boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet.
A. When the audience listens to the dialogue.
B. If the film reflects the audience’s own concerns,
C. if voice, sound, and music are combined appropriately.
D. when the director is aware of how the audience will respond.
E. when the actor’s appearance, voice, and movements are consistent with each other.
11) The audience’s reaction to certain elements of a film may be manipulated.
12) The characters’ sentiments and intentions become obvious.
13) A character seems to be a genuine person rather than a persona created by an actor.
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An Introduction to Film Sound IELTS Reading Answers
1 Answer: B
2 Answer: A
3 Answer: B
4 Answer: D
5 Answer: C
6 Answer: True
7 Answer: True
8 Answer: Not given
9 Answer: True
10 Answer: False
11 Answer: C
12 Answer: A
13 Answer: E
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