Sound...

The use of sound can be very powerful in the creation of short films. Sound in short films, in some ways, can be said to be more important than that in full-length films. This is because if full length films, the idea of there being no dialogue throughout the whole film is unheard of, whilst in short films it is fairly normal. If there is no dialogue, the sound itself will have to create the mood and guide the viewer into how they should be feeling in each scene/moment. It can also be used to indicate the genre and build tension if necessary.

Using the short film 'Virus' by Simon Hynd, the sound used creates tension and suspense using mostly what appears to be diagetic sound (the phone vibrating etc). This is very effective as it helps to set the scene of the film and causes tension for the reader, as it is meant to be a thriller. Without the sound in this film, the audience wouldn't know what to make of it or how to react.

Sound in short films is not only used to create tension and suspense. In the short film 'The Elevator', music is used to create a comedic affect. It plays whimsical music, like you would find in an elevator, while all the people are piling in, all whilst showing the anxiousness of the skinny man's face to add to the humour, then horror music that is found in the film 'Jaws', as the final fat man approaches, and this works very well in terms of making it funny.



-KW