Answer:
The use of sound in Romeo & Juliet (1996)
There are three types of sound that can be used in a film: dialogue; sound effects and music. As well as this, these sounds can also be classified as diegetic sound and non-diegetic sound. I shall be analysing the sound used in the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann
Non-diegetic sound is the sound that has been put into the film, e.g. background music or voice overs
Diegetic sound is the sound that is naturally occurring, e.g. the sound of the wind or foot steps
Sound Effects - there are many sound effects that have been used in this opening sequence to emphasise certain movements and actions. The sound effects used were:
The sound effects used were: the screeching of wheels when cars were braking or pulling away. the revving of car engines. the tapping of Tybalt's metal heeled shoes.
- the screeching of wheels when cars were braking or pulling away
- the revving of car engines
- the tapping of Tybalt's metal heeled shoes
- the sound of the gun hitting the floor
- the screech from the gas station sign blowing in the wind
Most of these sound effects are diegetic as they would occur naturally in the scene, however, some of these sounds have been emphasised to make them stand out to the audience. For example, the movement of their guns in the wind, the match hitting the floor and the movement of their shirts to reveal their guns.
As the gas station scene was filmed next to a busy motorway much of the background noise has been cutout or the sound levels are reduced, although you can occasionally hear a vehicle driving past in the background.
