Sufjan Stevens Round-Up

Lighting and sound are another two key factors that can be manipulated to heighten the dramatic value of the scene. With the opening of the first sequence, the musical motif that accompanies Abigail throughout the film begins to play as she is introduced. It follows her emotions, the tempo increasing as she hurries to ready herself and creep out of the house. As the forest comes into view, the eerie surroundings are complemented by the change in music.

Even though the film is essentially a visual experience, the use of sound has become extremely important in modern film. The modern viewer hears a complicated soundtrack that is as meaningful as the image on the screen. Three elements comprise the film's soundtrack: the dialogue, the sound effects, and the musical score. The proper balance and mix of these elements produced the essential emphasis required, which created the desired effects. As explained by Joseph Boggs and Dennis Petrie,

The music throughout the film plays a big role in the way it is perceived and the overall tone and message. The directors and producers used background noise and music very wisely in order to convey the emotions of a scene. In the movie, it reaches a certain point where it almost looks as though things are looking up for education. It is when the documentary starts describing the “new acting chancellor of the district of columbia schools”, during this scene the makers want you to really pay attention and become almost shocked by this turn of events. However, they do not only grab your attention by the words and clips shown, but also by the loud, upbeat music that is suddenly played while she is being announced. Also, later in the movie they use this same

     The music helped in elaborating this great film. As I mentioned in class different instruments helped create different moods for different scenes in the movie. We heard the cello and the violin to create sadness and remorse. The flute created eeriness and the trumpet created awareness. I thought these were instruments and tools that help make this film extraordinary.

Newsies, a classic musical based on the late 1800’s is a very entertaining and family friendly musical-- except for the few profane words. On a cloudy, partially rainy saturday morning, I laid out on the couch and watched the movie from the comfort of my own home. I was hesitant to watch this movie because I am not much of a musical person. About midway through I found myself at the edge of my seat hypnotized by the movie. As the movie drew to an end, I was completely sucked in and waited for something more. The movie I so dreadfully did not want to watch became something I did not want to end.  In this movie the director and composer correlated their scenes and music perfectly together to touch the thoughts and emotions of the audience watching.

The scenes and props complimented the attire of the performers, blending together create a magnificent display. The scenery was realistic enough to afford the viewer an escape into depths of the show. The setting was beautiful and the structures almost lifelike, excepting the absence of a front screen door. It seems that almost all plays and television shows I have viewed neglect this detail. The stage lighting played a key role in the show by setting the mood of the performance during soulful, pensive songs. In contrast, the lighting proved to be a detriment by overbearing the performance of the artists, in that one’s attention was drawn to the glare of extreme quantities of makeup rather than the actions of the characters. This was most notable during the final portions of the production.

On March 28th, 2017, I went to Fred Hersch Trio concert with special guest, Anat Cohen. This concert was performed at Schwab auditorium, where I have never been before. All I went to watch the concert was at Eisenhower auditorium. Since it was my first time to Schwab auditorium, I was pretty excited to experience the new atmosphere of the place I have never been to.

Later on in the day, after a field trip to the local planetarium, Jim meets a group of kids that are troublemakers and want to fight with him. As a conversation begins, music also begins in the background, yet quickly changes when the gang wants trouble. The music becomes fast, louder, and more suspenseful. The style of mickeymousing, "type of score [that] uses music as a literal equivalent to the image" (Giannetti, 231), was also used in this same scene. Jim and the character of Buzz are fighting each other with knives, and at every jab of the knife the music changes and becomes more dramatic and even more suspenseful. It is said that, "music can serve as a kind of overture to suggest the mood or spirit of the film as a whole" (Giannetti, 233). Later on, James Dean's character is asking his father for advice, and the music becomes quiet, slow and mysterious. Another scene where the score plays a vital role in the atmosphere is during an argument with Jim and his parents. Jim and his father are yelling, and when Jim grabs his father as if to hit him, the music turns scary and very intense.

A musical film is a genre of movie where songs sung by characters are added into the storyline, occasionally complemented by choreography. The musical numbers in these films do not always develop the plot and characters, but they do give the films a more exciting quality. The primary difference between musical theatre and film musicals is the use of extravagant scenery that would be extraordinarily unreasonable for a stage performance. While making movies, the individuals involved have the luxury of being able to shoot multiple takes and have the time to move backgrounds around or change their entire location. Stage performances, on the other hand, must have scenery that can be easily and efficiently moved on and offstage when it is needed. In order to be able to thoroughly comprehend this relatively recent- in the grand scheme of things- form of entertainment, one should understand the history behind these musical films, be aware of some of the “big names” that are well-known, and recognize major titles that revolutionized musical film forever (Scaruffi, P., 2005).

One would always tell when it was Ferguson’s turn as he would come to stage with style. He would tilt his head as he stood near the microphone then plant his feet on the floor and aim the bell of his trumpet upwards. He would then breathe in air, as much as his lungs would take. The audience looked anxious, and they knew something special was coming. The performance was powerful and caused the excitement of the concert to reach a climax. The audience were exhilarated by the unpredictable rhythm and

Phil Colin contributions to the sound palette of the film includes drums and vocalizations that give it an African aesthetic. The music follows the narrative, getting soft when needed,

This clearly explains the significance of music and the role that has in motion pictures. Music has to match the emotions that the actors are showing and the environment they are in. If fail to do so, the movie could be a dreadful thing to watch.

The music interacts with dialogue in the film; the techno beat is, at times, accompanied by vocals, which correspond with not only what is happening in the scene, but also the internal diegetic dialogue—another important motif.

One would have to say that one of the most notable features of the film would have to be its soundtrack, which incorporates no music but only diegetic sound, from the preliminary noise of the river flowing under the bridge through the even louder sounds of the forthcoming American tanks to the quaking clamors of the ending battle scenes. A prodigious example of sound transpires within the middle of the film. It is when the boys are woken from their cots and called into combat; the sequence features electronically distorted sounds that together equally insinuate the boys’ disorientation as well as the disorientation of the viewers.

It was 10 pm and I was drowsy after a day's activities, but Shanley's cozy interiors were welcoming and I was able to make myself at home in the unfamiliar yet strikingly intimate theater. The black box-style stage created an atmosphere fittingly unadorned for the actors to emphasize their expressions and lines.