Development of Sound Design in Film and TV

Development of Sound Design in Film and TV

Introduction

Sound in film and television is one of the most essential measures for supporting the story of a plot, documentary, commercial film or television program. Today almost every film and TV program is trying to utilize sound designs effectively for creating more and more impact on audience. Sound effects can tell the story directly or they are used indirectly to develop the story effects of the film or television program. In reality there are separate perceptual mechanism for sound and picture, however, when they are incorporated together i.e. audience listening to the sound effects and watching picture, it makes a complete whole without any differentiation. Thus, when using together the picture as well as sound, they can make a greater sum than the parts can make otherwise. Therefore sound for the film or program incorporates many essentials with it and not to draw particular concentration to just itself. The roles associated with sound and picture, changes with regards to the storytelling. In this regard, sound for film or television program is developed in prior to production of a picture by utilizing many elements of sound, mixed flawlessly together in order to develop a complete whole. Today this process is known as sound design.

Discussion

Historic Landmarks in the Use of Sound in Film and Individuals Who Made Significant Contributions to its Development

Sound design is a technical creative field, which covers all non-composition essentials of a film or TV program. The history of sound design development can be associated with theatre, which is a long history. History states that around 3000 BC, there were theatre productions in China and India, accompanied by music and sound. Music and sound effects are also used by renaissance comedia dell`arte-style, in order to make theatrical pieces more ridicule. Then eventually different modern theatres started using sound designs to make their play more effective. However, in 1950s when Hollywood directors began directing Broadway productions, the sound design then started developing itself in film industry. But still at that time, there were no sound designers, the play managers and electricians were responsible of founding the sound effects and playing recordings while performances.

The development of sound in film is directly related with the sound design in film. Though its history is not as extensive as the sound design's history in theatre, yet it can be stated that film is the factor that has opened a new way for this creative profession i.e. sound designer. In 1970's, the original film world meaning of the title, created by Coppola and Walter Murch, first time an individual was held responsible for all the elements of sound track including recording dialogues and sound effects, and the re-recording of final track.

Afterwards, many inventors attempted to integrate picture and sound through “talking” motion pictures. History shows that in 1894 the Edison Company experimented this under the supervision of W.K.L. Dickson in a film named today as 'Dickson Experimental Sound ...