MUSIC

• Diegetic or diegetic sound
• Diegetic sound means sound that is visible on screen. The importance and power of diegetic sound is that is illuminates to the audience the reality of the fictionalised world. Further, diegetic sound adds to the construction of the world as it exemplifies the characters mobility. Lets say you have a character who is walking down the street, the audio you choose for them to play via their iPhone communicates more about the character and less about the world. Thus, the reality of the situation becomes more believable, as the audience travels with the character through an ‘unconceivable’, premeditated world.
• Non-Diegetic sound refers to sound that within a film that the character cannot hear. A classic example of this is the James Bond soundtrack, which although is inherently ‘Bond’, actual James never hears. The significant of non-diegetic sound is that it guides the audience through the narrative, communicating with the audience how and what they should feel. Unlike diegetic sound, which invites an individual interpretation of that scene, non-diegetic sound illuminates to the audience the construction of the film. Therefore, raising an awareness of its ambition and ultimate message.

STRATEGIES USED TO DEPICT HIGH STAKES SITUATIONS in reference to 12 Years A Slave (2017)

• Building intensity from the framing of a shot
  – Contrasting close up shots to far away shots. This emphasises the idea of perspective, simultaneously merging all characters within the scene even though all characters come from different ideologies and backgrounds. 
• Shorter and more concise sentences between ‘cuts’
  – Sets pace in the cadence of the writing. Also, the cuts mimic attention span and character emotion. If you have a singular long shot it demonstrates awareness and concentration, usually specifically towards another character or tension moment. However, if you use an array of short shorts it communicates the passing of time and multiple happenings and perspectives.  
• Physical reactions from characters
  – One of the easiest ways to communicate the progression of a script. You hardly ever have a character, whether it be in literature or real life, moving through life completely untouched by other members of a society. 
• Use of symbols and motifs
  – Expands the world and its intention. Symbols and motifs also communicate to the audience subjects within a script that perhaps the author does not wish the character to be aware of yet. Symbolism is one of the most powerful tools in filmmaking, as it enables the audience to reference the character and their world. Therefore, affiliating their own world to the one that is being portrayed.