One would think every sound we hear in a movie was all recorded and filmed on the spot, and in some cases it is. Really though, all the sounds we hear in films the bumps, scratches, pulling and even footsteps are added in after everything is already shot.
A method called Foley.
What it is that they basically play the full movie in a sound studio where they have tools and nicknacks that makes the everyday sounds we hear in everyday life.
For example, here is a scene in Jurassic Park done in Foley:
All the nice sounds we hear is all thanks to a man named Jack Foley, During filming every little sound simply can't be picked up by a mic. What film makers usually use is a Boom mic and thats just to focus on the dialogue and even then, sometimes they go into the studio and do some ADR, (Automatic Dialogue Replacement) which is what it sounds like. More on ADR later.
Anyways, a mic can't pick up the usual sounds we hear everyday, so its thanks to Jack Foley who one day thought, why not make and record the sounds in the studio while simultaneously looking at the film on the screen.
Growing up, one of the sound effects I liked hearing in movies was the sound of footsteps. It's a very small detail of sound but for some reason it stood out to me, huh no pun intended. Over the years it was the sound of footsteps that helped me open my ears to the other sounds in film.
Take this scene from Rian Johnson's movie "Brick" for example:
The footsteps in the beginning helps build up the tension to when he pulls out his knife. Of course the first time I saw this I only heard the footsteps and the chase, I got the sense of urgency from each character by the sound of their footsteps as they ran.
I then started to notice the other sounds that came into play. The blood spurt when he cuts him, the echo their shoes made as they ran through the hall way, the crow and the dramatic DING in the end.
Honestly it took a few showings for me to "see" them but it all started with the sound and appreciation of footsteps.
The film Score, or in simple terms: the music that plays in the background of the movie.
Some say that the perfect score is one the audience doesn't even notice and usually the average moviegoer doesn't. Take the last scene in Star Wars for example. Luke Skywalker had just lead the Rebels to victory by destroying the death star, (spoilers) and are now being awarded by princess Leia.
It's a triumphant scene, everyone is happy, good has prevailed and evil has lost. As our heroes walk down the isle to be honored. The struggle throughout the movie pays off in the end and we feel that in the scene.
But what happens if there isn't any music? Lets take a look at a video I found on youtube. "Star Wars Without Williams." by Auralnauts.
Did you feel the difference?
Right when the score cuts off we are left with a scene that falls flat. The walk down the isle seems to take forever and the glances our main characters share is awkward to say the least. The whole scene seems to take a whole lot longer than it should be, and when the famous end music plays, I for one am thankful for John Williams.
