What's Walla?*
What kind of sound does a dinosaur make? The sound of Tyrannosaurus rex in Jurassic Park included a mixture of noises from elephants, alligators, penguins, tigers, and dogs. Foley artists - those special effects soundmakers - produce these sound effects. You can create your own soundtrack.
(* A Foley artist's word for the background noise in a crowd scene. How would you re-create that?)
- You will need: a tape recorder, a cassette tape, paper, a pencil, a TV, a VCR, and a videotape of a favorite scene from a movie or TV show. Also gather up lots and lots of things that can make noise-bottles with different amounts of water in them, rubber bands, old shoes, empty boxes, a cookie sheet, plastic grocery bags, and a fast-food drink cup with a lid and straw.
- Watch your videotape scene without the sound. Discuss ways in which you could change the scene with sound effects. Consider adding music or even making up new lines for the actors.
- Make a detailed list of all the sounds you want to create and how you might create them. Collect any additional noisemakers you will need.
- Watch the videotape and make the sounds, adding music and dialogue at the moments they should occur. Rehearse until your timing is just right.
- Make a tape of your new soundtrack and play it with the video.
- Every sound has a pattern of vibration. What vibrations did you notice in the objects you used? What vibrates when you tap on the bottle of water? What vibrates when you blow over the top?
- Why do you think it's possible to make two very similar sounds using very different objects?
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