Film Sound and Experimental Film Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to film sound, experimental film, and documentary modes.

Diegetic sound

Sound that exists within the film world, such as footsteps, radio, and talking.

Non-diegetic sound

Sound that is outside of the film world, such as background music and narration.

Loudness

The volume of sound.

Pitch

The highness or lowness of a sound.

Timbre

The quality of a sound, describing it as sharp or soft.

Fidelity

The quality of sound matching its source.

Sound perspective

The perception of distance in sound, whether near or far.

Rhythm

The timing of sound within a film.

Motif

A repeated musical theme.

Expository documentary

A mode of documentary featuring voice-of-God narration.

Observational documentary

A mode of documentary characterized by a 'fly-on-the-wall' approach.

Poetic documentary

A documentary mode that emphasizes mood, rhythm, and images.

Participatory documentary

A mode where the filmmaker interacts with the subjects.

Reflexive documentary

A mode that shows the filmmaking process itself.