Learning Contract

Here is the revised Learning Contract and agreed with Supervisor James Scanlan for module AG1084: Honours Project;


Learning Contract

Module Code: AG1084A
Module Title: Honours Project

Student Name:Russell Bennett          

Student Number:1002077      
Telephone Number:07772327385


Project Title:Sound of silence:An understanding of the Sound Designer

Project Aim:The aim of this project is to conduct a practice based investigation into a comparative study of two of Joel and Ethan Coen films. Examining the importance of their use of sound design, highlighting the relationship between designer and director and discussing how this can lead to driving narrative and human perception.

Objectives:

The aim of this project is to conduct an investigation into a comparative study of two of Joel and Ethan Coen films. Examining the importance of their contrasting use of film music and sound design, highlighting the relationships between designer, composer and director, discussing how this can lead to driving narrative and human perception”.

Objective one
·       Examine No country for old men and Fargo, discussing the relationship with sound designers and composers and directors. Also detailing film music/sound techniques used in order to develop a critical framework designed to drive my practical research. Investigate and detail the theory behind how narrative is driven by subconsciously leading to human perception.
  
Objective two
·       Develop and conduct media tests as practical research from critical framework identified from the case study of the two films to test their intelligibility on focus groups, questionnaires and surveys, reflecting on their response.

Objective three
·       Display the findings answering the project aim as an exposition at the Abertay Degree show exhibition, evaluating the final outcome of the research.

Methodology:


1.1  Research Diary

1.1.1 Review of current literature giving context to Fargo

1.1.2 Review of current literature giving context to No Country for Old Men

1.1.3 Review of relationship between Coen Brothers and Composer Carter Burwell and designer Skip Lievsey

1.1.4 Reflect on the findings within the subject area discussing the most appropriate literature relating to the project aim

1.1.5 Write a literature review on findings within subject area for dissertation


2.1 Critical Framework
           
2.1.1 Identify sound design framework

2.1.2 Identify driving narrative framework

2.1.3 Identify human perception framework

2.1.4 comparative study of Fargo

2.1.5 Select specific scenes to work with

2.1.6 comparative study of No Country for Old Men

2.1.7 Select specific scenes to work with

2.1.8 Prepare questions to ask on the selected clips

2.1.9 write a critical evaluation of critical framework to support testing


3.1 Testing

3.1.1 Create context within the film clips for viewers

3.1.2 Cut and edit the film clips to have audio and without audio

3.1.3 Have selected pieces of audio from clips to gauge reaction without image

3.1.4 Arrange, conduct and show focus groups film clips

3.1.5 Hand out questionnaire on sound design

3.1.6 Write documentation containing information about film clips chosen and why

3.1.7 Write documentation containing information about audio clips chosen and why

3.1.8 Write a review of the testing for the dissertation detailing the findings from the testing and reflect upon how the testing affects the overall project aim


4.1 Practice

4.1.1 Select the most successful film clips from testing results

4.1.2 Select the most successful areas of sound design applied to the film and testing in reference to the films to develop new sound design

4.1.3 Begin to create new sound design for the film clips chosen

4.1.4 Create sound effects for the film clips

4.1.5 Create composition (if any) for film clips

4.1.6 Prepare films clips for audio to be mixed and edited

4.1.7 Finalise the two film clips

4.1.8 Write up documentation as a critical evaluation reflecting on the process of re-creating the audio for the film clips for dissertation


Submission Deliverables:

The following deliverables will be provided as evidence that the objectives mapped out have been achieved:

1.1           Research diary
·       Online blog containing all the literature found highlighting the context of the project. Discussing the points of concern,  understanding of the subject area and areas to investigate further and provide a form of reflection on findings
2.1 Critical Framework
·       Create a document identifying the critical framework outlining successful examples of using sound design within the two films. The aim of this document is to support the proposers hypothesis and lead toward transparency within the testing
3.1 Testing
·       Chosen film clips. Film clips to provide context to the viewer so as to provide an unbiased approach
·       Edit specific areas of the clips in regards to sound to try and gauge the importance of audio as a whole
·       Questionnaire on sound on film – generic
·       Questionnaire on the select film clips participants fill in
·       Reflection on results at the end of testing

4.1 Practice
·       Final documentation of work showing the project progression
·       Documentation containing ideas for sound files for the film clips
·       The final film clips using my own sound re-created with supporting documentation showing how and why I chose to use the sound where I did.
Resources:


The proposer requires the following resources to achieve the project:
  • PC or Mac computer, motion software (available on macs)
  • Pro tools software (available on macs)
  • Cubase software (available on pc’s)
  • Microsoft Office to create documentation for  dissertation
  • Access to the Hannah McClure Centre to show film clips to focus groups
  • Hand held recorders
  • Microphones and XLR cable

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