Sound Research: 'The Birds' - Alfred Hitchcock 1963

Youtube Video Still

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw0FP9putKM Accessed 1/12/13, Film Director Alfred Hitchcock (Video posted by Youtube user: Marc Parella) Film Created 1963 (Youtube Video uploaded 2010)

In the final attack in Hitchcock's The Birds, he successfully creates drama and suspense through the use of increasing the volume of sounds and as they get more intense, the tension builds up to the disequilibrium. In the beginning of the video when Melanie is slowly walking towards the camera, there is a short sound clip of a bird's wings flapping and this signifies that something is about to occur involving the birds.

Although Hitchcock uses an orchestra sound in the background and isn't relevant to my sound project, he uses sound bites and increases the volume to a terrifying and extreme level, thus creating terror and an uncomfortable atmosphere. Hitchcock increases the volume steadily throughout the scene as Melanie is slowly walking to the source of the noise, a similar technique Alex and I may use in our soundtrack to create a similar sense of uncertainty and tension.