In this clip from Forbidden Lies (Links to an external site.),, Anna Broinowski’s 2007 film: describe in detail all of the audio (except the music), how it may have been recorded/sourced and how you think it has been edited/layered in post.
Picture 1
The clip starts with the soft romance music as a background. Then, to set a romantic mood, several Foley sounds are added such as bird sounds, wind sound effects (only at beginning of the clip). The ambience of the two characters (Dalia and the guy) have a calm and relaxed feel with the sounds of wind through trees and peaceful park. The pleasant sounds are reminiscent of their love story. Also, when the guy feeds her a cherry, there is a bell sound effect followed by a slow spin rotation transition changes to the next scene.
Picture 2
After the scene in the park, it changed to car scene where I can clearly hear the car coming. The car engines is clearly heard When they are staring each other’s eyes, there is a bell sound effect. When Dalia throws her scarf, there is a wind sound effect as Dalia throws her scarf. I think that sound effect could be created by swinging a sword. Then, followed by the scarf dropped on the ground sound effect (0:21). But I think the sound effect used in the part where the scarf dropped on the ground is a bit too loud. Maybe when they recorded the sound, the boom is too close to the object but I’m not sure as well. In my opinion, it seems like something heavy has dropped e.g. rock or tool being thrown against a rock sound effect.
Next scene is where Dalia is walking in the middle of dessert. In my opinion, the footsteps sound is not really match with the her actual footsteps but I think it not a big problem because I still can hear the noise of the sand produced by her footsteps. Next, As the transition dissolve additive dissolve transition (from pic1 to pic 2) the is a transition from pic 1 to pic 2, there is also a whooshhh sound. I would say its a wind sound effect. When the music clip stops, there is a tape clicking sound and also hand hitting a wooden table sound effect.
Then, Rana starts talking about the book and they used the Cha Ching money sound effect as the transition. Since Forbidden Lies is a documentary that reveals the truth of the murder case of a young Muslim woman in Jordan, one of the atmospheres is created with the use of Mosque prayer call sound effect. It is used to give the viewer a sense of a familiar of the place I guess. The voice-over of Rana is also used along with her footages such as the magazines, old photos of her and her workplace. While she is typing, the editor also adds the keyboard typing sound which is great. After that, I hear a sound like a bell on door ringing as the door to a local shop is opened. From that, I noticed they used a Cha Ching money sound effects and a bell on door sound in most of transitions in this clip. When Dr. Amal discuss the truth of the book, I can hear the birds sound. I think it is because the place where she is being interviewed has green leaves and most likely she was in her backyard. Therefore, the sound of birds is added to the scene. The part that intrigues me the most is when the voice of Rana while reading the book is over-layered with the voice of the author of Honor Lost, Norma Khouri. Then, it changed to the clip where Norma Khouri reads the book.
Overall, there are several variation of the sounds used in this clip. I think the editor used several layers for the audio in this clip: Background music, Ambient sound effect, Foley, and Character voice. I personally think through the use of layering effects, the audience can feels the tension of the clip. Also, I like the way the editor layered the clips when they try to reveal the truth, with the Character’s voice-over in it.
Below is the list of sounds that are used in this clip (based on my hearing):
- Birds sounds
- Car driving (0:15)
- Bell sounds (0:18; 1.04;)
- Wind sounds (when she throws her scarf) (0:19)
- Scarf is fallen on the ground (0:21)
- Footsteps in the sand (0:27)
- Tape clicking (0:30)
- Hand hitting wooden table sound effect (0:30)
- Cha Ching money sound effects (0:36)
- Drop the book on table (0:41)
- Mosque praying (0:48)
- Keyboard typing (0:57)
- Camera Shutter Sound effects
- Heartbeat Sound
- Wind
- Crinkly Paper
- Closing a Book Sound Effect
- Drop the book on table
- Snake Hissing Sound Effect
- Hair Clippers Sound Effect
- Lighter Lighting Sound Effects
- Coins
- Money sound (When the guy take out the money from his wallet)
- Construction sounds
Veronica Onggoro 