Trip to the Moon
Film Scoring and Sound Design Project

Resources:

Film w/o TC (download link)
Screen

Film with TC (download link)
Screen

Film smaller size (download link)
Screen

Script
Audio of Script (control click to dowload)

Scene Selection

Finale Cue Sheet Tutorial

Cue Sheet Example (PDF)

Free Sound Effect Sites

Parts:

Project Description

Part 1: Choose a Scene

Part 2: Screen and Spot Your Scene

Part 3: Make a Tempo Track

Part 4: Create Your Tracks

Part 5: Turn In Your Work

Part 6: Screen a Colleague's Work and Provide a Review

Project Descriptions

You are asked to provide music and sound design for a section of a silent film, George Melies classic Trip to the Moon

Step 1: Choose a Scene

•From the link above, access the Scene Selection document. You might also access the movie's "script."

•Screen the film from one of the links above. Using the Scene Selection doc, choose a scene you'd like to work on.

Notice that some of the scenes to work on span more than a single "scene" within the film.

•Using iMovie or another video editing app, edit out the scene you selected. Then add opening credits to your scene (see guidelines if needed).

•Save your editing movie as a file, and import it into your DAW of choice.

Step 2: Screen and Spot Your Scene

•Screen your scene. Spot the sound effects and music.

•For sound effects spotting, note the time code location of the effect, and make a sound effects spotting sheet.

You might also use your DAW's markers for this. See if your DAW will show the time code location of your spotted effect.

•For music, since it will cover the entire scene, spot the significant moments in the scene, the moments where music should coordinate with action on the screen, and make a music spotting sheet.

•Make a strategy for creating a sound effects track and music track for the scene.

•IMPORTANT: Make sure all of your markers are LOCKED (or the equivalent) in your DAW.

Step 3: Make a Tempo Track

•In your DAW, use its tempo control to make a somewhat detailed tempo track.

•Use tempo changes to allow musical events to coordinate with spotted film events, and land on musically significant places, e.g. downbeats.

You might utilize a click track of some kind to track your tempo against picture. You could also enter some simple musical items, e.g. cymbal crash, as placeholders.

•When your tempo map is complete, export your sequence as a Standard MIDI File (.mid) and save to your hard drive.

•Using notation software (e.g. Finale) import your MIDI file and create a musical cue sheet.

A tutorial for this part of the project is linked above.

Step 4: Create Your Tracks

•From the link above, download the script audio and place appropriate audio into your edited scene.

•In your DAW, sketch your score. You may want to create a tempo map. We will discuss this in class.

Use your spotting list to check possible "sync points" for your score.

•Using your spotting sheet, begin to create your sound effects tracks.

Check Film 2 project for typical SFX track layout.

•For your music, please use these guidelines:

Your music should completely cover the scene including opening credits
You might use START and END markers to make sure your movie/audio bounce precisely matches the film's boundaries
As much as appropriate, try to "catch" or focus the action in the scene.

•For your sound design, please use these guidelines:

Provide a "comprehensive" track, generally covering the whole scene
Where appropriate, provide an "ambience" track, but mix it low
Within the scene try to provide as many synced sounds as possible
Use free sounds linked above, and/or sounds you create yourself (foley).
Don't be afraid to be creative--not all sounds need to be entirely authentic or realistic •Regarding dialogue:

You are welcome to include dialogue from the voice track in your mix (not required).
If you do include dialogue, I recommend doing a second mix that doesn't include it.

•Regarding your final mixed track:

Your music or sfx mix should use panning to take advantage of the stereo field.
It is recommended you submix your music and SFX into stereo "stems" and use these, along with the mono voice track (if it is in your project) to create your final mix. This is not required, but directors will often request your audio in this form.
Your mix should be "loud" -- use a limiter to increase the overall track level to -1 or -2 db.

Step 5: Turn In Your Work

•When your mix is finished, bounce your final film to a file, and post to your Vimeo account.

•Submit your musical cue sheet in PDF form to the D2L Assignment folder for Film 4.

Step 6: Screen a Colleague's Work and Provide a Review

•From the class spread sheet, select a colleague's scene, screen it, and review it in the D2L discussion.

Trip to the Moon Film Scoring and Sound Design Project
Resources: Film w/o TC (download link) Screen Film with TC (download link) Screen Film smaller size (download link) Screen Script Audio of Script (control click to dowload) Scene Selection Finale Cue Sheet Tutorial Cue Sheet Example (PDF) Free Sound Effect Sites	Parts: Project Description Part 1: Choose a Scene Part 2: Screen and Spot Your Scene Part 3: Make a Tempo Track Part 4: Create Your Tracks Part 5: Turn In Your Work Part 6: Screen a Colleague's Work and Provide a Review
*Project Descriptions* You are asked to provide music and sound design for a section of a silent film, George Melies classic Trip to the Moon *Step 1:* Choose a Scene •From the link above, access the Scene Selection document. You might also access the movie's "script." •Screen the film from one of the links above. Using the Scene Selection doc, choose a scene you'd like to work on. Notice that some of the scenes to work on span more than a single "scene" within the film. •Using iMovie or another video editing app, edit out the scene you selected. Then add opening credits to your scene (see guidelines if needed). •Save your editing movie as a file, and import it into your DAW of choice. *Step 2: Screen and Spot Your Scene* •Screen your scene. Spot the sound effects and music. •For sound effects spotting, note the time code location of the effect, and make a sound effects spotting sheet. You might also use your DAW's markers for this. See if your DAW will show the time code location of your spotted effect. •For music, since it will cover the entire scene, spot the significant moments in the scene, the moments where music should coordinate with action on the screen, and make a music spotting sheet. •Make a strategy for creating a sound effects track and music track for the scene. •IMPORTANT: Make sure all of your markers are LOCKED (or the equivalent) in your DAW. *Step 3: Make a Tempo Track* •In your DAW, use its tempo control to make a somewhat detailed tempo track. •Use tempo changes to allow musical events to coordinate with spotted film events, and land on musically significant places, e.g. downbeats. You might utilize a click track of some kind to track your tempo against picture. You could also enter some simple musical items, e.g. cymbal crash, as placeholders. •When your tempo map is complete, export your sequence as a Standard MIDI File (.mid) and save to your hard drive. •Using notation software (e.g. Finale) import your MIDI file and create a musical cue sheet. A tutorial for this part of the project is linked above. *Step 4: Create Your Tracks* •From the link above, download the script audio and place appropriate audio into your edited scene. •In your DAW, sketch your score. You may want to create a tempo map. We will discuss this in class. Use your spotting list to check possible "sync points" for your score. •Using your spotting sheet, begin to create your sound effects tracks. Check Film 2 project for typical SFX track layout. •For your music, please use these guidelines: Your music should completely cover the scene including opening credits You might use START and END markers to make sure your movie/audio bounce precisely matches the film's boundaries As much as appropriate, try to "catch" or focus the action in the scene. •For your sound design, please use these guidelines: Provide a "comprehensive" track, generally covering the whole scene Where appropriate, provide an "ambience" track, but mix it low Within the scene try to provide as many synced sounds as possible Use free sounds linked above, and/or sounds you create yourself (foley). Don't be afraid to be creative--not all sounds need to be entirely authentic or realistic •Regarding dialogue: You are welcome to include dialogue from the voice track in your mix (not required). If you do include dialogue, I recommend doing a second mix that doesn't include it. •Regarding your final mixed track: Your music or sfx mix should use panning to take advantage of the stereo field. It is recommended you submix your music and SFX into stereo "stems" and use these, along with the mono voice track (if it is in your project) to create your final mix. This is not required, but directors will often request your audio in this form. Your mix should be "loud" -- use a limiter to increase the overall track level to -1 or -2 db. *Step 5: Turn In Your Work* •When your mix is finished, bounce your final film to a file, and post to your Vimeo account. •Submit your musical cue sheet in PDF form to the D2L Assignment folder for Film 4. *Step 6: Screen a Colleague's Work and Provide a Review* •From the class spread sheet, select a colleague's scene, screen it, and review it in the D2L discussion.
Copyright © 2019 by Jon Newton