Sense of space evaluation

The first section of this piece introduces the character to the audience. We wanted to show a very generic set of facts that would be found on a birth certificate. This has two purposes, firstly it introduces the character. It shows the listener who she is, it is, in essence, an establishing shot. Secondly in terms of a ‘sense of space’ it is the ‘top layer s to speak. These facts form images in the audience’s mind, which are backed up by the layers of sound.

When it comes to the sounds that are in this section, we aimed to show many of the sounds that are associated with babies. So, we have the sucking on a bottle, a cooing mother, the splashing of bath water e.t.c. This creates another layer of the ‘sense of space’, building on the spoken word. However we wanted to go deeper than this and create a sense of space inside Abby’s head, in other words, show what she remembers from these years in her life, making it more related specifically to her not just any baby. This is why we included the bangs and crashes when her Father’s profession is mentioned. They show the sounds of the shipyard, and therefore the industrial area she comes from and a sound she would associate with her early years. It also further introduces the character as it shows her background. From this we can assume she is working class and lives close to the shipyards, having heard these sounds and associating them with her child hood. We are creating these ‘memories’ for her which in turn adds to the sense of space.

The atmos in this section is from a hospital, or rather it is a train station pretending to be a hospital. As it was logistically difficult to get a hospital we decided that the train station would be a suitable substitute. There is the bustle of people in the same echoey environment and the squeaks of trolleys and cases are playing the parts of moveable beds with wheels in need of some WD-40.

The next section represents Abby’s childhood. Again we wanted the audience to relate to it so we used the idea of a primary school assignment and wrote it in the style of how a young child would write. This gives context to the section, placing it with in this era of Abby’s life. It also universally resonates with any audience member who has been through primary and will have had to do this kind of writing. The one thing I think I wasn’t happy about with this section was the voice, I think that we should have somehow got an actual child to read it and failing that used the EQ to make it sound more immature.

To give this section a sense of space, we used sounds that can be associated with primary school. So on one level we have more spoken word in the background, the resciting of times tables and playground rhymes the feature of any primary school. Then under this we have the noises of school. The hurried scratching of pencil on paper by enthusiastic pupils, the scratching of cutlery on canteen plates. This all adds to the idea that the listener is there, by using these sounds they remember from child hood.

Then gluing this all together we have the underlying atmos track, of canteen or classroom. While we were recording in the winter gardens we cam across a school trip eating their lunch. Recording them gave us this layer of sound of exited, chattering children that we needed to complete this section.

We then reach adolescence. For this again we have gone with the ‘typical’. Using a teenager’s diary entry to show this part of her life. Again spoken word sets the context. The gushing diary entry of a teenage girl who is hopelessly besotted.

The sound effects here reflect what is happening or has happened during the day. Abby is replaying the day’s events as she writes them . This firstly anchors what is being said. Secondly it helps to create the idea of being inside someone’s thoughts, being able to hear their thought process.

The atmos here, the continuous scratching of pen created the sense of being there with Abby we are almost spying on her. Also the idea that this is all she can hear further shows the adolescent mind she is solely focussed on this one thing. Stressing and worrying about it and far too busy to be concerned about anything else going on around.

Now we have the young Adult Hood. We have used a C.V because one of the things that makes this era stand out to people in going onto their first proper full time job. And again the spoken word places it in context.

The sound effects here have a slightly different role. Some of them contradict the C.V or at least give it a slightly different spin. We did this because apart from adding an element of comedy it also shows what this period of life is like. There are to sides to people generally. There is the serious one, the professional who wants a job. But then there is the fun lover, after a good time. This will resonate with the audience and also help them engage through it’s comic value.

The underlying atmos track here is typing. This shows the idea of growing up and becoming more professional as it id a parallel for the scratching pen of the previous section. So now we are progressing through Abby’s life.

The penultimate section is Middle age. Here we wanted to create a sense of drudgery so we have gone for a to do list. This has a couple if uses. It obviously shows this monotony. It gives away a lot about Abby’s life. It shows she has children, it shows she is a house wife.

The sound effects here are creating the space around Abby, again we hear what she hears, which help to create the sense of space inside her head and of her life.

The underlying track, the ticking clock, really anchors this idea of monotony, it relentless ticking shows the continuous overturn of these things Abby has to do in her daily life.

The final section is old age. Here we have decided to make it more sombre slowing the pace. It is our intention to take a more serious tone. The will here is to really extenuate the idea of creating an idea of being aware of your own mortality.

The sense of space in with in Abby’s home. So we have her pacing back and forth and making tea. The background is silent apart from this. This is intentional as we thought that this should be quiet part of the piece. Everything in her life has slowed down. There is not the same hustle and bustle around her as there was. She has become more solitary.

To conclude, I think that all in all, this project has been successful, we have met the brief and have made a project that has a real sense of space. I feel now that Abby is a real person not just a figment of our imagination, We have spent such time and consideration mapping her life that she seems real. I think this is a sign that this project has bee successful.