W5 : How Music enhances the Movie Experience?

Music has been enhancing the movie experience for a long period of time. Since the emergence of integrated music in films, composers and musicians have been making original scores and soundtracks to associate with and promote visual storytelling. 

(10 Times Classical Music Starred in Movies, 2020)

Firstly, music helps to create the ambiance and effect of a scene or the whole film. Whether it is a cliffhanging moment, a delightful encounter, or a climatic scene, the exact music can boost the emotions and immerse the audience in the story. Besides, the strategic use of music can increase the dramatic impact of important moments in a film. From swelling orchestral arrangements to subtle background melodies, music can uplift the tension, highlight vital plot points, and elicit overwhelming emotional responses. Moreover, well known film scores often highlight memorable themes that become intrinsically connected with the movies themselves. Cast your mind back to John Williams' masterpieces for "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," or the "Harry Potter" series. These themes turn into part of the social fabric and immediately lead audiences back to the worlds of their ideal films.

However, original and good condition music created particularly for a movie can be expensive. Minor productions or indie filmmakers may deal with allocation restraints, affecting to a assurance on stock music or pre-existing tracks, which may not always completely fit the movie's mood and spirit or emotional context.

As a result of future developments in technology and the potential growth of the movie-going experience, the cost may decrease due to widespread and advancement of technology become more common. There are three ways in which music can enhance the movie experience in the future.

Immersive 3D Audio: 

(Soni, 2023)

With the development of sound automation, cinemas of the future could provide fascinating 3D audio experiences. Through a compilation spatial audio techniques, multidirectional speakers and customized sound zones, the crowd may be thoroughly immersed in the film's realm. Music would surround the audiences, accomplishing a more instinctive and pleasant experience, apparently they were in the depths of the musical score themselves. With developments in augmented reality (AR) technology, audiences might appreciate location-based movie experiences where 3D audio interacts with real-world surroundings. For instance, walking through a historical site could elicit immersive audio storytelling about the location's past.

Interactive Soundscapes: 

(Benjamin, 2022)

Looking towards the future, movies may integrate bilateral soundscapes where the audience is able to manipulate or compose the music in real-time. As a consequence of wearable devices or combined technologies, audiences could have the skill to alter the intensity, tempo, dynamic or mood of the music to match their preferences or emotional states. This interactivity would allow for a customized movie-watching experience and an enhanced association with the film's musical elements.

AI-Generated Soundtracks: 

Meertens (2020)

(Youtube, 2023)

As artificial intelligence (AI) keeps on developing, AI could play a vital role in creating dynamic and flexible soundtracks for movies. AI algorithms could investigate the on-screen action, characters' emotions, and even the audience's feelings in real-time, composing personalized music that seamlessly matches the aura and pace of the movie. This AI-generated music could reinforce the storytelling, enhance emotional impact, and offer a exclusive and ever-evolving musical experience with each viewing.

Apart from that, the advancement of AI enable us to remember our favorite artist or idol who has passed away when we miss them: 

(Whatever English Rapper, 2023)

References

10 Times Classical Music Starred in Movies. (2020, March 25). Houston Symphony. https://houstonsymphony.org/10-times-classical-music-starred-in-movies/

Soni, K. (2023). Headphone Zone. Headphonezone.in. https://www.headphonezone.in/cdn/shop/articles/Headphone-Zone-Binaural.jpg?v=1587039071&width=2048

Benjamin, K. (2022, March 8). Wearable technology takes events engagement to a new level | Meetings & Conventions Asia. Www.meetings-Conventions-Asia.com. https://www.meetings-conventions-asia.com/News/Technology/Wearable-technology-takes-events-engagement-to-a-new-level

Meertens, R. (2020, September 7). Artificial Intelligence Can Create Sound Tracks for Silent Videos. InfoQ. https://www.infoq.com/news/2020/09/ai-created-foley/

Whatever English Rapper. (2023). douyin. Douyin.com. https://www.douyin.com/video/7255617904668888361