Ethel & ErnestLearning Resource

Create a Soundtrack

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Create a SoundtrackEthel & Ernest

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Create a Soundtrack

The Ethel & Ernest soundtrack includes original music by composer Carl Davis CBE and music from different historical periods.

The music, dialogue and sound effects help to transport the viewer to a different time and place, helping us to understand the timeline of events and bring the illustrations to life. In this activity learners will analyse the soundtracks of trailers and create their own soundtrack for the Ethel & Ernest trailer.

Resources needed:• Interview with Carl Davis, Composer (in Video)

• Foley, Richard Overall, Editor (in Video)

• Ethel & Ernest trailer (in Video)

• A selection of trailers online or on DVD

• Musical instruments (optional)

• Household objects to make sounds eg tray of gravel, homemade shakers, milk bottles/glasses

containing water, tin foil, cellophane (optional)

• Tablets with music creation software such as Garageband (optional)

Teacher instructions

1. To introduce the film Ethel & Ernest watch the Interview with Carl Davis, Composer. Pause the clip at these points to discuss the process the composer went through to create the music for different parts of the film:

• 00:00:40 – ask students how Carl Davis started to think about and to note ideas for the music

• 00:01:51 – ask students to discuss why it is important that a composer for film does not have a big ego or think their part of the project is the most important?

• 00:02:31 – ask students to identify which instruments were used for different sections of the film and why Carl Davis decided on this approach

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2. Prepare 2-3 trailers, sourcing them online or in the DVD extras. Choose your first trailer and explain that you will be playing a film trailer, but you will only be playing the soundtrack. Ask learners to see if they can identify the different sounds present in the trailer. Minimise the screen as the trailer plays, so that learners cannot see the images.

3. Discuss with learners the different sounds that they heard. Categorise these sounds into: speech/dialogue, music, silence and sound effects.

4. Assign groups one of the sound types to listen for as they watch the trailer again with the images. Add to the list of sounds in each of the categories. You may like to break down these categories further, by identifying non-diegetic sound (sound that is outside of the world of the film), diegetic sound (sound in the world of the film) and Foley sounds (sound effects that are created using objects, as opposed to electronic sound effects).

5. Discuss with learners why filmmakers make trailers. Ask them to think about how the filmmakers want the viewer to feel and what information they would like to communicate about their film, for example what type/genre of film it is and therefore who will enjoy it?

Explain that learners will now watch another trailer. This time they should listen to how the sounds are used. For example, when were loud or quiet sound effects or music used, when did they hear dialogue or narration, what words were used in the narration and when was silence used? You may like to play the trailer more than once.

6. Explain to learners that they will be composing the soundtrack for the trailer for the film Ethel & Ernest. Using the mute function, play the Ethel & Ernest trailer (without sound) twice.

7. You may like to divide the trailer into sections, so that each group of learners can focus on one section, and provide learners with access to the trailer on a tablet, laptop or PC to allow them to review it and to stop and start it.

8. Provide learners with a selection of musical instruments and/or household objects to create sound and/or music creation software such as Garageband.

For more guidance on using Garageband visit: intofilm.org/resources/83

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9. Support learners to create the soundtrack for the whole trailer or their section using the equipment provided and their voices and body percussion.

10. You may like to direct learners to watch the video Foley, Richard Overall, Editor, to find out how Foley sound effects are created, to inspire learners to take a creative approach to creating the soundtrack for the trailer.

11. Rehearse and build-up to a group performance alongside a screening of the trailer. If possible, record the group’s soundtrack using the camera/voice recorder function on a tablet or smartphone.

12. Play the Ethel & Ernest trailer with the original sound, and discuss with learners where their composition was similar and how it was different. Discuss how the group has interpreted the images differently and if they had created any different moods or feelings through the sounds they had selected.

Resources available on the Ethel & Ernest website: ethelandernestthemovie.com