So3 Eo9 - Katy

Episode Overview

Katie won’t leave the house because of her damaged face and reputation. Fortunately, Emily is able to disguise herself as her sister, and sits an exam for her. Emily and Naomi get closer, but when Emily asks Naomi to accompany her to the college ball, she says no – breaking Emily’s fragile heart. Against her better judgement Emily agrees to partner Katie to the ball, and they plan their outfits together. Out shopping, though, Katie sees a way of regaining her hard-sought status at college. When Freddie inadvertently drops the bombshell about Emily and JJ, Katie hatches a plan – making her sister the ultimate victim. Katie’s scheming results in the mother of all show-downs. But she’s the one who has to face her fears and accept some hard truths - that Emily is gay and loves Naomi.

Sound/Music

Here is a scene from the episode, where music and sound is used to create meaning to the audience, which I will analyse > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elpv_9UUTmw.

Diegetic Sounds:

• Throughout the scene we here background city noises to establish the scene and create realism. These noises include traffic, police sirens, pedestrian chatter and wind. It shows everyday life going on behind Emily and Thomas (the characters in the scene) creating the film world in which the audience imagine themselves in when watching the episode. The scene is made as real as possible and could be at any bus stop in any city in the world. However, the sounds are faily distant and this is because we are focused on the tight, personal world of the characters - their little bubble of problems and relationships. The quiteness of the real-life sounds the audience away from reality and into the minds of the characters and what they are feeling.
• The dialogue is also part of the real film world the audience has stepped into, but this is louder, clearer and alot closer to us - it is what we are focused on. We get every bit of detail of the sounds coming from the characters, such as Emily's upset sobbing and chitter-chatter of teeth due to the cold. When Thomas speaks his voice is suitably soothing as he consoles Emily. He sounds mysterious and philosophical as he speaks, which ultimately calms Emily down, making the scene a really nice warming scene despite the dark, dangrerous location, cold climate and deepening disruptions in the story plot. The background sounds are faded and the audience focus on the conversation between Emily and Thomas, which proves that nice deeds can be done amongst this group (enforcing Thomas' character as the nice guy as he gives Emily his shoes and coat), and proving significant in the scripted lines, such as towards the end of the scene where Thomas advises her to not carry on loving the person who has screwed her over, but admits how it is impossible to do so.

Non-diegetic sounds:

• There is only one type used, and that is the choice of music. The music is fairly calm and ambiguous, as well as being highly alternative - so the audience knows it has been picked for a reason. It is quiet and reserved but also highly emotionally charged in melody and in lyrics, which quite suits the situation of quiet lonliness for Emily in the middle of the city. The lyrics say, "run away, find a way", over and over again, which is meaningful. It suits Emily's situation as she does not know whether to run away or find a way (run away from her love of Naomi or find a way to make it work). The song represents this bridge of confusion and the choices Emily is facing, as well as presenting a theme of uncertainty to the audience (Emily is at a bus stop alone and could well be running away from home). The beautiful piano melodies are touching and emotionally all over the place as they move up and down (the keys on the piano) much like the character's emotions - and this effects the audience in a big way. The overall tone of the music is sad, uncertain and lonely, but yet it is comforting and consoling (you can imagine someone just breaking down and crying to the music, letting all their emotions out and not caring anymore). This suits the scene as Thomas does exactly that, consoling Emily and letting her know of the choices she can make (run away or find a way). The lyrics quieten as the character's speak to keep the focus on the conversation, but the music keeps going as an emotional buffer between the characters until Emily hits a turning point. This is where she abandons her emotions (represented by the music) and decides to get something off her chest. The music stops and Emily tells Thomas she is gay. He is fine with this and there is a silence as if something is off her chest. It is uncertain what decision she will make and she is still emotionally confused, which comes out after this brief, relaxing rest, but not through music. She begins to sob uncontrollably and Thomas comforts her in a moment of silence. The audience escapes into the background noise as we are brought back to reality after a fitting climax to the scene.