Sound Techniques in the Truman Essay

The movie The Truman Show directed by Peter Weir is an illustration of the manipulation of the lead character’s life. Truman Burbank is the main star of the reality show watched by many. However, he is not aware of that, and to him, everything he is experiencing is real. The director is using a variety of techniques such as lighting, camera work, and sound to convey the story and shape the meaning of the film. These effects, in different scenes, support the interactions of the characters and their actions. They create the mood of the scenes and support the visuals seen on the screen. One of these means, the sound effects in particular, help develop the narrative and form a better understanding of the story for the viewer.

The sound effects are essential components of the modern movie making process. They appear throughout Peter Weir’s film and help shape the plot. Gocsic et al. describe the importance of this element in this way – “the sound we hear in a film— its music, dialogue, and sound effects — creates meaning just as much as what we see” (49). These effects in this movie are marching sounds, the thunderstorm and music. According to Gocsic et al., a sound effect is “a sound artificially created for the soundtrack that has a definite function in telling the story” (255). Therefore, sound effects are crucial factors in communicating the plot to the viewer. In The Truman Show, the effects of the military marching, thunderstorm and piano music are significant because they reinforce the course of the narrative by supporting the visuals.

The sound of marching sets the scene and emphasizes the unsettling mood of searching for Truman Burbank. In the search scene, after Truman has realized he is being filmed and the life that he has known is not real, the director uses the sounds of military marching to set the atmosphere of worry. Together with lighting and camera angles, the episode conveys the seriousness of the director’s decision to catch the main character.

The thunder noise helps portray the disturbing atmosphere when Truman Burbank is caught in a storm on the boat. In this scene, the director used thunder sounds, together with lighting effects. In this scene, Christof, the director of the show, is trying to force the main character to return. As in the previous episode, the sounds help the viewer understand the danger that Truman is in. Therefore, the viewer can understand the feelings of Truman Burbank more clearly.

The music in the final scene of the movie intensifies the atmosphere of Christof’s monologue. Piano sounds are heard during the speech, in which the character expresses his feeling of being the “God” in the show. The melody is long and melancholic, fitting the main idea of Christof’s speech. The character is expressing his believes while trying to convince Truman to stay on the show. The tone of voice and an echo create the mood for the divine atmosphere. The contrast of this scene with the previous escape and search episode is evident. While the earlier one sets the mood for worry, the final scene creates an illusion of the director being a positive character, a creator of everything around him. The scene gives a peaceful feeling as Christof talks about hope and inspiration.

Overall, the sound effects in Peter Weir’s The Truman Show together with lighting and camera angles help build the atmosphere of the film. The sound effects the viewer hears throughout a movie are important as they shape the mood of the scenes. The sounds of military marching and the storm effects create the unsettling feeling for Truman’s escape. The tone of voice and the piano melody help the scene of Christof’s final speech to have a divine and peaceful atmosphere.

Works Cited

Gocsic, Karen M. et al. Writing About Movies. 4th ed., Norton & Company Inc., 2016.

The Truman Show. Directed by Peter Weir, performance by Jim Carrey, Paramount Pictures, 1998.