To what extent could the soundtrack in Edgar Wrights films be seen as a signature style.
Film
Item 1: Baby Driver (2017)
This film will be very helpful to my research as it is one of Edgar Wrights latest movies, which features a very heavy use of soundtrack with both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds and music. The film centres itself around its soundtrack which plays a large part in the narrative of the film, it also shows the progression of Edgar Wrights use of soundtrack throughout his years of directing since this is his latest film. The film has a lot of scenes that support the auteur theory as every scene from the character driving the car, to him just walking, is filled with music and other sounds to fit the scenes. For example the opening scene would be a good one to analyse as it immediately introduces us to how the film is going to be throughout with its use of the soundtrack being the compelling feature. In the scene the music is perfectly timed with the actions, and editing, as well as the regular sounds of someone driving a car except they are editing to sound more powerful and stand out more to the audience.
Item 2: Shaun of the Dead (2004)
I believe that this being one of Edgar Wrights earliest films would be best to show how the soundtrack in his films plays a more important role as he did more and more films. In this film the soundtrack may not use as much music as other films directed by him, but the soundtrack still does play an important role in giving the audience memorable moments from the film, from the dialogue the characters have to say, to how the punches and hits are emphasised. I plan on analysing some of the key scenes where the sound used is most memorable, such as the fight scene in the pub when they have the fast paced song by queen "don't stop me now" by Queen. This scene would be best to analyse because of how the diagetic music sets the mood for the scene and how it turns what should be a horrifying moment in a zombie film, into a funny enjoyable moment.
Item 3: Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (2010)
I thought that this film would be useful for my research as it is another film that relies heavily on its soundtrack. It is also a good choice because of how he managed to make the soundtrack the most important part of a comic book movie, and also makes it seem like a live action comic book by use of the soundtrack. A lot of scenes in this movie are great for analysis as each one has great examples of the soundtrack being used, such as the fight scene at the castle which features music that matches the actions going on, as well as the comic book like sound effects that occur anytime someone throws a punch or hits someone.
Internet
Item 4: http://variety.com/2017/film/news/baby-driver-movie-music-1202482594/
I picked this for my research because it features an interview with Edgar Wright where he speaks about how he was inspired by music in his past to come up with the concept of the narrative of Baby Driver. This will be useful for my presentation as I will be able to get quotes from my director explaining how music and sounds have inspired the film Baby Driver that I am also analysing for my presentation.
Item 5: Film Sound Beyond Reality: Subjective sound in narrative cinema - By Mladen Milicevic
This contains a few points from films in the past, that talks about how sound in those films created effect for the audience and made the film better. I believe I could apply this to my question in how the sound in Edgar's films does the same for the audience.
Item 6: http://www.vulture.com/2017/06/baby-driver-edgar-wright-music.html
This article is an interview with the director in question and brings up questions about the soundtrack in most of his films, especially the three films that I'm investigating, so this would be very useful for the question.
Item 7: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/12/baby-driver-cars-3-office-christmas-party-philadelphia-story-dvds-review
This article
Videos
Item 8: https://youtu.be/pRlA8RzadSs
This interview can be of some use to my my question as the interview with the director asks questions about the soundtrack and how music is important to the film Baby Driver.
Books
Item 9: Movie Soundtracks and Sound Effects By Geoffrey M. Horn
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6VYwU-KluD0C&lpg=PP1&ots=uZ9n2L547i&dq=Movie%20soundtracks&lr&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
This book gives detail into soundtrack in films and its history and on page 12 gives a good quote on why music is used in films.
Item 10: Beginning Film Studies - by Andrew Dix
This book covers a lot of topics of Film and discusses what an Auteur is and also covers sound in movies a little bit too, both of which are useful to my question. I plan on using the book to help explain how Edgar Wright fits the criteria to become an auteur, based on the explanation given by the book
Rejected Items:
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/edgar-wright-walter-hill-discuss-driver/
This was an discussion between Edgar Wright and another director named Walter Hill, where they discuss how one of Walter Hills earlier films influenced Edgar Wrights Baby Driver, however it only talks about how the narrative and the breakthroughs of the Walter Hill film influenced Wrights latest, and does not mention any use of soundtrack in any detail to be useful.
The Worlds End (film)
This film has been rejected because it doesn't heavily rely on soundtrack like some of his other films. so I believe it wouldn't be very useful in my question and helping to answer it.
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