AHHHHHHHHH! (Sound)

In our film, audio is SUCH an important part. Since our film is about technology taking over, we wanted the sound to slowly build from normal to completely overwhelming. Instead of using background music the whole time, we’re relying a lot on diegetic sound to make everything feel realistic and chaotic.

The Computer Sounds

The first sound in the film is the computer powering on in total darkness. You hear the whirring before you even see anything. That automatically sets the tone and lets the audience know technology is going to be important. We wanted to use the following sounds:

• Typing sounds
• Clicking
• The Spotify music playing
• Notification sounds
• Computer running

These are normal sounds you'd hear coming from a computer, kind of like a cacophony of sounds together but not overwhelming or creepy like they would be later. This is almost like a preface! We also add the “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,” Siri audio which we think adds  kind of a relatable moment of technology being annoying, but hints at the theme of mistreatment of technology (Hence the name, user error)

The Party Audio (Through the Computer)

When Allyssa FaceTimes Stacy on the computer, we plan to make the party sound chaotic and loud. We want to have music blasting, people yelling, laughter, background chatter, etc. We want it to junxapose Stacy’s quiet house. It shows the contrast between her isolation and the exciting world she feels like she’s missing out on. The audio here represents social pressure. Even though she’s physically alone, the noise makes it feel like the party is invading her space.

The Blender and Appliance Chaos

When the blender turns on by itself, that’s one of the first major sound shocks. It’s sudden and loud, which startles both Stacy and the audience. Later, we plan to layer multiple sounds on top of each other like speakers blasting music, the TV flipping channels, the microwave beeping, the electronic lock beeping etc. This overlapping audio will create sensory overload. We want it to feel overwhelming and out of control to make audiences uncomfortable. Instead of using dramatic horror music, we’re using normal household sounds and making them chaotic.

Phone Calling / Ringing Sound.

One of the most important audio choices in User Error is the difference between Stacy receiving calls at the beginning versus making a call at the end. At the start of the film, the FaceTime calls and notifications feel normal. Her mom is calling her through the computer, and it’s honestly treated like an annoyance. The ringtone plays, and Stacy just rolls her eyes and hangs up. The sound is meant to be casual and familiar, like it's something we all hear every day. When her mom’s messages start popping up, the notification sounds almost blend into the background. Stacy ignores them without even thinking. The audio shows how comfortable and desensitized she is. The calls don’t feel urgent to her. But later, everything changes when Stacy tries to leave and the house starts glitching, she pulls out her phone and FaceTimes her mom. This time, the ringtone isn’t annoying but now it’s desperate. It’s the same type of sound, but the meaning is completely different. Instead of ignoring it, she’s waiting for it.

This becomes one of the most important audio choices in User Error is the difference between Stacy receiving calls at the beginning versus making a call at the end.