Audio Film

An audio film is a form of storytelling that uses sound—such as dialogue, music, sound effects, and ambient noises—to create an immersive narrative experience without relying on visuals. Unlike traditional films, which combine both visual and audio elements, audio films focus entirely on sound to convey story, emotion, and atmosphere. They often resemble radio dramas or podcasts but can be more experimental in style, using spatial audio, layered sounds, and creative sound design to engage the listener’s imagination. Audio films allow audiences to visualize scenes and characters in their minds, making sound the primary tool for storytelling and emotional impact.

Practice

For my recent audio film practice, I took a scene from a classic horror movie and transformed it by replacing the original eerie sounds with funny, unexpected audio. This playful experiment allowed me to explore how sound alone can completely change the mood and meaning of a scene. By swapping chilling music and tense silence for comedic noises and quirky voices, I turned a frightening moment into something humorous and lighthearted. This exercise taught me the power of audio in storytelling—how sound can guide the audience’s emotions and create entirely new experiences, even without visuals. It was a fun way to deepen my understanding of sound design and its impact on narrative tone.

Research

For my audio film, I choose a series of paintings of Van Gogh. He is personally my favorite artist of all times.

Van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) was a Dutch post-impressionist painter renowned for his emotional intensity, vibrant colors, and expressive brushwork. Although he struggled with mental illness and sold few paintings during his life, Van Gogh became one of the most influential artists in Western art history. Born in the Netherlands, he initially worked various jobs before dedicating himself to painting in his late twenties. His early works, like The Potato Eaters, featured dark tones and focused on rural life. After moving to France, especially Arles, his style evolved to include bold colors, thick paint application, and dynamic brushstrokes influenced by Impressionism and Japanese art. Iconic works such as Starry Night and Sunflowers showcase his unique approach. His art deeply reflects his inner turmoil, spirituality, and search for meaning. Despite a tragic life ending in suicide, Van Gogh’s passionate, innovative style continues to inspire artists worldwide.

1- Bank of the Oise at Auvers

"Bank of the Oise at Auvers" (1890) is one of Vincent van Gogh’s final works, painted during the last months of his life in the small village of Auvers-sur-Oise, just north of Paris. This landscape captures the tranquil banks of the Oise River with Van Gogh’s signature expressive brushwork and vibrant color palette. The scene includes a boat moored along the water’s edge, lush greenery, and a serene riverbank, all painted with swirling, energetic strokes that convey both movement and emotion.

This work reflects Van Gogh's deep connection to nature and his ability to capture a fleeting moment with psychological intensity. Despite the painting’s peaceful subject, the urgent brushwork and bold contrasts suggest the emotional turbulence Van Gogh was experiencing at the time. Painted just weeks before his death, "Bank of the Oise at Auvers" embodies both the calm and restlessness that defined his final period, blending beauty with inner unease.

2- The Sea at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

"The Sea at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer" (1888) is a vibrant seascape painted by Vincent van Gogh during his time in the south of France. Created during a visit to the small fishing village of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer on the Mediterranean coast, the painting captures Van Gogh’s fascination with the natural movement and color of the sea. The waves are depicted with dynamic, swirling brushstrokes, giving the water a sense of motion and life. He uses rich blues, greens, and touches of white to portray the restless sea under a breezy sky, with fishing boats scattered on the horizon.

This work reflects Van Gogh’s emotional connection to nature and his desire to express its energy through color and form. The sea, to him, was not just a subject but a living force—something spiritual and moving. The painting combines realism with Van Gogh’s distinct expressive style, making the seascape both vivid and deeply personal.

3- The Ravine of the Peyroulets

"The Ravine of the Peyroulets" is a powerful and emotive landscape painting created by Vincent van Gogh in 1889, during his stay at the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. This work depicts a steep, rocky ravine located near the asylum, a place Van Gogh frequently visited and painted. The rugged terrain, with jagged rocks and dense vegetation, is portrayed using his signature swirling brushstrokes and vibrant, textured colors.

The painting reflects Van Gogh’s inner emotional state—turbulent yet searching for peace. The deep shadows and dramatic contours of the ravine convey a sense of isolation and struggle, while the lively brushwork and intense palette suggest a spiritual energy coursing through nature. Rather than depicting the landscape realistically, Van Gogh transforms it into a psychological and emotional experience. "The Ravine of the Peyroulets" stands as a testament to how Van Gogh used nature as a mirror for his inner life, turning the harsh landscape into a deeply expressive, almost mystical vision.

My Vision

I created this audio film using three of Van Gogh’s paintings—The Sea at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, The Ravine of the Peyroulets, and Bank of the Oise at Auvers—to explore the emotional journey of a young girl determined to break free from the limits set by her parents. They warn her not to wander into the unknown, cautioning her about what lies ahead, but she refuses to listen. Fueled by curiosity and a deep yearning for independence, she escapes into a dreamlike world where she experiences the beauty, chaos, and stillness of nature. The sea becomes her freedom, the ravine her fear, and the riverbank her solitude. But as her journey continues, the dream begins to shift—what once felt like discovery now feels empty. She realizes there's nothing truly out there for her, nothing that replaces what she left behind. In the end, she wakes up with regret, forever changed by the dream that showed her what she already had.

Process

To design the audio landscape for my film, I created all the dialogue myself, recording each line in my own voice and then adjusting the pitch and tone to differentiate between characters. This allowed me to maintain creative control while giving each voice a unique identity. Alongside the dialogue, I crafted a variety of Foley sounds to bring depth and realism to the scenes. Each sound was either recorded manually using household objects or layered from natural sources to match the emotional and environmental cues of the story. These Foley sounds were essential in building atmosphere and guiding the audience through the visual journey, enhancing the storytelling without needing visuals. I experimented with different techniques to simulate specific effects. The following is a list of the main Foley sounds used throughout the film:

Foley Sound List:

Ocean waves – using layered recordings of water splashes and ambient sea audio
Rainfall – made with rice falling on various surfaces
Thunder – using aluminum sheets and slowed-down drum hits
Wind – recorded by blowing into a microphone with fabric filters
Rustling leaves – wind out side house
Birds and natural ambiance – sourced from real field recordings and lightly edited
Splashing water – recorded in a tub using hands and objects
Ship Horn- Phone Violin
Some other like boat motor was picked online