Example Of Short On Sundays: Time And Sound In Wildcat Essay

Time plays a significant role in Wildcat. For example, the film depicts several shots from Grayson, Oklahoma of calf roping, a young woman wearing a bridesmaid's dress, and shots of the small town -- in black and white. The timing of the alternating sequences builds up a tension that is never quite resolved, in terms of climax, and denouement. Certain images such as the rodeo have a longer duration than others, suggesting the importance of these scenes. The shots of the bridesmaid are interspersed briefly with the action sequences of the film. At one point, the rodeo pen is filmed after the rodeo is over -- and in darkness. The interspersed, shorter shots leave the viewer with a feeling that the central character, the bride-to-be, will attend her wedding. However, her brief time in the movie does not result in a wedding scene.
The soundtrack of Wildcat is foreign, perhaps Arabic, and resonates throughout the movie. Throughout the soundtrack, the viewer is left to wonder if the entirety of the film will be silent, while continuing to focus on action scenes and individual stills -- namely, the young bride-to-be and the black rodeo star. The sound is "stretched" throughout the film to enhance its cinematography. The music oddly complements traditional Oklahoma activities, such as the rodeo. The overarching theme of small-town activities is counterpointed by the middle Eastern music that plays throughout the short film. The sound also corresponds to certain moments of tension, such as when one of the galloping horse lands on its side, with the rider still aboard. The music is very spiritual, and plays well against Grayson's traditional, small town, Okie lifestyle, which has its own religious aspect.
Murch, Walter. (2000). "Stretching Sound to Help the Mind See." Retrieved on 17 Nov 2014 from http://www.filmsound.org/murch/stretching.htm
Nichols, B. (n.d.). "Documentary and the Coming of Sound." Retrieved on 17 Nov 2014 from http://www.filmsound.org/film-sound-history/documentary.htm