What is the primary use of ambient sound in production?

Ambient sound serves a crucial role in establishing the tone and atmosphere of a scene. By incorporating background sounds that reflect the environment, such as rustling leaves, distant traffic, or chatter in a café, filmmakers create an immersive experience that draws the audience into the world of the story. This subtle layer of audio enhances the visual elements, adding depth and realism to the production.

While other options address important sound elements in film, they do not encapsulate the primary function of ambient sound as effectively. For instance, driving the narrative typically involves more direct sound elements, like dialogue and key sound effects. Highlighting characters' emotions often relies on musical scores or specific audio cues rather than the broader environmental sounds that ambient sound encompasses. Additionally, while ambient sound can occasionally complement specific sound effects, its primary purpose is to enrich the overall atmosphere rather than serve specific sound effect duties. Thus, the use of ambient sound is fundamentally about creating a believable context that enhances the audience's connection to the scenes depicted.