With the announced closure of Fantasy Studios on September 18, 2018, I thought it would be fitting to talk to someone who was there at the time of it being a film center. I tracked down Dan Olmsted, who worked at the Saul Zaentz Film Center on films such as The English Patient, Amadeus, Boogie Nights, K-19: The Widowmaker, and Fern Gully 2. Dan still works in the Zaentz Media … [Read more...]
A few places for recorded sound
Picture by T. Rider This article is intended as a small reflection about the place of recorded sounds in three artistic domains that use it as a working material: film sound, concrete music and sound arts related to the soundscape approach. Recorded sound is analyzed here over two main aspects: causality and context. Hopefully, these brief words will serve as an introduction … [Read more...]
Walter Murch and Trains: A Sound Exploration
Guest Post by Beau Anthony Jimenez Introduction In the film and sound world, Walter Murch is a man that needs no introduction. But for the few who need a brief idea of this Renaissance man: Walter Murch is a pioneer of the film-sound world. His way of thinking about sound for film has been revered for decades. His body of work is legendary, both as a sound editor and … [Read more...]
Tonebenders Interview with Mark Levinson
Since we're in the middle of our documentary month, I though it would be worthwhile to point out the latest episode of the Tonebenders Podcast. It's about a month old now, but if you should really give it a listen if you haven't already. In it, Timohty Muirhead interviews Mark Levinson, director of the recent documentary Particle Fever. Did you know that Mark has also worked … [Read more...]
Art of Surround
Acousmonium, INA-GRM, 1980. Photo by Laszlo Ruska. Surround (Oxford Dictionary) (verb) [with object] - Be all round (someone or something) (noun) - A thing that forms a border or edging around an object. (adjective) (Surrounding) - All around a particular place or thing. Based merely on a technological approach, one might think that Surround sound is just the … [Read more...]
The Dickson Experimental Sound Film
Broken wax cylinder containing the 'first' film soundtrack circa 1894-1895 In 'broken' month I wanted to find out a little more about what's being done to fix (and preserve) some of the broken pieces of film history. The story of the Dickson Experimental Sound Film (link to view at the end of the article) seemed to be a good way into the subject and I am indebted to Ken … [Read more...]
Screenings of the Documentary “Particle Fever” with Walter Murch
Are you in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend? Then check out one of these screenings of Particle Fever, which will have a Q&A with director Mark Levinson and Editor WALTER MURCH!!! Fri 3/14 Shattuck, Berkeley (Landmark Theaters) 7:30 show – intro and Q&A w/ director Mark Levinson and editor Walter Murch and physicists Sat 3/15 Embarcadero, SF (Landmark … [Read more...]