As the documentary format moves further into the 21st century, audio is playing an ever increasing role in helping directors communicate their thoughts and ideas to the viewer. In a recent article posted to doxmagazine.com, Peter Albrechtsen goes in depth with Christopher Barnett, the sound designer for this year’s MPSE documentary sound design award winning film, Dirty Wars. The two discuss the specifics of documentary sound design theory at length, going over such topics as the interplay between sound effects and music, the need for authenticity over sonic perfection, and the placement of voice overs, in order to support the emotion of a documentary’s message.
Dirty Wars is an important film, revealing insights into an largely unknown covert military unit, and Barnett’s sound design frames the viewing experience perfectly. Read Albrechtsen’s article in it’s entirety at doxmagazine.com.