“Where was the microphone when Woody met Buzz?” That’s usually my short answer when trying to describe what I do for a living. Most of you reading this probably appreciate the facade that is sound for film. That being, that the microphone on set didn’t actually pick up everything you’re hearing when you watch a movie in the theater. Yet that’s often what most movie-goers … [Read more...]
Walter Murch: “The Perfect Sound Film has Zero Tracks”
Wise words of Walter Murch: I think it's generally misleading to say, "Well, that sequence had eighty tracks, it must be great." Ideally, for me, the perfect sound film has zero tracks. You try to get the audience to a point, somehow, where they can imagine the sound. They hear the sound in their minds, and it really isn't on the track at all. That's the ideal sound, the one … [Read more...]
The Audience isn’t Listening
Yesterday, I went to see Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix at a local theater chain and to my delight the soundtrack defaulted down to the stereo mix from the third reel on. I was obviously a little annoyed so I decided to talk to the manager and let them know that the film in their biggest theater was playing back in not so optimum conditions. They nodded and awarded … [Read more...]