NMED 2030
February 10th 2009
NMED 2030
Today’s Class…
Sound Design
CBS Sunday Morning
Audio Assignment
NMED 2030
– The War of the Worlds is an episode of the American radio
drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air, which
was performed as a Halloween special on October 30, 1938
and aired over the CBS Radio network. Directed by Orson
Welles, the episode was an adaptation of H. G. Wells'
classic novel The War of the Worlds.
–
New York Times headline from October 31, 1938.
NMED 2030
• Sound Design
– The term “sound designer” was coined by
famed editor, Walter Murch (Apocalypse
Now, The Conversation, The English
Patient) in 1979.
– Sound design is an integral part of the
filmmaking and film watching experience.
– The appeal to the imagination of the
creators and the audience.
NMED 2030
• Foley Art
– The use of sound effect technique for
synchronous effects or live effect is called
Foley art.
– Foley art is named for Jack Foley a sound
editor at Universal Studios who died in
1967.
NMED 2030
• Foley Art
– Foley got the idea of projecting the moving
image in a sound stage and recording
sounds and recording in sync with the
actors movements using different surfaces
and an array of props.
NMED 2030
• Foley Art
– Did you know that…
• The sound of a smoldering cigarette is made by
pressing a thumb into plain dirt?
• The mammoth’s footsteps in the movie The Ice
Age was made by dropping a log into a pit of
dirt, mud and stone?
• In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon the bamboo
sticks used in the balletic fight scene came
from a sound editor’s backyard in New Jersey?
NMED 2030
• Foley Art
– Did you know that…
• The sound of footsteps crunching on snow is
actually achieved by Kosher sea salt covered in
corn starch?
• The sound of the dragonfly made memorable in
the opening of Men In Black was made using a
small plastic fan with gaphers tape stuck to the
blades? The tape was made long enough so
that when the fan was turned on, it brushed up
against the Foley’s fingers.
NMED 2030
• Foley Art
– Today Foley effects are done
predominantly without Foley performers.
– The sounds are stored electronically and
performed by the post-production team.
NMED 2030
• You will be asked to record a line of
dialogue that captures the spirit of your
scene and recreate the environment
using sound effects.
NMED 2030
• Homework…
• Come to next class prepared to begin
your audio assignment.
– The assignment will be given during the
lecture part of the class and you will be set
free to begin creating during the lab.
NMED 2030
• CBS Sunday Morning
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a5Z
UqjnRvE
• December 17, 2007
NMED 2030
• Derek Jarman’s Blue
The film was his last testament as a filmmaker, and consists of a single shot of
saturated blue colour filling the screen,
as background to a soundtrack
NMED 2030
• Audio Assignment
1. Break into groups of two or three
2. Each group needs to check-out a camera.
3. Take turns recording your respective lines of
dialogue using the Panasonic in-camera
microphone.
1.
Find a quiet, sound controlled room or area
4. Return the camera to the equipment room by the
end of class.
NMED 2030
• Audio Assignment
5. Steps for Recording Dialogue:
•
•
•
•
Write down your line of dialogue
One person is responsible for hitting the
record/pause button
One person is responsible for saying i.e.
“Dana’s dialogue: Take One” etc. then
reciting the dialogue
One person is responsible for taking notes on
which take is “good” or “very good” or “junk”
4.
Do at least three takes – but no more than ten
NMED 2030
• Audio Assignment
6. Import the dialogue into Premiere Pro
•
Edit for dramatic effect if necessary
–
Create pauses, change pitch or speed etc.
NMED 2030
• Audio Assignment
8. Using the sound effects from
California State University,
The Free Site.com
http://www.grsites.com/sounds/
OR create Foley sounds to
create the environment in which you story
unfolds.
NMED 2030
• Audio Assignment is due at the end of
class on Feb 12th
• To submit, put your final assignment in
your class folder.