Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (2019)
Country: US
Technical: col/bw 94m
Director: Midge Costin
Cast: doc. (major contributors: Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, Gary Rydstrom, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas)
Synopsis:
This absorbing documentary looks at all aspects of sound on film (voice, effects, ambience, music) and their evolution from silent days, when the need for a sound element was all but hardwired into the pioneer process. With plentiful use of illustration we are taken from the Warners breakthrough pictures to King Kong and the beginnings of sound editing; then through stereo to the use of a multi-track system and the bespoke creation of a bank of sound effects (Star Wars); finally to the digital revolution.
Review:
One might cavil that having stressed the importance of the human voice the film then pretty much ignores it, and any look at the contribution of music would need a film all to itself, so that is wisely sidelined also. We are left with a thorough look at sound effects creation, with an explanation of the nuances between SFX and concrete sounds, and of a number of other technical factors. The more or less persuasive analogy adopted is that of the sections of an orchestra, with the voice as the string section etc. Techno-geeks might like a little more exposure of the nuts and bolts of the process, but this entertaining film covers a good deal of ground within a manageable running time.
Country: US
Technical: col/bw 94m
Director: Midge Costin
Cast: doc. (major contributors: Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, Gary Rydstrom, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas)
Synopsis:
This absorbing documentary looks at all aspects of sound on film (voice, effects, ambience, music) and their evolution from silent days, when the need for a sound element was all but hardwired into the pioneer process. With plentiful use of illustration we are taken from the Warners breakthrough pictures to King Kong and the beginnings of sound editing; then through stereo to the use of a multi-track system and the bespoke creation of a bank of sound effects (Star Wars); finally to the digital revolution.
Review:
One might cavil that having stressed the importance of the human voice the film then pretty much ignores it, and any look at the contribution of music would need a film all to itself, so that is wisely sidelined also. We are left with a thorough look at sound effects creation, with an explanation of the nuances between SFX and concrete sounds, and of a number of other technical factors. The more or less persuasive analogy adopted is that of the sections of an orchestra, with the voice as the string section etc. Techno-geeks might like a little more exposure of the nuts and bolts of the process, but this entertaining film covers a good deal of ground within a manageable running time.
Country: US
Technical: col/bw 94m
Director: Midge Costin
Cast: doc. (major contributors: Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, Gary Rydstrom, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas)
Synopsis:
This absorbing documentary looks at all aspects of sound on film (voice, effects, ambience, music) and their evolution from silent days, when the need for a sound element was all but hardwired into the pioneer process. With plentiful use of illustration we are taken from the Warners breakthrough pictures to King Kong and the beginnings of sound editing; then through stereo to the use of a multi-track system and the bespoke creation of a bank of sound effects (Star Wars); finally to the digital revolution.
Review:
One might cavil that having stressed the importance of the human voice the film then pretty much ignores it, and any look at the contribution of music would need a film all to itself, so that is wisely sidelined also. We are left with a thorough look at sound effects creation, with an explanation of the nuances between SFX and concrete sounds, and of a number of other technical factors. The more or less persuasive analogy adopted is that of the sections of an orchestra, with the voice as the string section etc. Techno-geeks might like a little more exposure of the nuts and bolts of the process, but this entertaining film covers a good deal of ground within a manageable running time.