One of the most exciting audio industries is filmmaking: from the everyday sound effects that we've come to take for granted to the instantly recognizable sounds of things that have only ever existed in the movies, there's a whole universe of audio with its own cinematic language. In these episodes, we focus on that hidden language of sound we all grew up learning without even thinking about it, how it's used to tell stories and create impossible worlds that seem vividly real, and the invaluable role cinematic film techniques and sound design play when it comes to audio branding.
We look at the art of filmmaking and the innovative approach of its sound artists throughout the years, from Jack Foley, the groundbreaking Hollywood sound designer who inspired a whole new profession of “Foley artists,” to the sound technicians who brought to life such impossible sounds as King Kong’s famous roar or the hum of a lightsaber swinging through the air. These podcasts feature interviews with directors, producers, and composers who help us delve deeper into the importance of cinematic audio, from building the right soundtrack to improvising completely new sound effects.
Sometimes what we don't hear can be as important as what we hear, and we speak with a multitude of sound designers and industry experts about the process of creating just the right audio impression. Whether it's using special silent movie props to mask distracting sounds or adding sound effects that we've grown accustomed to hearing over the years, such as the coconut clomp of galloping horses, there's a lot of work that goes into designing the right soundscape. Each episode looks at the subtle magic of cinematic sound, and how that same approach is being applied to commercial branding.
From catchy theme songs and memorable slogans to the slight beeps and clicks that we don’t even think about hearing, Hollywood movies and audio branding are both filled with sound effects that draw us into their world without our even noticing it. Each one aims to engage its audience and make a memorable first impression, and, most importantly, to always leave them wanting more.
Connecting Through Sound, Content, and Branding: A Conversation with Micah Thomas – Part 2 “For all of us, we are gaining our trust, our stability, our hope, our aspirations, our inspirations, all come to us through the medium of sound. Video is important, right? But FDR was able to keep a country from going mad […]
Audio Dramas and Accessibility: A Conversation with Micah Thomas – Part 1 “Early on in that we noticed that there are so many people in the blind and visually impaired community that are underrepresented in the respect of entertainment, both as an entertainer and as the consumer. The only products they have are descriptive videos […]
Sell Your Brand with Effective Storytelling: A Conversation with Mark Wonderlin – Part 2 “I think the biggest mistake most people, most businesses make when they go into that project is they think it’s a story about them, but the reality is it’s a story about your customer and how you help them in their […]
Audio Branding and its Impact on Consumer Recall: A Conversation with Mark Wonderlin – Part 1 “I think a part of that is because, you know, 75% of people, like, on Facebook, will not listen to sound, so they don’t really equate it as much, or they don’t understand the value of it. However, sound […]
Audio Design and Game Development: A Conversation with Chris Hegstrom – Part 2 “But you don’t know how that user is going to do it. Are they going to somersault through the entire level? Are they going to climb up a wall and jump down? And are they going to just sit in a corner […]
From Cinema to Video Games: A Conversation with Chris Hegstrom – Part 1 “I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was my first introduction into user experience, right? Like a UX or user experience. It’s exactly that. It’s like I could put a microphone out in a storm and then all I get […]