Museum of Moving Image

The Museum of Moving Image was a great experience for young media makers, like me. Although there were various exhibits, our educator took the time to demonstrate a demo of sound editing. This was significant because our class recently learned about and worked on audio projects of our own. Our educator broke down the sound design in a film. She showed us how a scene from Titanic was edited, in regard to sound. 

First, she showed us the scene without sound at all and asked to imagine what sounds we would attach to the scene. She, then, added the dialogue that was recorded by the actors in a session of automated dialogue replacement, ADR. She included the Foley sounds and then the sound effects. She emphasized the difference between Foley sounds and sound effects. This was interesting because as we worked on our project, it seemed that sound effects would be efficient enough. But in a feature film, the Foley sounds can truly define some scenes beyond any other audio component. Finally, she added the music and we understood the various different audio aspects that are used to perfect a single scene. 

Working on our own projects, we had a brief understanding of merging dialogue, music, and sound effects. However, watching what we learned, applied to a major motion film on a larger dynamic with Foley sounds, ADR, and more, gave us a better understanding. It also allowed us to compare our sound editing process and choices with another media maker’s process.

I think it is fascinating to consider that films were once silent because films today would be incomplete without sound design. The addition of each component such as dialogue, Foley, sound effects, and music adds a different dynamic to film. Sound design has advanced a lot over the years and all of these aspects create a better experience for the audience and enhance the filmmaker’s intent. This evolution was evident at the Museum of Moving Image and provided us with a great insight into the industry.