Hulk Running

My absence from this blog hasn’t been intentional, as I have been working on a draft of my dissertation proposal. After some major concentration I managed to complete a draft that outlines my major arguments and intentions for what will surely become a mammoth project. As some of you already know, I began this blog to work out some of the major ideas of my thesis in an open forum, in hopes of getting feedback from loyal readers and — more realistically — providing me with an opportunity to fine tune the hypotheses and concepts that will eventually form some of my research. This blog is also an outlet for my own impressions, ideas, and opinions on cinematic trends, theory, style, and other quirky elements of Hollywood filmmaking.

My research addresses changes in American sound practices since 1970, so that means I’m fascinated with the emergence of “surround sound,” THX certification, and the dynamics of film sound since the arrival of Dolby. Much of my interest stems from the importance of sound effects, Foley, and ambiences in contemporary films. Whereas the classical era of studio filmmaking relied mostly on dialogue and music (and some effects) to create a soundscape, films today boast aggressive, hyper-realistic, and complex mixes that foreground detailed effects. In addition to voice and music (source and score), mixes today are often more frenzied than the visuals. With faster cutting rates and computer generated enhancements, the image is often the focus of studies of changes in film style and technology, but my whole argument is that we need to consider how the sound of movies have changed as well. Perhaps the sound of modern movies has influenced contemporary visual style.

One of my favorite websites is Film Sound Daily, which is a wonderful resource for interviews with sound professionals and information on the sound designs of new releases. Where else can you read informative interviews with Foley artists and re-recording mixers? Well, aside from Mix Magazine and filmsound. org, of course.

A recent post triggered my memory and nostalgia for the films of Albert Brooks, especially his early works like Modern Romance and Lost in America, which are two American comedy classics. Brooks has made a career of directing himself in small films that are never perfect, but always disarmingly funny. While Judd Apatow remains the current benchmark for relationship comedies, I prefer the dry and sardonic qualities of Brooks’ humor. Brooks proves that you don’t have to be a goofy man-child to be funny and endearing.

The Film Sound Daily editors posted a short clip from a scene in Modern Romance, where Albert’s character, Robert, a film editor, tries to find the right sound effect for a scene he is working on. It’s a great moment that perfectly captures my interest in the power of sound to shape our understanding of a film.

Over 90% of what we hear in films is created in post-production. On some films that number is even higher if production tracks are unusable due to environmental noise or recording errors. Everything from rain drops to the rustle of clothing is designed, edited, and mixed by some very talented artists, whose job is to convince us that the sound is tied to the image. In this way, sound effects can provide subtle or overt commentary, add weight to visual objects, or scare you with an unexpected stinger that stems from the rear of the theater.

If I could open my dissertation with a film clip, this one would be an apt choice. I came across it as I was just finishing my proposal and thought I’d share it.