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Film Review:
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
Reveals the hidden power of sound in cinema through film
clips and insight from visionary directors and their wildly creative sound
designers |
Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter
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Written by: Bill Lawrence, Halifax, UK |
Date:
25.10.2019 |
Making
Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
Dir. Midge Costain USA 2019 94 mins
Opening USA 25 October, UK 1 November 2019
Sound is arguably the most under appreciated aspect of the movie-going
experience and yet adds so much to the viewing experience. While many people
argue, fairly, for the supremacy of the 70mm film format, they forget that
5mm is dedicated to the excellence of the magnetic soundtrack. Indeed, as
efforts where being made to create the finest visual experience, so
innovators where looking to find the best possible sound, an aural
experience that would not only add realism but take the cinema-goer deeper
into new worlds.
• Go to
Todd-AO: All-Purpose
Sound Reproduction
• Go to
Todd-AO: Six track
recording equipment
We often refer to silent cinema, but cinema was rarely silent. Even
pre-cinema magic lantern slide shows relied on narrators and increasingly
complex sound effects created by the showmen as they travelled the country.
Moving images where soon accompanied by pianos, orchestras and emphasising
sound effects until the arrival of sound movies and the human voice
dominating. The great composers added emotional scores building the visceral
experience for the audience. From the 1950s stereo sound, layered sound
effects, sound design took movies to a whole new level. Digital sound
reached auditoria long before digital cinema and today surround is not just
horizontal but overheard, too.
Veteran Hollywood sound editor Midge Costin, has interviewed the pioneers to
look at this fascinating history and, as well as some great stories, gives a
wonderfully clear analysis of what makes a soundtrack, the elements and
skills, in the award-winning documentary "Making Waves: The Art of
Cinematic Sound".
With interviews from the great sound designers Walter Murch and Ben Burtt to
Lora Hirschberg and Bobbi Banks with support from Francis Ford Coppola,
Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Barbara Streisand, there are many great
insights as to their inspirations and excitement about sound and the
development of increasing levels of complexity in the building of
multi-track sound layers.
• Go to Mixing
Dolby Stereo Film Sound
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More in 70mm reading:
Adding the Sound to
Cinerama
"In 70mm and
6-track Dolby Stereo"
Dolby Stereo Surround On 70mm
70mm And
Digital Sound
What is DTS 70mm?
Cinema Digital Sound - System
Overview
PDF:
Making Waves in Theaters Oct. 25, 2019
Making Waves - PRESS NOTES (Oct. 25, 2019)
Internet link:
Trailer: Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
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Walter
Murch Mixing "Apocalypse Now"
There is a lot packed into this brisk 94 minute journey and it is
fascinating. However, it does overlook some key parts of sound development,
for example, no reference to
Cinerama and its
separate magnetic soundtrack introducing seven track stereo to cinemas, and
while 70mm gets a mention, it probably deserves more. However, with great
interviews and clips, this is a must for anyone who is interested in
widescreen cinema the endeavour for the best possible production values.
“A delight ...” – The Hollywood
Reporter
“… mesmerizing, thoroughly engrossing …” – Film Threat
“Fascinating and informative, it’s a ‘must watch’ … full of such
engaging revelations.” – Screen International
Making its world premiere at the 2019
Tribeca Film Festival, Making Waves was an Official Selection at the 2019
Festival de Cannes - Cannes Classics and was the Audience Award winner at
the 2019 Indie Bo Film Festival, Columbia. Called “One of the top seven
films to watch” by Haaretz at the Jerusalem Film Festival, "Making
Waves" is also an Official Selection of the London, Cambridge, Munich,
DMZ Docs South Korea, Taipei Golden Horse, Ghent, New Zealand, Deauville and
Mill Valley film festivals, among others.
Watch
the Trailer
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