High Five: Where Creativity Knows No Bounds
Sound design is a captivating art form that has the power to enhance and transform the way we experience various forms of media. Whether it's in films, video games, TV or adverts, sound design adds depth and richness to storytelling, immersing the audience in a world of sonic textures and emotions. The meticulous arrangement of sounds, from ambient environments to intricate sound effects, allows us to evoke specific moods, build tension or create moments of sheer awe. It's a medium where creativity knows no bounds, where one can craft unique auditory landscapes that complement visuals and ignite the imagination. Sound design, with its ability to evoke powerful emotions and enhance storytelling, undoubtedly holds a special place in the realm of media content. What I’m always looking out for are projects that seem very straightforward and totally believable to the untrained ear, when they are an intricate puzzle of tiny audio clips all arranged specifically to sell the scene you’re watching. Many people think it’s just the recording of what was captured on set when little of what you can hear was recorded when being shot. Sound designers often must make up stories of non-diegetic sounds that you hear in the background to immerse the viewer. We often think to ourselves: “What could we hear if we were in that environment?”, and having this mindset is what helps us work with picture, dialogue and music to create a totally realistic experience for the viewer...
Formula E - 'Progress Is Unstoppable'
Agency: Uncommon
Production: Pulse Films
Director: Sam Walker
Production Service: Patriot Films
Post: Rascal
Editorial: Trim Editing
Sound: King Lear
Production Service: Patriot Films
Post: Rascal
Editorial: Trim Editing
Sound: King Lear
I was so captivated when I first watched this film. The build-up to the driver accelerating out the plane only to fall thousands of feet, to then pull his parachute, has such an amazing soundscape which is immensely immersive, met with such an emotional score building to an unexpected crescendo.
White Claw - 'Storm'
Agency: VCCP
Production: Rogue Films x Selected Works
Director: Sam Brown
Post: Electric Theatre Collective
Editorial: Final Cut London
Sound: Factory
Post: Electric Theatre Collective
Editorial: Final Cut London
Sound: Factory
I love the amazingly well thought out cinematography and choreography of how all the chaos going on on-screen seems to fit together so beautifully. The slow-motion shots and calming music add such a nice contrast to the disastrous weather unfolding. All the sound design is crafted so perfectly that everything you can see and hear has its own space in the mix, and is super clear and not messy.
'Waves' - Feature Film
Director: Trey Edward Shults
This film follows the life and troubles of a high school senior. The sound design and mix in this film is unlike anything I’ve heard before. All the sound and music moves around to the perspective of the viewer, almost to an unpleasurable level. The dynamic and movement is affecting more than just a few elements, we get the whole soundtrack transforming and developing throughout each scene.
Nike - 'Nothing Beats a Londoner'
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy
Production: Riff Raff Films
Director: Megaforce
Post: Time Based Arts
Editorial: Final Cut London
Post: Time Based Arts
Editorial: Final Cut London
This advert is pure genius, it perfectly captures cultural differences in sport, music and media. I find myself always coming back to this spot and still laughing. The sound design is amazing, all the environments are very bespoke and the flow of the sound mix with the edit is spot on.
Aston Martin - 'Never Leave Quietly'
Production: Prism
Director: Cesar Garcia
This high octane car advert doesn’t disappoint. It starts with delicate detail, and goes into bombastic sci-fi style sound design. Most of the visuals were created in Unreal Engine, transporting you to dystopian landscape where anything could happen.
