Blog written by Ann Michel and Phil Wilde, coprincipals of Insights International (Ithaca and New York City)

We have been talking about privacy, and the ethics of posting a film made long before posting existed as a way of distributing video. 

Many of you argued that our film, made in 1988, should be posted for the altruistic reasons that this film was created for: to "help" and "educate".

Recently we all learned about the young man who jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his most private life was exposed on-line. Clearly he did not consent to this, nor ever would have.  The two who posted this are responsible for their actions.  

But how far does this go? Perhaps this young man who took his own life was "close to the edge". 

But the two who invaded his privacy, and the internet audience, did not, and could not know this.  These two events are correlated. Are they cause and effect?

How responsible are we for what we post?

We know that we cannot control postings, and once it's up, it can easily be used in ways we did not intend. 

Are we still responsible? 

Blog written by Ann Michel and Phil Wilde, coprincipals, Insights International

Why should you bother to create a sound track from scratch and mix together audio tracks into a sound track, a soundscape? 

Is it worth the effort? 

Sometimes less is more. 

What about silence? Try it.

Nothing challenges our busy brains more than to fill this silence, this void. 

A little silence can go a long way. 

Musicians know this. Without a rest note, there is no syncopation. Syncopation adds interest, as do many other musical forms. 

 

Go ahead. Get your viewers to work a little. 

Creating a good sound track requires great subtlety. And it is subtlety and nuance that separates competent, good work from great work.

Blog written by Ann Michel and Phil Wilde, coprincipals, Insights International

Which comes first, the picture or the sound?

For me, it is often a song or sound that catalyses a show. I love to edit to music. I love to find the rhythm and flow in images and their sequencing based on a great song.

In a production, finishing up the audio track is usually done last.

Many musicians scoring a soundtrack for you will require a "picture lock" version, a completed, edited show to work from.

This can leave you editing the picture with only your brain—and not your heart.

However, if you know and trust your collaborators, this reverse process can work.

Sometimes, you can get early versions of music to edit to, to set your moods and rhythms.

This creative exchange between editor and sound designer can be the best part of production, going back and forth, editing and mixing with your heart as well your brain.

Blog written by Ann Michel and Phil Wilde, coprincipals, Insights International

A picture, we have been told, is worth 1000 words.  A moving picture is worth considerably more. 

But sound?  What is sound worth?

Why is sound important?

Why should you care about sound?

The picture goes straight to your brain.  You see it.  Process it.  Understand it.

Sound goes straight to your heart.  You feel it.  Want it.  Care about it.

A good sound track soundtrack can completely alter the experience of watching a show.  Try watching shows without the sound.

Watch the FLEFF trailer silent.  Then, add then sound back in.  When the sound is done well, the show transform. 

Play with it.