How do you make a Documentary exhilarating? You make a movie about making movies and in this case it’s the sound that brings a film to life. “Our ears lead our eyes to where the story is” Steven Spielberg. What would the scene in Saving Private Ryan where the allied troops are hitting the beach be like if you couldn’t hear the bullets and explosions along with the sounds of the landing craft? We take sound for granted, but if you are in a theater and it’s just not right your experience is in jeopardy. Maybe it’s not loud enough or even too loud, or the sound goes off during a scene? We’re already heading to the lobby to find an usher or get a refund.
Starting with the rudimentary of sound, did you know it’s the first thing a fetus receives within six to seven months of pregnancy? When you see someone talking to a pregnant woman’s stomach, the developing child hears the person, according to sound editor Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now). He goes on to say that sound affects us in a deeper way than even an image does. Actually what would today’s action movies be like if there were no sound? It would take us back to the beginning of movies where part of the entertainment was a piano and a few sound effects that people are creating behind the big screen to provide an adventure.
Following an introduction of the beginning sound coupled with comments by sound designers, the lesson begins starting with the 1920’s. The early talkies to today’s blockbuster action films are the prime entertainment that has shaped the world. In Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound you hear from sound designers, editors, special effects sound as well as comments from directors, actors and more. A lot of people behind the camera are working to make your viewing pleasure special, but they are mostly unsung heroes that unless you read the credits are unknown.
The film takes you though some of the most iconic movies to animation, and within we are treated to how the smallest noise to a big bang can make a film work. Having been in the film business and helped to make movies, for me sound’s a no brainer equal to picture. On sets I have held boom mics and even had on the earphones so I could help with sound quality. Our sound guy had a lot of experience in filmmaking and I actually learned a lot about it. But, until it gets to the sound editor, it’s not reality. Because that guy makes it all sync up and real for the screen.
Featuring comments by George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, David Lynch, Ryan Coogler, Robert Redford, Sofia Coppola + Ang Lee; and Their Innovative Sound Artists, Including Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, Gary Rydstrom, Lora Hirschberg, Cece Hall, Ai-Ling Lee, Anna Behlmer plus More
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound has not been rated by the MPAA, but I could not find any really objectionable content. Of course it’s not a film you intentionally bring a child to, but if you can keep the kid still enough, they should like all the squeaks and pops especially during the PIXAR sequences. That said, there are a couple of violent PG film scenes that flash by so beware.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An excellent film for budding filmmakers, but also anyone who wants to know what really takes place during and after the camera has finished its work. (4 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Erik Aadahl, Ioan Allen, Richard L. Anderson
Directed by: Midge Costin
Written by: Bobette Buster
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1 hr. 34 min.
Opening Date: October 25, 2019
Released in: Theaters, Color
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
