Matthew McConway

Foley: the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to films, videos, and other media in post-production to enhance audio quality.

-“it’s like memetics, you have to recreate the characters that are on screen, and put them into your performances”

-Everything is planned once footage is received, so it becomes a “huge map of sound”

-Not all the foley recorded is used in the final mix, but recording it all is recquired to “give the mixers as much ammunition as possible”

-Foley is broken into 3 main sections:

       -Feet: Foley artists will select a shoe that matches the characters, and will walk in time with the character on the screen.

       -Moves: Cloth movements are recorded with fabrics that match the screen.

       -Spot: Anything interesting that happens on screen that needs a sound.

-Foley has to follow and be stylistically compatible with the rest of the sound in the film.

Initially, when reading that “archival footage sits between history and myth…”, I assumed that it would be because of an over saturation and lack of access from the general public, though this was quickly changed. This article sparked many thoughts and questions within my mind around the power of sound. When reading about how severing the sound from its initial image is “forging a new path to signification” it made me think of sound as a potential weapon, something that can alter persuasion. I got thinking thar perhaps the archived footage holds more meaning when its reinstated with all it’s “instability”, as it tells more information within the context of history. We can detract more from the original audio, whether we agree with it or not. Though within a cinematic context, the interference generates perhaps a more emotional or entertaining response. Another thing that really got me thinking, was the implication that altering the sound emphasises the limitation of the footage alone to tell a full story. Finally, by both the potential & the shortcomings of sound being on display means that “dislocation and discord are embedded into the very form of the film.” I think is incredible and adds such a poetic layer of complexity to the film, so much so that I question whether this was fully intended, or is it simply over analysis.