Blog #4: Museum of the Moving Image

One of the most interesting exhibits I experienced at the Museum of Moving Image was about sound effects in film. On a screen, our group was shown a clip from the film, The Simpsons Movie, with all of the correct sound used in the final cut. Then we chose different sound effects to replace in the cinematic version for things like a clock ticking or a pogo stick bouncing. I didn't realize how often sound designers use unrelated noises to stand in for something happening onscreen. For example, our group experimented with different sounds like sneaker noises for an eraser being dragged across paper, which still sounded like it fit. With the vast amount of sounds that can be collected and stored digitally with modern technology, it makes being a sound designer much easier. They are able to experiment with different options before presenting them to a director who chooses what will make the final film. This is especially useful for fantasy or science fiction narratives when a lot of the sounds that would be in the movie are made up to begin with, like imaginary creature noises or spaceship sounds. The skill involved is to convince the audience that even though what they are hearing might not be exactly what they think of when a certain action happens, it is believable enough to move the story forward and not distract viewers. Sound effects are a vital part of the filmmaking process and the exhibit at the museum illustrated that very clearly to everyone there.