SILVERBACK PRODUCTION
CONSERVATION GAME The team is working incredibly hard to protect the endangered eastern lowland gorilla in the DRC
the edited pictures. Any movement sounds were generally recreated in Foley. Chambers says that films of this nature rarely budget for a production sound mixer, so the location sound is often compromised. “There’s no script before shooting a documentary, so contributors don’t generally say things as concisely as might be required for the finished film to tell its story. Therefore, the contributor dialogue heard in the finished film is often constructed from takes filmed on different days in different locations. “Inevitably, there will be different background sounds, different levels and different microphone placements. This requires a great deal of work in the sound post-mixing to balance the dialogue tracks, filter and even out the background noise, and generally make it sound like natural speech.” In addition, the post-production team skilfully employed sound design and background music to elevate the storytelling and emotional resonance of the documentary. Chambers
Accuracy and authenticity ARE ALWAYS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT”
emphasises that ‘without a soundtrack, a film has virtually zero impact’.
continues. “The Silverback score was written specially for the film. This was a long process involving much dialogue between the director, picture editor and composer. The music is hardly ever ‘background’ in a film – as its primary function is in playing the more-important role of helping the audience to engage with the story on an emotional level. “The natural sounds – or ‘sound design’ as people often call it – play a similarly vital role. They should help the audience in some way feel like they have a true sense of the place, to feel like they have visited the location, been among the gorillas and witnessed the drama.
THE ART OF SOUND In Silverback , where the audience gains insight into the appearance, habitat and daily activities of the gorillas, the synergy of dialogue, sound effects and music is integral to narrating the story. The artistry lies in knowing when and how to deploy these elements for maximum effect. “It is often only when the audio is added that the audience gains proper emotional engagement with – as well as understanding of – the story,” Chambers
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