Loading ...posted by Philip Rodrigues Singer
0 – 00/day (Average ,000 – 0,000 year)
1986
23 years
United States
Through a chance series of meetings in a post-production studio, I was introduced to the craft of Foley just as an opening for an assistant became available. After apprenticing for several years as a Foley Assistant writing down Foley Track Sheets, I was given an opportunity to do a T.V. show project solo and over the years I became responsible for more Television, Mini-series and Feature Films works.
An understanding of post-production audio procedures and film making is a major requirement. A background in dance or music certainly has helped some artists become better at performing footsteps and having a “good ear” is always essential. Stamina is also required as Foley is a job that often entails throwing heavy objects around the studio followed by long sessions of tedious exacting hard work.
A Foley session lasts about 10 hours and consists of performing footsteps, clothing moves or “specific” sound tracks. Each element is performed for the entire day (a whole day of footsteps) or elements are mixed up as the show requires; this depends on the nature of the project and the schedule involved.
What was your best day at work?
One day I was given a whole session of time to create a 3 minute chase scene between a car and a transport trailer which was carrying logs down a mountain road. The transport driver, the bad guy, was trying to kill the good guy in the car by running him off the road as the car swerved beneath the transport and in front and behind. I even got to buy and smash a Camaro windshield. The scene took 8 hours and when played back sounded stunningly real. It was like being in the drivers seat.
What was your worst day at work?
I was given a fledgling engineer to record my work. During a kick boxing scene, the main character karate chops a fire pole as part of his routine; unfortunately he repeatedly kicks the pole about 20 times, completely randomly and all in about 10 seconds!I asked the the engineer to play the scene over and over about 4 times and then press record – I was memorizing the rhythm and on the last time when he went into record I nailed every single hit on the first take EXCEPT for the last hit.
I wanted the young new engineer to simply “punch into record” on the last hit but instead he pressed record about half way through the scene. Each time he erased more and more of the perfect track until finally I had to call in another engineer to record it all from the beginning which we did in one take!
I took two hours to do 10 seconds. I wanted to scream…
Are there any perks to your job?
You get to work with the immensely dedicated people, you get to meet the occasional movie star, you get the honor of participating in creating a feature film, and most of all you get to enjoy listening to your finished work…
What do you like about your job?
The variety of every new project.
What don’t you like about your job?
Long hours and strenuous activity and the total perfection expected.
Personal Comments
Foley is the best job on the planet and certainly the most fun if you are inclined to love sound and tinkering with objects to make new sounds and ideas. Foley is like painting with sound, and while it’s not for everyone, and not an easy career to break into, once there the rewards are wonderful. [Reference to recommending this job to someone else] Unless you have an opportunity in the field. Foley is a very small community and work can be difficult to acquire when first starting out. The best way to become a Foley Artist is if you can find an artist to apprentice with.
Company website: http://www.marblehead.net/foley
Would you recommend this job to someone else?:
Yes