The greatest George Lucas, the creator of "Star Wars," once said that "Sound and music are 50% of a movie."
Another big figure in the industry, David Lynch, also said something very similar: "Cinema is 50% images and 50% sound."
Even the absence of sound in a film plays a fundamental role because silence also conveys a message.
So, why is this crucial stage of film post-production so undervalued?
It's not uncommon to find independent films with poor sound-post work and even "big productions" where the music masks the dialogue or forces us to cover our ears if we're in the theater, or turn down the TV volume at home.
It's also common to find posts from filmmakers looking for the crew for their next production, and they include everything... except a professional audio post-production technician!
On the other hand, with the rise of freelance work platforms like Upwork, Crew-United, StaffMeUp, and even Stage32, it's becoming increasingly common to see post-production sound jobs in exchange for a fee that doesn't even reach 10% of the VALUE that the work represents in the right hands.
I know perfectly well that many independent directors and producers struggle against all odds to complete their productions, even investing their own money. But I've also encountered these types of "job offers" (see screenshot) from clients who aren't under any financial pressure and are simply looking to find someone to do the job for them while saving a significant amount of money.
I'm also aware that those of us who value what we do often overlook these post-productions, waiting for a REAL client who knows what they're talking about when it comes to sound post-production for film.
But it's still a situation that makes us reflect on the tremendous changes the industry has undergone in recent decades, which often make us feel stuck in a quagmire, with an uncertain future ahead.
Be that as it may, challenges were never an impediment to progress; quite the opposite. We'll have to imagine this as a video game where we have to face another boss to advance to the next level.
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Great topic and post, Walder Martinez! I think sound post-production should definitely be valued in the production process. Sound is huge! I can watch a movie that has weak characters, a weak story, etc., but I'll stop watching a movie that has poor sound. Poor sound really pulls me out a story. But like you said, "many independent directors and producers struggle against all odds to complete their productions, even investing their own money," so if it's an indie feature or short, I'll keep watching the movie. Plus, watching the film instead of turning it off supports the indie producer(s), director, cast, and crew.
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100%, Maurice. The problem is that some "big" clients trying to get a whole movie done for (almost) free.
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$800 for a feature. That's insane. I see that all the time though. The classic excuse is "we ran over budget" or "we ran out of money". Which is so bizarre because the SOUND is AT LEAST 50% of the film. A lot of people don't know how to budget, but also, a lot of people don't understand the work involved so they think it's fast and easy to do.
I also love seeing job posts where they list all the requirements for the sound editor to have like, "experience, professional, great ear, ability to fix issues or create amazing soundscapes"....and then offer little or no money. Beggars can't be choosers.