Uh, what the hell is a Foley Artist?
That's the dude that makes movies realistic by adding the sound of everything you see move on the screen. The sword being unsheathed, the door being kicked in, and of course the clippity-clop of the horses hooves.
“From The Empire Strikes Back to Robin Hood, award-winning Foley artist Gary Hecker of Todd-AO says it takes ‘timing and a huge creative mind’ to be the man behind the sound. Here, he shares tips and tricks he’s learned during a career that has spanned more than 200 films. Hecker also recently joined CSS Studios’ Todd-AO in late 2009. One of the most accomplished Foley artists in Hollywood. Among his recent credits are 2012, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Angel & Demons, Watchmen and the Spiderman trilogy.” — Michael Coleman
[VIMEO]11436985[/VIMEO]
cool. what was the movie with the car jumping out of the plane?
My favorite foley session ever was for a wrestling video game (the theatrical kind, not the Greco Roman kind.) We got an amateur club to do all this stuff for us in a big warehouse on their WWE regulation wrestling ring. They were systematically bashing each other in the head with metal folding chairs and whatnot at our command, it was a lot of fun. (We agreed later that we got better work from them because I was there and they were trying to show off for the chick.)
ProTip: If you're foleying with large guns, even if they've been decomissioned and clearly are not capable of firing, make sure you're not accidentally on Girl Scout Camp property. Or behind zoo property either.
cool. what was the movie with the car jumping out of the plane?
I don't know, don't recognize it?
I've put it on my queue, despite its 2 star rating.
It's been on TV, but I haven't bothered to watch it.
I've put it on my queue, despite its 2 star rating.
Completely stupid movie, but it was awesome in the theater. They blew up a lot of stuff. A lot. So much that it was comical, but they were GREAT explosions.
How disappointing, no pictures of modern sculptures made from
Foley catheters.
The "Foleys" are forever stamped into my brain thanks to a silly kids' show from the late 90s called "The Big Comfy Couch." The Foleys were a family of clownish dollhouse inhabitants, and all of their actions involved dramatic sound effects. Also, we had a Girl Scout workshop on the Foley artists at COSI a few years ago.
Nifty! To this day I remember the crackling cellophane trick when I want to get off the phone with someone . . . think they still buy it?
I sometimes wondered how car tyres made screeching noises even when driving on dirt roads.
Actually on hard clay or rock they will squeal a bit. But I know what you mean, it's alway loose gravel with lots of dust, and there's no way... must have been a fan belt. :haha:
There is a great reference to foley artists in a Firesign Theater bit "come in out of the cornstarch and dry your muk-luks by the cellophane" or something like that.
Here it is, Nick Danger:
Four hours later I parked my car in the carriage house and (cornstarch footsteps) walked up a grey gravel driveway between a line of dwarf maples towards the pillared entrance of the Same Mansion. It had been snowing in Santa Barbara ever since the top of the page and I had to shake the cornstarch off my mukluks as I lifted the heavy obsidian doorknocker. Hey in there... open up. Your doorknocker fell off.
CATHERWOOD
(door open) What's all this brouhaha?
NICK
Brouhaha? Ha ha ha...
CATHERWOOD
Ha ha ha ha ha....(door close)
NICK
Wait...Wait a minute. Don't you want this doorknocker?
CATHERWOOD
(away) I already have one.
NICK
But this is yours....
CATHERWOOD
You see? I told you. We use to have another one but he vanished mysteriously. (door open) All right, come in out of the cornstarch and dry your mukluks by the fire. (fire/cellophane/door close) Let me introduce myself. I am Nick Danger.
NICK
No, let me introduce myself. I am Nick Danger.
CATHERWOOD
If you're so smart, why don't you pick up your cues faster?
NICK
Are those my cues?
CATHERWOOD
Yes, and they must be dry by now. Why don't you pull them up out of the cellophane before they scorch. (stop cellophane) Heh. All right, sir, may I take your hat and goat? (baa)
NICK
Yes.
CATHERWOOD
Now, I assume you've come to see my mistress Mr. Danger.
NICK
I don't care about your private life or what his name is. I’ve come to see Nancy. Uh, uh.... Mrs. Haber.
I've never understood the metal on metal sound of a sword being drawn from a wood and leather scabbard. Now I know that it's actually the sound of the sword scraping against the knight's spatula.
My favorite foley moment is the jar being opened in a toilet to make the sound of the martian cylinders unscrewing in War of the Worlds. Second place to hitting power pole guy wires with a wrench for Star Wars blaster sounds.
I have freaked people out by crinkling stiff cellophane near the phone and telling them that I'm using my psychic powers to disrupt the phone signal.
In your line of work the latter should be expected.
Oh, wow. That leads me to a great idea. I can get pointless callers off the line by telling them that we have a bad connection, crinkle paper, and tell them to call back. And then not answer the phone so someone else gets stuck with them.
Our cut-rate VOIP sucks so much ass that I can probably get away with that.
I like the cut of your jib.