Building Reality

Film sound is entirely constructed. Dialogue is often re-recorded in a studio (called ADR — Automated Dialogue Replacement). Sound effects are created by Foley artists who perform actions in sync with the picture — walking on gravel, rustling clothing, clinking glasses. The ambient sounds of a forest or city are layered from sound libraries.

Every sound in a film is a deliberate choice. The creak of a floorboard in a horror scene is not captured on set — it is selected, placed, and mixed for maximum unease at the precise moment. Sound design is as controlled as cinematography but gets a fraction of the credit.