Is It Live or Is It Foley?
When Mufasa in The Lion King has something to say, everybody listens. Especially when he roars. It's the job of special effects sound makers to make sure that roar sounds real. They call themselves Foley artists and work at a table that has all kinds of noisemaking materials that they combine in interesting ways. Are you ready to become a Foley artist?
- You will need: balloons, a cookie sheet, sandpaper, rubber bands, pieces of wood, plastic grocery bags, a drink cup with a lid and straw, a milk carton, cardboard, any other interesting noisemakers you would like to add, a table to spread everything out on, paper, a pencil, and a favorite picture book.
- Experiment with the objects you've collected, making as many different noises as you can. Close your eyes. Do your noises remind you of anything else you've ever heard?
- What would you use to make the sound of thunder? a lion's roar? a fire in the fireplace?
- Be very quiet for a few minutes. What do you hear? Filmmakers even have to record the quiet because, no matter where you are, it's never perfectly silent.
- Can you make a sound that has more than one part to it? How many different sounds do you hear when someone is writing a letter? Try it with your pencil and paper.
- Every sound you make is caused by vibration. Sometimes you can even see the object vibrating when you hear the sound. Which of the objects you used could you see vibrating?
- Read aloud your picture book story. Make a list of all the sound effects you would like to add to the story. How would you create those sounds with your Foley table? Read the story again, adding all the sounds. How do the sounds enhance the story?
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