UPDATE JANUARY 9TH
Happy New Year to you all. This is the first blog of 2012. Hopefully the first of many.
Lots of interesting things on the horizon right now. Can’t tell you exactly what but I’d say (hopefully) that 2012 is shaping up to be a year full of explosions and gunfire. Also, I think I might do some TV for the first time (at least as a director) which I’m excited about.
As I write this, I’m in a sound mixing stage in Paris working on the final mix for Silent Hill. Before me is a huge screen and massive mixing desk and a half dozen computers linked up with all the sounds for the movie. The team is made up of six people, all dealing with different parts of the soundscape – dialogue, music, sound effects, foley and two mixers who are controlling how it all comes together. I sit and listen and offer comments and suggestions and as is so often the case with my job it is really just a lot of supervising and telling other people what I want and not a lot of actually doing stuff myself. I’m much happier with hands on. Having said that, the team with me here are all superb at what they do and many of them worked on the first film, so I offer zero expertise on any practical level. But I know what I want the movie to sound like, so I’m pretty specific about how it all should end up. I should really learn how to use this ProTools software as I love playing around with sound design. It was one of the great pleasures of making my early short films – creating the sounds and basic foley for the crappy stuff I was shooting. It’s amazing how great sound design can completely save a shitty moment and even utterly rewrite it in some cases. And boy, did I need it on my first shorts.
Anyway, I’ve got three weeks of this final mix and I’ll try to post some progress reports along the way.
Say Michael, would you ever consider posting those early films somewhere, or maybe send them out as bonus-material for one of your new films?
I know you may feel they’re not worth the effort, but as it seems at least a few people reading/writing on this blog are interested in film-making as well as watching films, it could be cool to see what point A you came from when we know point B, if you see what I mean.
I know I at least would like to have something like this to look at as inspiration of what you can learn and achieve – also a abit better for the old self-esteem to compare your own work and ideas to something at this level than say, the new Spielberg or something like that.
Michael, i have to ask, are Mary or Joe going to be featured in this soundtrack? Since it is original and all. Akira makes good instrumentals and all but it’d still be nice. For the record, half of the money made from SH:R will be from all the people who i am getting into SH movies and games. Hahaha. Get back to me if possible.
May I recommend you give Reaper a try instead? (http://reaper.fm)
You won’t need any special hardware to run it, you can bring it with you on a USB stick, it’s capabilities are quite ahead of ProTools (though its effects don’t offer the same visual “bling”), it’s more stable (in my experience) and it comes with a much lower price tag.
It doesn’t come as pre-bundled with stuff as ProTools does, but team it up with the plug-ins from http://stillwellaudio.com (which are _excellent_, and are designed to work beautifully with Reaper) and you’ll really have a nice setup that’ll really let you experiment with sound design in ways that ProTools can’t do.
Plus, it works in fundamentally the same way as ProTools, so you’ll still be able to use what you learn elsewhere (though you’ll be frustrated with the competition’s lack of features).
Looking very much forward to Silent Hill 2, and also thank you for your blog – it’s always a nice read.
Since Neil Marshall is directing episodes of Game of Thrones, I wouldn’t be too surprised if the tv show you’ll be working on is some of the 3rd season. I remember you expressing interest some few blogs ago.
Best of luck with the mixing. Protools is very fun, and it does make an amazing difference to the final product.
…Actually I do not understand about filmmaking and sound designing, but I do feel it sounds really positive. Best wishes for you and the team!
Wow, looks interesting! I should make some research on the Protools software…
And I wonder: why is all that happening in Paris? it it the only place were you can do it for some reason? (simply curious to understand the process!)
And happy New Year again.
Sounds great. I just wanted to say, while I am interested in Silent Hill progress, that is not alone what brought me to visit your blog.
I found your style with Solomon Kane and other films very good and want to keep up to date with your progress… and a part of me hope you will somehow be given the reigns over a new Conan or Kull film. Heres hoping and I am glad you decided to keep your blog active.
Last 3 weeks – must feel like a relief and yet, like saying bye to a project you came to know inside out. Yes pls. do post pics of the sound studio if you’re permitted – never seen that part of filmmaking. Saw some foley guys at work in a doc – super creative bunch and the items they use to create the oddest, most disturbing sounds was such a surprise.
Since you mentioned exposives, only fitting since SHR was filmed in Canada – I add this link of a classic John Candy/Eugene Levy skit from their sctv days – about fave films and blowing things up – think of it as inspiration:)
Thanks for the updates.
Shame on me – that’s Joe Flaherty with John Candy.
Sound and dark means everything in SH
when i was playing game
brain could imagine evil.before scene show up
that was totally sick:D I couldn’t sleep.
hope the enginners will mix the the deepest! I Would like to feel that evil
how it was in first SH game!:)
and theme
Alwyas depression and goosebumbs.
always connected with SH xD
“SIren”is now to much for me
Can’t wait for the movie!
Iam going to make my own music btw:)
Good luck with post production and learning PT !
Happy new year, Michael J.B.!
I’m new here, I’m a big fan of Silent Hill It is through him, and knowing I am enjoying your work. I’m sure you’ll stand out in this movie and many more. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. =)
Thank so much for the update Michael! I look forward to seeing your new projects and I am excited as well!
I also must thank you for continuing your blog as I am an avid reader!
Nice to hear things are going well and that the music and sounds are almost completed! I’m anxious to see the trailer and once it’s in theaters, get some money and see it!
Been waiting since the first movie to come out, Silent Hill is a great series and now movie series as well, great for my collection!
You should get like a Halo of the Sun necklace to wear for when you take more photos and stuff, here’s a link to a good necklace you could get: http://jynxsbox.deviantart.com/art/Double-Sided-Cult-Necklace-200030041
I have one just like it and it’s rocking, even got a complementary Silent Hill: Homecoming Halo of the Sun necklace with it.
I agree with CathyU; I would love to see a photo of those mixing boards – it must be quite a sight.
Sounds like things are going well for you! I thought I saw a post where you were going to shut down this blog. Now it seems you’ve changed your mind, and I’m glad. I may not comment much, but I do like keeping up with your goings on. Hope 2012 is a marvelous year for you!
Wow, all this sounds really cool! I love to hear about your travels! Keep up the great work! I can’t wait to see more from you!
Sounds very cool and complex. I can see why you’d want to jump in and help with it, but yeah, you should probably learn the software first. If you feel up to taking a photo or two, I’d love to see images of what one of those big mixing boards looks like.
You may find it useful:
http://www.lynda.com/Pro-Tools-9-tutorials/essential-training/74534-2.html
http://www.lynda.com/Pro-Tools-9-tutorials/Music-Editing-for-TV-and-Film-in-Pro-Tools/89611-2.html
http://www.lynda.com/Pro-Tools-8-tutorials/film-scoring/52768-2.html
http://www.lynda.com/tutorials/Pro-Tools-10-New-Features/93084-2.html
Sounds all so promising. Can’t wait, and I’m so glad that you’re actually maintaining this blog up.