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   Training Review
   The Angry Filmmaker Survival
   Guide:

   Sound Design For Independent Films
 
   Host: Kelley Baker.
   Publisher: Angry Filmmaker, Inc.
   Website: http://www.angryfilmmaker.com
   Format: DVD/Workbook combo – 158 min.
   Topic: Sound Design training

   MSRP: $32.95 (w/ book); $24.95 (DVD alone)

   Expected Release: Available Now
   Review Date: June 1, 2009
   Reviewed By: John Howard

Final Score:
9.7

Award of SuperioritySpielberg has been reported as saying that sound is 70% of his blockbuster films. 70% -- that's huge! Having done sound design for independent films myself, I know how important it is to making a film believable. That may mean making it sound as "real" as possible or as other-worldly as possible, depending on the film, but a compelling film must be believable and sound is a big part of that.

So then why do so many independent filmmakers spend so little energy on sound? Perhaps it's because they have focused most of their training on developing their eye or their story-telling abilities. Or maybe they just "don't have the budget" to hire a sound designer. Either way, it would seem that a lot of independent filmmakers simply don't realize how very important it is. My opinion has always been either take the time to develop your ears or hire someone who has. You may say, "Well, he's biased." or "He's full of it."... and you'd be right (either one or both, take your pick). But films like The Blair Witch Project and The Bourne Ultimatum, I think, have proven my point for me -- that a film can look bad and still work as long as you can clearly hear what's going on and it's believable.

Whether you agree with me or not, you owe it to yourself to check out Kelley Baker's 2-DVD set, Sound Design For Independent Films". Kelley takes the viewer through many considerations for sound from a filmmaker's perspective -- why is it important to the filmmaker? what difference does it make? From location audio to the sound design process itself, he conveys practical, applicable knowledge, philosophies, and examples that will help you realize how you can use sound to tell your story as a filmmaker, as well as fix or avoid some of the problems that commonly arise. It will quickly open your eyes (or ears?) to what's going on in/around a scene, how sound can convey what a character is thinking, and will forever change the way you approach film projects.


Kelley Baker's comfortable style on camera makes for a very relaxed learning environment. In fact, I found myself responding verbally to him as if I was at one of his workshops.

Comprehension
Kelley does a great job of breaking things down into terms that are easy to understand. Minimal "sound guy" terminology is used and info on the terms that are used would be easy to find with a quick internet search. Also, the workbook, which can be purchased separately from the DVD or included in the combo set for the total $42.95 price listed above, summarizes all of this major points and leaves room for your own notes. The process of reading this while watching the DVD, plus making notes of your own thoughts, will help the information "stick" better as well as help you bring the concepts closer to home and make it easier to apply them to your projects.

Depth of Information
This product is tailored so that visual filmmakers can understand it. It is not just for sound designers. I feel that the concepts and examples presented go deep into the “why” without bogging down the viewer with too many details of the “how.” This encourages the viewer to question and develop their own paradigm of the role they feel sound should play in the projects on which they are working.

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