The Art of Props

When it comes to editing foley for props, I live by one simple rule: the noisier the prop, the better.

I worked on a short film called Fate vs. Elena a while back. It’s about a jaded millennial psychic who takes over her parents' small psychic business and is convinced free will reign supreme over fate until a mysterious premonition turns her life upside down.

In the beginning of the film, Elena exasperatedly grabs her beaded hat and places it on the table.

Seems like a simple action, right? But if you were to record it as-is, without any attention to detail, it would fall flat on the screen, leaving the audience feeling underwhelmed.

That's where the magic of foley editing comes in. Whether you're performing the actions yourself or pulling from a library of sound effects, the key is to hit every single action individually, accentuating each movement to enhance the overall emotion of the scene.

The Power of Layers

In this instance, it took a whopping six layers of sound to achieve the realistic and impactful result we were aiming for. Why so many layers for such a seemingly insignificant action? Because in the grand scheme of storytelling, every detail matters.

In this particular scene, the hat symbolizes more than just a piece of clothing. It serves as a metaphor for Elena's emotional journey, a physical manifestation of her disconnection from her family business and spirituality, but most importantly, to ignore the angry grieving of her deceased mother. The hat, quite literally, blinds her from seeing the truth: whether by destiny or free will, embrace the outcomes.

By accentuating the sound of the hat, we elevate its importance as a character in the story, mirroring Elena's internal struggles and ultimate liberation.

Seriously, my best suggestion for a non-audio skill for you to learn is literary analysis.

It will elevate your sonic storytelling. I know a ton of sound vets overuse the saying “serve the story”, but how do you learn that, and how can that translate to sound?

If you're interested in building that literary skill, my favorite book about this is "How To Read Literature Like a Professor".

Or if you like to watch something more about literary film analysis, I recommend The Power of Film, streaming on Max! Got to work on that series (:

Okay, so we know now that this hat is an important sonic character, how can we accent this introduction to the character?

Deconstructing the Layers: What Goes into a Simple Action

So what exactly does it take to create the sound of someone grabbing a hat and placing it on a table? Let's break it down:

1. Layer 1: Small beads movement synchronized with the hat actions, including the impact sound when grabbing the hat.

2. Layer 2: Elbow down on the table, adding depth, detail, and emotion to the scene.

3. Layer 3: The actual sound of grabbing the hat, capturing the tactile sensation of the action.

4. Layer 4: Hat being removed from the head, adding a subtle but crucial detail that leads into...

5. Layer 5: Hat being placed on the table, with a sliding motion for added texture.

6. Layer 6: Double transient impact as the hat makes contact with the table, punctuating the action with emphasis.

Crafting Emotional Resonance through Sound

In essence, the goal of foley editing isn't just to create noise for the sake of it.

It's about tapping into the emotional core of a scene, hitting every beat to further enrich the storytelling experience.

Each layer serves a purpose, adding depth, texture, and nuance to the action unfolding on screen.

So the next time you find yourself editing foley, remember: embrace the noise, embrace the layers, and embrace the power of sound to elevate your storytelling to new heights.

Happy editing!

P.S.

If you want to hear the process and results of this moment, watch Session 11 of my Fate Vs Elena shadowing series at Post Audio Pro!