In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to the Oscar-winning supervising sound editors and sound designers, Nina Hartstone and John Warhurst, about their work and specifically, in-depth about the sound design considerations for the feature films Les Miserables, Gravity, Cats, Bohemian Rhapsody and the documentary of David Bowie’s life, Moonage Daydream.

Whilst the David Bowie vinyl album cover of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars boldly stated, “To Be Played At Maximum Volume” (which we caution against) we do suggest that the examples of the subject material in this episode of The Apple & Biscuit Show are “Best Listened To On Headphones”.

About the presenters:

Nina Hartstone – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0367243/

John Warhurst – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1341243/

Neil and Jason –

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at:

https://www.drneilhillman.com and https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to ‘Mr. Loudness’, Mike Thornton, about the issues of television programme loudness and dialogue intelligibility. Why is the background music too loud? Why can’t the viewers hear what the actors are saying? And why are films so loud in the cinema?

In a comprehensive and compelling journey starting with radio transmission concerns in the 1930s, to the present-day woes of broadcasters and streaming platforms, Mike’s accessible and understandable explanations demystify the raft of complex sound challenges that filmmakers continue to face in delivering effective soundtracks.

About the presenters:

Mike Thornton -

Web: https://www.production-expert.com/author-bios/2019/11/26/mike-thornton

Loudness tutorials:

Start here for Part 1 of Mikes series of 6 videos: https://youtu.be/jvcfwtrL0uw?si=QVhc9ee-wgWb-cO8

Neil and Jason –

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at

https://www.drneilhillman.com and https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to emerging Australian sound designer Andrew Dean about his work, in particular the award-winning films ‘Mud Crab’ (written and directed by David Robinson-Smith), ‘Gorgo’ (directed by Veniamin Gialouris) and the forthcoming feature film ‘Salt Along the Tongue’, (directed by Parish Malfitano), that Andrew sound designed and mixed.

Andrew describes his journey from working in a Bathurst multi-screen cinema, then studying for a music degree, moving from recording studios to mixing television shows for SBS, and then studying sound design at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Andrew graduated from their Masters programme in 2022 and has subsequently pursued several creative endeavours with AFTRS alumni.

About the presenters:

Andrew Dean -

Web: https://www.andrewdeansound.com

Films:

‘Mud Crab’, (2022), available at: https://youtu.be/hclZdRKflNw?feature=shared

‘Gorgo’, (2023), trailer available at: https://vimeo.com/905788706

Neil and Jason -

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at https://www.drneilhillman.com and at https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

AFTRS:

Learn more about The Australian Film Television and Radio School here: https://www.aftrs.edu.au

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas