If you’ve ever watched a movie, a television show, or played a video game, you’ve consumed the art of foley. You may not have appreciated it, but you experienced it nevertheless.

Actors of Sound is a documentary about the art of foley. What is that? From footsteps to bone cracks, Foley artists bring films to life with their imaginative sound effects, but as digital technology goes full speed ahead in 21st century moviemaking, can Hollywood’s low tech Foley artist survive in this high tech age?

In the documentary film Actors of Sound, the viewer is transported into the dark, cluttered prop rooms where Foley artists make their magic. Exciting and sometimes hilarious footage features world renowned Foley artists manipulating props to create sounds, showcasing their truly unique creative process.

On this episode of Jon of All Trades, Lalo Molina (director) and Gregg Barbanell (subject, foley artist) sit down with me and talk about the art of foley in great detail. This episode is thoroughly emblematic of what I hope my podcast to be. People are fascinated by moviemaking, but few know much about the art of foley. It’s a vital component of the viewing experience, yet little understood. And once you get a peek at the process, you’re down the rabbithole of exploration and fascination. And who better to guide us than Gregg Barbanell, he of 546 IMDb credits over the last 38 years of working on films?

This episode is thoroughly fascinating for a number of reasons, and if you’re a media fan at all, you’ll enjoy geeking out learning more about the art of foley. Give this episode a listen, and then look for Actors of Sound when it’s available for your viewing pleasure. Stay up to date with their film on their website, their Facebook page, and their Twitter page.

And check out Jon of All Trades on iTunes, Stitcher, or our homepage.

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