When the IPAT Clinic was founded in 2014, one of our first clients was the filmmaking team behind the documentary Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, the first-ever cinematic look at the role sound design plays in filmmaking. Featuring interviews from some of the most influential sound designers in cinematic history including Walter Murch and Ben Burtt, the film pulls back the veil on an incredibly important part of filmmaking that is largely unknown to the public. IPAT Clinic students worked tirelessly with director Midge Costin and producers Bobette Buster and Karen Johnson to develop this film, including by advising the filmmakers on how to make fair use responsibly and appropriately in the film.
After celebrated runs at film festivals including Tribeca Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, and a torrent of rave reviews, the film premiered last weekend in Los Angeles and a team of IPAT students and faculty were thrilled to be in attendance. The screening was a smashing success, with a sustained ovation followed by a panel discussion featuring the legendary Walter Murch. Best of all, we learned a lot about filmmaking. “It had never occurred to me that every sound, from a dinosaur’s growl to the tinkling of forks and knives, must be carefully recorded if not created from scratch,” remarked Olu Agbelemose, who has served on the IPAT Clinic’s Filmmaker Services team since January. “Now, I’ll never forget it–and I’ll never watch a movie the same way again.”
Congratulations to our friends on the Making Waves team for this towering accomplishment!