Whole-y Foley: The World of Performative Film Sound

In this episode, Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, author of The Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator, has a lively conversation into the art and craft of Foley with Serbian Foley artist Misa Jakovljevic. Misa works in multiple cultural contexts and on different media projects--both in television and film--from Israel, Turkey, the UK, and his home country of Serbia. Misa and Vanessa engage in a grounded discussion on the philosophies of and debates involving technology and performative film sound. Misa's Foley work has both a closeness to and distance from Hollywood sound practices. While the audio recording and mixing technologies might be the same in the United States and Serbia, Misa goes in depth on the challenges that exist regardless of one's geographic and cultural boundaries in the global media business. He shares with Vanessa his thoughts on how to balance an artistic and historically accurate approach to Foley while navigating the economic concerns of producers.

Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, Author of The Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator, discusses the current state of Foley with Rick Owens, Foley Artist and Owner of 331 Sound, Inc. A major focus of their conversation is celebrating and remembering Foley artists that came before them and who generously shared their excellence and expertise through mentorship of others, including legendary Foley Artists Bob Rutledge and John Post. Vanessa and Rick delve into contemporary Foley and highlight how there are risks around "watering down the craft" by not paying enough attention to the lessons and approaches used by the previous generations of Artists and that today's idea of "faster and cheaper" sound practices is a misconception. They also share valuable insights about the process behind "selling the illusion" of performative film sound through a detailed discussion of specific and precise sound effects Rick has been creating for several current animated shows. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Performative Film Sound.

In this episode, Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, Author of The Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator, interviews Foley editor Anna Gramlich. Anna works at Sony Studios in Culver City, CA, on various television shows, including The Morning Show, Justified: City Primeval, and The Goldbergs. Vanessa and Anna discuss the importance of footsteps in defining character, and the unique workflow at Sony Studios, utilizing editorial and Foley performance in partnership. Anna walks us through several key scenes in her Foley work where she details how the changes in the characters' environments, their scuffing, and their footwear impact her Foley editing. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Performative Film Sound.

In this episode, Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, Author of The Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator, talks with Chilean Foley Artist Mauricio Castañeda. Mauricio discusses a wide range of topics that cover highlights of his twenty year career and his work as founder of The Foley Crew. Mauricio delves into emerging Foley practices outside the Hollywood system, such as the use of Foley in reality television in Latin America. They also discuss how Foley can be used to highlight issues of class through sound design, in ways that recall similar approaches in Third World Cinema. Recognizing that Foley work has no formula, Mauricio and Vanessa discuss the craft and creativity that goes into Foley, and why in the age of AI, the performative and real aspects of foley are more relevant that ever.

In this episode, Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, Author of The Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator,, speaks with Annie Taylor, Foley Editor at Alchemy Post Sound in Peekskill, New York. Annie describes her journey from a sound design student at Savannah College of Art and Design to an intern to a Foley Editor. Annie discusses her Golden Reel award-winning work on the Hulu series The Bear, and the film Prey (2022). They end the podcast addressing how AI might affect the future of Foley.

In this episode, Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, Author of The Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator,, talks with Susan Fitz-Simon, an Austin-based Foley Artist. Their conversation delves into the rich relationship between Foley and other art forms, in particular, how performative sound design deepens and evolves with experience in theatre and music. Vanessa and Susan address how regional differences and geography affect the creativity behind unique sound designs, including a discussion of the Foley stages that Susan uses and helped build in Austin, Texas. Additionally, Susan shares her favorite examples of Foley from her own career, including the Netflix hit, Orange is the New Black, and two powerful documentaries, Tower and Deep in the Heart. Welcome to the World of Performative Film Sound!

In this episode, Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, Author of the Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator,, speaks with Rachel Chancey, who is an Emmy award-winning, New York-based Foley Artist, Editor, and Supervisor. Their discussion is grounded in a commonality between Vanessa and Rachel, as they both have degrees in Theatre. Together they explore and consider the many creative ways in which their theatre backgrounds have informed and enhanced their approach to Foley performance. The podcast concludes with a conversation about how Rachel designed and built her own professional home studio, where she records, performs, and edits her Foley work. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Performative Film Sound!

In this premiere episode, Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, Author of the Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator,, and Luke Yankee, playwright, author, and director, discuss the role of Foley in the Theater, especially as related to the upcoming live performance of Yankee's film noir radio play, Confessions of a Star Maker, which will be staged as a benefit for the Palm Springs Art Museum on September 17, 2023. The conversation also delves into the nature of direction in the theater, adapting works for different mediums, and the performance elements of Foley. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Performative Film Sound!