◡◶▿ The loneliness of the sound recordist

Cruel jokes caught on .wav in a shadow universe. Plus: Veracruz FF call for entries. | Summer sound letter #2

The sound recordist on a film set has the same social status as the drummer in a beat band or the goalkeeper of a football team. She is neither understood nor envied. People like to make jokes about the sound recordist, the drummer, and the goalkeeper. Like all cruel jokes, these jokes come from fear. 

The drummer in a beat band and the goalkeeper of a football team are the innocent custodians of time and space. Of the time and space in front and behind, but also the time and space below, and the time and space within. Even if they don’t want to listen, they can’t help but hear. They witness and they carry the burden of what they’ve seen. No wonder their friends are scared of them.

The cinematographer, the assistant director, and the clapper loader - and, very often, the director - do not understand the sound recordist. They become impatient with her. Whatever it is she is doing, it gets under her colleagues’ skin.

My friend and colleague, the esteemed arts commentator and filmmaker Gustavo Vega, is curating the the 2nd Cineteca Veracruz Exhibition: Celebrating International Feature Films. Your fiction, doc, or animation feature is welcome for consideration. Submissions here. Now, back to the beach, students. Don’t get sand in your focus ring! - GC

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