Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1475409
the water, whereas outside, things were changing all the time. The intensity of the insects and birds would build and dissipate, the rain would come and go. That was another contrast that Ron wanted. We spoke to Alex at length about the appropriate sounds you would hear at various times of day. He was an incredible resource for helping us understand the culture of the Thai people, and environment surrounding the cave. Additionally, Alex went to Thai markets in the correct regions, recording an extensive set of sounds authentic to that location, right down to the food sizzles. He also captured the sound of cutting bamboo as that has such a specific sound. MA: The news of the missing boys garners a lot of attention from a wide range of people. The mass of people surrounding the cave is almost as overwhelming as the downpour of rain. How did the dialogue tracks come together for these scenes outside the cave? RT: There are several moments where we cut to wide shots outside the caves with the rain pouring down, and people starting to arrive in their droves. Ron was very clear about keeping to the timeline of exactly how the news spread, who arrived when and what each group of people did there. So, we start with the Thai Navy Seals, lots of very military callouts, full of energy, go-go-go type of thing, unpacking, streaming in to try and rescue the boys immediately, (as they did). Then word spreads and soon you have Thai locals volunteering in their thousands, setting up food stalls, providing supplies, helping out wherever they can, 24 hours a day. We had two key Thai crowd recording sessions for this, one with Thais who speak the Central Thai dialect, for the Seals and Government officials, and a Northern Thai group for the local volunteers, and farmers. After a couple of days, the word has spread further and now we have thousands more people arriving from at least 17 different countries. The area outside the cave entrance is now basically a makeshift city, with medical tents, pipelines being laid, generators, a laundrette, even masseuses and hairdressers showed up! And then later still, the journalists come into (L to R) Colin Farrell as John Volanthen, Viggo Mortensen as Rick Stanton and Sahajak 'Poo' Boonthanakit as Governor Naronsak in Thirteen Lives. Director Ron Howard on the set of Thirteen Lives. Photo by Vince Valitutti/MGM Pictures. Colin Farrell (left) as John Volanthen and Viggo Mortensen (right) as Rick Stanton in Thirteen Lives. Photo by Vince Valitutti/MGM Pictures.