Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1512183
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S 69 quite by accident, while writing this article, I found out that you (Charles) also worked on Night Watch! I believe a global issue with movies is that without diminishing the merits of TV series, they are now perceived as just another drop in a sea of available content. Initially, this led to an improvement in the quality of serials, but having reached its potential, it now results in the deterioration and simplification of film production itself. To some extent, this is a natural process that began with the inception of art. Spending decades painting frescoes in a temple, which was the norm in the medieval era, is incomparable to a year of FX sound preparation for a large-scale project. But centuries have passed since then, and in our time, two decades of FX development now seem as remote from today's production pace as these ancient frescoes. Even blockbuster films are now just part of the flow consumed on portable screens. Understandably, the practicality of a thoughtful approach dwindles to 3-4 films a year. To gauge where post-production is likely heading, one needs to observe our always-ahead neighbor—the music industry. The almost complete disappearance of iconic performers, no "voice of the generation" with stadium solo concerts (or such phenomena simply vanish within a year) and the absence of new styles that once defined eras down to a few years. Now, we have rapidly changing niche genres. No one listens to albums; everyone listens to playlists. The time from recording to release has shortened, not because it's easier and quicker to produce "in a box," but more likely because we, in consuming an endless stream, can no longer stop. Because this seems to be a more significant issue than the fact that this content is utterly derivative and monotonous, like a Facebook feed. This may sound like the grumbling of an old man, but in essence, this will happen to movies as well. I think people will soon start watching movies in snippets, switching from a film to a series and back to another movie or someone's reels. Clearly, there's no point in spending even a couple of days concocting sounds for such fragmented content; AI can easily handle that. However, until such times come, I believe that projects where sound is considered from the scriptwriting stage will not cease in my lifetime. Though less frequently, we'll still derive much more substantial pleasure from the results of extensive and thorough work! Atmosfera team at Mosfilm Re-recording, Stage 7. Top row: Alexandr Khokhlov, Dmitry Boyarintsev, Nelli Ivanova, Nikita Koksharov, Olga Solovyova, Rostislav Alimov, Pavel Doreuli, Pavel Stasenko, Evgeniy Ziborov, Dmitry Vasilyev. Bottom row: Elizaveta Khabchuk, Aleksey Kudryavtsev, Andrey Kireev, Marina Cherepanova, Anna Zobova, Maria Valuiskaya, Daria Bochkareva, Ivan Chepurin. 2021, Atmosfera Studio ©