The Future of Movie Sound Effects and Human Craftsmanship

The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Foley artists. Zachary Crockett makes some noise.

• SOURCE:
  • Gregg Barbanell, foley artist at Universal Studios.

• RESOURCES:
  • "The Weird, Analog Delights of Foley Sound Effects," by Anna Wiener (The New Yorker, 2022).
  • "The Strangest Foley Sounds in Cinema," by Amber Gibson (ACMI, 2021).
  • "The Man Who Makes Hollywood’s Smallest Sounds," by Zachary Crockett (Priceonomics, 2015).

• EXTRA:
  • "No Hollywood Ending for the Visual Effects Industry," by Freakonomics Radio (2017).