Dolby Creator Talks

Academy Award®-winning production sound mixer Simon Hayes joins us to discuss his groundbreaking work on “Wicked.” Nominated for his third Oscar®, Hayes shares how he captured live vocals on set, blending the technical innovation with the emotional. He reflects on lessons learned from “Les Misérables,” how he worked seamlessly with the music department, and the intricate process of ensuring performers like Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande had the freedom to deliver their most powerful performances while always staying in sync with the film’s score."We had no idea that when Cynthia and Ari sung together, their voices would mesh the way that they did. And something very, very special happens when those two sing together… That first time when I had my cans on, and they were dueting, and the hairs on the back of my neck started standing up, and you get that tingle… You just know, as a sound mixer, 'My God, we've struck gold.' This is something very unique and special."—Simon Hayes, Production Sound Mixer, “Wicked”Be sure to check out “Wicked,” now available to stream at home in Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®.And don’t miss our previous episode featuring Stephen Schwartz and the music team behind “Wicked, as well as our episode with Director Jon M. Chu and the film’s post-production team.You can also check out the video for this episode.Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Academy Award®-nominated composer Daniel Blumberg joins guest host Jon Burlingame to discuss his evocative and unconventional music for "The Brutalist," directed by Brady Corbet, which earned the film an Oscar® nomination for Best Original Score. Blumberg shares how his long-time friendship with Corbet influenced the creative process, how he crafted the film’s musical language using improvisational techniques, and how he recorded some of the score’s most striking pieces — including a live jazz sequence and a prepared piano overture, which was played on set to help choreograph the movement of one of the film’s opening sequences."[Brady Corbet] wanted to shoot the overture [of] Laszlo leaving the Holocaust behind, arriving in New York, and the optimism of seeing the Statue of Liberty to music. So that was one of my first priorities: To create a demo that would work on set… I had this sample of a piano that I’d prepared in London. This sort of percussive piano where you interfere with the strings… John Cage put screws in between strings, and that was a sound that felt right… A few weeks later, we were playing it really loud on the set. And it was great because the cinematographer could move to the music and Adrian could move to the music and the music could cue the extras… I think it was successful in terms of having an impact for the opening of the film.”—Daniel Blumberg, Composer, "The Brutalist"Be sure to check out “The Brutalist,” now playing in theaters.Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Academy Award®-winning composer Volker Bertelmann joins guest host Jon Burlingame to discuss his tense and atmospheric score for “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. Nominated for his third Oscar, Bertelmann — who won in 2023 for Berger’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” — shares how he crafted the film’s unique musical palette, eschewing the sounds of traditional church music in favor of experimental instruments like the Cristal Baschet. He also discusses his approach to scoring thrillers as well as his deep collaboration with Berger.“[Edward Berger’s] feeling is that music is a third dimension, in a way. That it's something that adds a layer to the film… You can create links to scenes, but you can also use music detached from what you see… You can use it in areas where it's already starting to give someone a feeling, that you don't see in the scene, but somehow… undercurrent-ly… starts to rise… What I think Edward works a lot with is building tension up, but then cutting the music pretty hard, into silence. And then you're left in the silence. But the moment where it's cut is very important… It is intentionally being cut at a certain moment, and then there is maybe a natural sound where you suddenly feel much closer to the person than you felt before, because you are alone with a person in silence.”—Volker Bertelmann, Composer, “Conclave”Be sure to check out “Conclave,” now in theaters and available to stream in Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®.Volker Bertelmann’s soundtrack to “Conclave” is also available to stream on Apple Music in Dolby Atmos.Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

We are joined by Director of Photography and first-time Academy Award® nominee Jarin Blaschke, as well as Director Robert Eggers, to discuss the stunning cinematography of “Nosferatu.” Together, the frequent collaborators delivered a gothic masterpiece, blending German romanticism and chilling horror into stunning, painterly visuals. In this conversation, Eggers and Blaschke discuss the meticulous development of the film’s look, the challenges of shooting with practical lighting, and their shared love for highly composed one-take shots. From the fog-drenched crossroads to the eerie interiors of Orlok's castle, the pair reveal the painstaking care and simple, practical ingenuity that brought this cinematic fever dream to life.“I’m just trying to curate life… What kind of optics just feel right? The little flare around the windows. What is the lens that just feels nice? Let’s just look at a bunch of those. Let’s have lenses made. We’re very privileged in that we can do that now and see what that looks like.”—Jarin Blaschke, Director of Photography, “Nosferatu”This conversation was a live webinar as part of Dolby Creator Lab’s partnership with Sundance Collab, the digital platform from the Sundance Institute designed for filmmakers, with exclusive webinars, curated resources, and free educational videos.Be sure to check out “Nosferatu” in Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®, in select theaters.Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Our previous episode with Robert Eggers and Sound Designer Damian Volpe, discussing the sound of "Nosferatu,” is now on YouTube. Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Mix engineer and producer Cian Riordan as wells as mix engineer Matt Cerritos join guest host Ben Givarz to discuss their work on St. Vincent’s seventh studio album, “All Born Screaming,” which garnered critical acclaim and four GRAMMY® nominations, and is now available in stunning Dolby Atmos®. Cian and Matt discuss the recording and mixing process, how they collaborated to re-mix the album in Dolby Atmos, and the unique opportunities this immersive audio format provided to elevate the experience of the album and give it new dimensionality, while maintaining its emotional and sonic integrity.“Going in, being extremely happy with the stereo mixes, I didn’t want Atmos to be something that was drastically different. I still wanted to have it play the same ‘tricks’ on the listener [and] hit people the same way. With Atmos, it’s a little bit more difficult because you can’t really rely on having a heavy-handed mix bus. Loudness all has to be perceived because of the headroom requirements for the Atmos format. So it’s a different way of wrapping your head around it. And Matt, from doing this day-in and day-out, knew how to approach a lot of these concepts that we were bringing, creatively. And he really helped technically execute. It was a really fun process.”—Cian Riordan, Mix Engineer and Producer, “All Born Screaming” by St. VincentYou can listen to St. Vincent’s “All Born Screaming,” as well as many other classic and contemporary artists in Dolby Atmos, on enabled streaming services.Interested in creating content in Dolby Atmos? Check out our FREE resources to give you a jump start!- Dolby Atmos Music Accelerator: https://www.dolby.com/creator-lab/music-accelerator/- Dolby Atmos Essentials Course: https://learning.dolby.com/- Dolby Atmos Music Support: https://professional.dolby.com/music/Professional-resources/To find out more about St. Vincent, check out:https://ilovestvincent.comTo learn more about Just For The Record Studios, go to:https://justfortherecord.comPlease subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Celebrating the 35th anniversary of “3 Feet High and Rising,” De La Soul's iconic 1989 debut album, mix engineer Rich Keller joins Dolby Creator Talks guest host Ben Givarz to discuss reimagining the group’s legendary catalog in Dolby Atmos®. Rich reflects on the process of remixing these classics while preserving their essence, and explores how Dolby Atmos enhances hip-hop’s depth, energy, and spatial dynamics. Drawing from his work with legends like DMX, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and many other hip-hop artists, Rich offers invaluable insights into honoring the past while embracing the exciting new creative possibilities with Dolby Atmos.“There's only one hard rule that I maintain when doing Atmos... and this is the one lesson that keeps on giving. When you're dealing with stereo stems, keep 'em wide. All the way hard left and right. Because as soon as you bring it in, you've changed the mix... You got to keep the artist happy... I've had them here in my room, in my little basement. They come down, they sit down, and I go back and forth to the stereo. Then they freak out. They're like, 'Oh my God, that sounds incredible. And it sounds big! But it still sounds like my song. Thank you.' And that's the critical thing.”—Rich Keller, Audio EngineerThis interview is part of our ongoing music series, "Reimagining the Classics."You can listen to De La Soul, as well as many other classic and contemporary artists in Dolby Atmos, on enabled streaming services.Interested in creating content in Dolby Atmos? Check out our FREE resources to give you a jump start!- Dolby Atmos Music Accelerator: https://www.dolby.com/creator-lab/music-accelerator/- Dolby Atmos Essentials Course: https://learning.dolby.com/- Dolby Atmos Music Support: https://professional.dolby.com/music/Professional-resources/To find out more about Rich Keller and his work, check out his website:https://richkellermusic.com/Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen joins us to discuss his latest feature, “Blitz,” alongside his acclaimed sound team. The film, which explores the harrowing experience of the London Blitz during World War II, is shortlisted for Best Sound at the upcoming Academy Awards. In this episode, McQueen and his team take a deep dive into the process of creating a visceral, immersive soundtrack that captures both the chaos and quiet moments of survival, all presented in stunning Dolby Atmos®. And the film starts off with a literal bang, all designed to plunge the audience directly into the horrors of this place and time.“The backbone of [films], for me as a filmmaker, is sound. It's always been sound. Sound is much more important to me than images in some ways. Because when you hear something, you feel the weight of it. When you hear something, you sort of even smell it… Images, yes, they illustrate. But they don't tell you about the size and the mass of things. And that's what we wanted to jump in with two feet with, immediately. With that terror.”—Sir Steve McQueen, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, “Blitz”Joining today’s conversation: - Sir Steve McQueen – Director, Producer, and Screenwriter - Paul Cotterell – Re-Recording Mixer and Supervising Sound Editor - James Harrison – Re-Recording Mixer and Supervising Sound Editor - John Casali – Academy Award®-winning Production Sound MixerBe sure to check out “Blitz,” now streaming on AppleTV+ in Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®.Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Turning a script into a fully packaged film can be one of the most daunting challenges for any filmmaker. From assembling the right team to securing financing and attracting talent, the process—known in the industry as “packaging”—requires strategy, creativity, and connections. To help demystify this process, filmmaker Carlos López Estrada hosts another insightful Satellite Session, featuring an exceptional panel of producers, financiers, and agents who share their real-world experience and insider tips on packaging films.Joining the discussion: - Alex Coco – Producer (“ANORA”) - Dave Green – Director (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) - Chris Quintos Cathcart – Independent Film Financier (“Dìdi”) - Phil Sun – President and Managing Partner, M88 - Katie Laner – Literary Agent, CAAThis is another installment of our ongoing “Satellite Sessions” series, which we’re bringing to you in partnership with Antigravity Academy and the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment. Follow @antigravityacademy and @capeusa for more information on even more upcoming panels.Antigravity AcademyCAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment)For more inspiring Satellite Sessions just like this one, be sure you are subscribed to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Nine-time GRAMMY Award®-winning audio engineer Mick Guzauski and Robert Guzman, audio engineer at Studio DMI, join guest host Ben Givarz to discuss their work reimagining Daft Punk's iconic album “Random Access Memories,” in Dolby Atmos® for its 10th Anniversary Edition.Mick takes us back to the album’s original recording sessions, sharing how he and Daft Punk meticulously crafted the sound that went on to win Album of the Year in 2013. Robert adds his perspective on adapting the record to Dolby Atmos, a process that opened up new spatial dimensions while staying true to the album's artistic intent.This interview is part of our music series, "Reimagining the Classics."“You could do a lot more analysis of it from Atmos by separating channels and things, but I think Dolby Atmos added to the experience of the album. There's so much going on in parts of that album that I think Atmos was a big, big improvement, a big benefit for some of those really dense parts to separate and to be in their own space.”—Mick Guzauski, Audio EngineerYou can listen to Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition)” as well as many other classic and contemporary albums in Dolby Atmos, on enabled streaming services.Interested in creating content in Dolby Atmos? Check out our free resources to give you a jump start!- Dolby Atmos Music Accelerator: https://www.dolby.com/creator-lab/music-accelerator/- Dolby Atmos Essentials Course: https://learning.dolby.com/- Dolby Atmos Music Support: https://professional.dolby.com/music/Professional-resources/Learn more about Robert Guzman and Studio DMI here:https://www.studiodmi.com/Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Visionary director Robert Eggers joins forces with acclaimed sound artist Damian Volpe to deliver a stunning reimagining of the classic vampire tale “Nosferatu.” In this episode, Eggers and Volpe take us behind the scenes to discuss how they used cutting-edge sound design and Dolby Atmos® to create a truly terrifying and immersive experience. From the spectral sounds of Count Orlok’s castle to the brilliant use of silence and dynamic range, this conversation unpacks the intricate audio techniques that make the film so unforgettable.“I mean, it begins even before [the first scene] with the quote-unquote logo animations. [We] recreated silent film-style logos… with audio analog hiss and some wind, which morph into each other. You know, I think these horror film cold openings that end with a jump scare, when they’re done successfully… keep you on edge of your seat for the rest of the film because… you know that anything’s possible.”—Robert Eggers - Director, Writer, and Producer, “Nosferatu”Joining today’s conversation: - Damian Volpe - Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor, and Re-recording Mixer - Robert Eggers - Director, Writer, and ProducerDamian Volpe also wanted to thank his fellow team members: - Steve Little - Sound Supervisor - David Giammarco - Re-recording Mixer - Michael Fentum - Sound Designer - Heikki Kossi - Foley Artist - Shelley Rodin - Foley Artist - Joel Raabe - Foley Editor/Mixer - Grace Wong - Assistant Sound Editor - Tim Hands - ADR Editor - Samir Foco - Sound Effects EditorBe sure to check out “Nosferatu” in theaters and Dolby Cinemas®, in Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®, when it premieres in the U.S. on December 25th.Please subscribe to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Creator Lab and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.