“Without the context of the visual scene, it’s difficult to judge.However, based on discussions we’ve had this semester, it would seem that one or the other is called for.Unless the director and sound designer’s goal is to overwhelm the audience, leaving them catatonic in their seats.”
Beside me, Barry squirmed.
“Let’s look at the visual context.”
The prof hit a switch on her podium, lowering the lights in the room.On the screen behind her, a scene of a convoy of vehicles that looked to have been lifted from a recentMad Maxmovie and placed on the moon with poorly constructed CGI appeared.As they raced directly toward the viewer, the wall of sound hit, and I had to close my eyes.
Mercifully, the trauma ended a couple of seconds later.
When the lights came back up, the professor was standing in front of her podium, her arms crossed over her chest.“Barry, I’m interested in your vision here.What point were you making with this mashup?”
“Ah, Dr.Gardener, I—”
The prof’s eyebrows ticked up another millimeter.
“I thought bringing the sounds together would intensify the viewer’s anticipation of the climax of the scene.”
“Uh-huh.Is that the part where the vehicles careen over a cliff?”she asked.
How Barry couldn’t hear the trap in her tone was a mystery.Or maybe not, considering how clueless he was about what constituted a decent sci-fi flick.
“Well, yeah.”
The defiance in his tone made me wish I’d chosen to sit on the end of the row where I could discreetly pick up my things and move away.I absolutely did not want Dr.Gardener to think I was Barry’s ally.
“Miss Davis, what is your take on that?”
Damnit.
Then I decided the professor had actually helped me out in the upcoming showdown.
“I don’t know when this film was made.”I turned my head in Barry’s direction.“Last year in Film 201?”
He seemed to shrink a bit in his seat.Clearing his throat, he said, “Uh, no.”
Horrified, I blurted, “Was this your final project in this class?”
He shrugged.
I blinked and returned my attention to the professor.Taking a breath, I said, “If I’d designed the sound for this scene, I would have considered something muffled since it’s taking place in the vacuum of space.The emphasis would have been on the dialogue in the comms as the characters raced across the lunar surface.”
The prof nodded.“An informed choice, Miss Davis.”
I could feel Barry’s glare against the side of my face as Dr.Gardener led us through the projects of several other students in the class.On the plus side, two other members of our group for Film 301 were also in this Sound Design section.On the down side, Barry was probably going to throw a tantrum when I said no to his last-minute editing changes on our project.
When class ended, I slung my messenger bag over my shoulder and started down the row in the opposite direction of my unwelcome seatmate.Taking the long way around to exit the screening room was a small price to pay for skipping a confrontation over Barry’s hurt feelings.
I should have known he wouldn’t let it go that easy.
As I exited the building to head to the Union for some much-needed coffee, someone grabbed my elbow, jerking me back.
“You didn’t have to throw me under the bus in there,” Barry snarled.“I’ll remember that when I turn in my director’s notes on our project.”
I stared him hard in the eye then flicked my gaze down to his viselike grip on my elbow and back to his face.When he didn’t take the hint, I said in a deadly even tone, “Remove your hand from me.Now.”
“Or what?”
“Or the lady will have a witness when she reports you for assault,” a rich gravelly voice said from behind me.
