from Pablo Valverde on Vimeo.
You’ve got to be living under a rock if you’ve haven’t heard of Breaking Bad — one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows of all time. Aside from a complex examination of morality and what it means to descend into evil, the tv series boasts of a compelling narrative that’s assisted by superb story telling. Of course a strong script and cinematography play their part in telling Walter White’s progress from goofy professor to a criminal badass.
What’s often overlooked in the series is how big a part sound helps in storytelling.
It’s quite subtle but the effect can be profound.
Some scenes in Breaking Bad use enhanced foley sound to add realism, like sliding water jugs to a hostage or by withholding ambiences plus amplifying the clang of dishes and cutlery to highlight awkwardness or isolation.
Our favourite sound design trick would be adding low and high frequency howls to otherwise normal wind effects to create an eerie vibe to set up a scene.
By working on you secretly, Breaking Bad’s sound can add that added oomph for its key visuals.
Sound is Half The Picture — Literally.