I stumbled across these 3 interviews with directors discussing the work of legendary sound designer Alan Splet produced for the School of Sound – wow, I never knew he was a cellist!
The directors interviewed are Peter Weir (Mosquito Coast, Dead Poets Society), Carroll Ballard (Never Cry Wolf, Wind & Black Stallion for which Splet was awarded an Oscar), Phillip Kaufman (The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Henry & June, Rising Sun)
Director Peter Weir on Sound Designer Alan Splet from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.
Director Carroll Ballard on Sound Designer Alan Splet from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.
Director Phillip Kaufman on Sound Designer Alan Splet from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.
A little note for anyone new to vimeo, if you scroll down to the bottom on the right is a link to download the source video file, rather than stream it… & frankly that is my idea of television = no ads, download it & watch it when it suits you!
thank you very much for posting these. they are amazing to watch. i think i’m going to make it a mission to check out a lot more of his work.
I found them fascinating too… & over the next month or so am going to re-watch all the films they discuss
[...] Directors on working with Alan Splet [...]
I had the amazing fortune to have worked with, and to have been mentored by Murch, Burtt, and Splet in that magical time when the three of them lived within a few miles of each other near San Francisco. Alan was a kind and generous man, and a genius. The praise these directors give him is so well deserved, but I hope they realize the importance of the canvas they also gave him. As you watch and hear the excerpts from these films please notice that they are all written, photographed, directed, and edited in ways that give articulate and focused sound an opportunity to be heard. All these sequences were designed for sound before sound was designed for them. Notice the sparse music. Notice the use of subjectivity and point of view. The sparse dialog. These directors opened the door, and Alan walked through it elegantly and powerfully.
Randy Thom
Very true Randy.. & the same also applies to his work with David Lynch; what great opportunities those collaborations provided!