RIC VIERS SIGNS ON AS SOUND DESIGNER!

January 18, 2012By Aladdin3477Production News

The legendary Ric Viers has signed on to head sound design for Aladdin 3477.  This industry guru runs several companies and is the largest producer of sound effects in the world.  Ric is the author of the book The Sound Effects Bible, and the highly anticipated follow-up, The Location Sound Bible.  His sound design can be found everywhere, from Family Guy to Grey’s Anatomy to Desperate Housewives to Vampire Diaries.  Ric’s sounds are also heard in tons of movie trailers for film giants like Lord of the Rings and Spider-Man, not to mention video games like Call of Duty.

Announcing the sound designer so early on might seem a little odd for a movie that’s quite a ways from filming.  “On the contrary,” comments director Matt Busch, “Sound is half of the entertaining experience.  It’s not only essential to sell the futuristic world we’ll be seeing on-screen, but Ric’s creative genius will for sure be delivering cutting-edge ear candy.”

A project like this is a sound designer’s dream. Here I’ll get to really play and create a new world from scratch. I get to create my own unique sounds for robots, weapons, and vehicles. How fun is that?

Ric Viers has already lent a hand behind-the-scenes with several of Busch’s other video projects, including episodes of You Can Draw Star Wars, but it’s Aladdin 3477 that Ric is really looking forward to.  “A project like this is a sound designer’s dream.” Notes Viers, who normally is tasked with creating effects for projects that sound ‘typical and everyday’.  “Here I’ll get to really play and create a new world from scratch.  Having grown up with sound design legends like Ben Burtt of Star Wars fame, now I get to create my own unique sounds for robots, weapons, and vehicles.  How fun is that?”

One would assume that all of the sound design is done in postproduction, after the film is shot and edited, but Busch has other plans.  “Ric and I are constantly bouncing creative ideas around and so I’m counting on his involvement well before Aladdin moves into post or even principal photography.” comments Busch.  “This is the kind of movie where I to want go into shooting having some kind of idea how the characters and robots will sound, as opposed to just adding sound later and seeing what sticks.  I’m very inspired by sound and music, so the more I have going in, the better.”

In truth, the sounds will probably end up so mangled and layered that even I won’t know what the heck I used to make that sound! It’s always fun to create something out of virtually nothing, but the fun is elevated even higher when you have cool imagery to work from…

As the Aladdin 3477 production kicks into high gear, Ric Viers is ready for the challenge.  “Tinkering is my specialty.  Taking everyday ordinary objects and finding creative ways to get unique sounds out of them is one of the funnest things I get to do with my job.” observes Viers.  When the audience is ultimately experiencing the Aladdin 3477 movie for the first time, will they be able to tell where the unique sounds came from?  “No, in truth, the sounds will probably end up so mangled and layered that even I won’t know what the heck I used to make that sound! It’s always fun to create something out of virtually nothing, but the fun is elevated even higher when you have cool imagery to work from like Matt’s crazy creations. Even though I’m involved, I’ll also be an audience member. I can’t wait to watch and hear this story unfold onscreen!”

That said, look for behind-the-scenes production videos working with Ric Viers on Aladdin3477.com soon!