A COLLABORATIVE POST WITH BOOM BOX POST
How do I portray this through sound?
What does this sound like?
Which sound effects WOULD sell this moment?
I feel like these are questions sound editors ask themselves every single day.
Here at Boom Box Post, it is our job to bring the shows we work on to life with sound. Our editors have perfected the art of storytelling and conveying emotion through sound design. It’s pretty amazing to think about how big of a role sound plays in any narrative.
Speaking of narratives, a narrative I’m sure we all are tired of living is 2020. I know, I know, the last thing you want to do is read another person complaining about how big of a dumpster fire 2020 has become. So I’m not going to list the reasons why seemingly everyone—including myself—is completely over this year. Instead, I thought it would be interesting (and mostly funny) to let the Boom Post Post team do what we do best.
So I asked the question, “If 2020 was a sound effect, what would it be?” Let’s listen to the responses!
JACOB
Re-Recording Mixer
“To me, these sounds reflect our steep dive into collective madness as COVID-19 overtook our city, and election season approached. The clock ticking also reminds me of the feeling that we're stuck in place, at home, waiting for things to change or improve, though more than likely we will see aftershocks of recent events for many years to come.”
SAM
Office Manager / Assistant Sound Editor
“I can't think of a better sound for this year. This sound to me represents how much of an epic fail 2020 was.”
TESS
Supervising Sound Editor
Tess seemed to have the same idea, also referring to 2020 as the toony sound effect Sam chose. She notes, “This is a bork. Boom Box Post co-owner Jeff Shiffman defined it as a ‘cartoonish sound that conveys disappointment’ in his blog post: Glossary of Sound Effects Part 2! It also sounds a little like a fart. This year has definitely been disappointing and a bit farty.”
“I also picked a puppy sound effect. I got a dog this year and I don't think I would have been convinced to do so if I wasn't stuck at home so much. He's been great and a huge source of happiness during this tough time. He doesn't make a lot of noise though, so I had to use an effect from our library rather than a real recording - my deepest apologies.”
BRAD
Supervising Sound Editor
“This one is self-explanatory!”
“Time pretty much doesn't exist these days, What day is it again?!”
JD
Sound Effects Editor
“When I think 2020, I think sludge. Drop this bad boy's pitch down 20% and that's how I feel. Just trudging through thick sludge that just keeps on coming.”
“And of course to supplement my trudging when I need a good laugh - because we all need a good laugh this year - I like to reminisce and listen to this gem.”
IAN
Sound Effects Editor
“Basically embodies 2020 coming to a halt after making a speedy start to the year.”
“I like this sound because being stuck inside with not much to do forces you to try and relax from the chaos outside. What’s more relaxing than the sound of the ocean?”
GREG
Sound Effects Editor
“This year has been so chaotic. Between the epidemic, people’s combative refusal to follow guidelines to help ease the impact of it, the election season sprinkled with combative fighting amongst people fueled by the sea of misinformation and the protests and riots that rose up all over the country, the genocides and revolutions going down in other parts of the world, these sounds just seemed very fitting.”
PETER
Sound Effects Editor
“I chose this sfx because LA reminded me of a ghost town when everything was shut down and everyone had to stay home.”
KATIE
Sound Effects Editor
“This year feels a bit like the Twilight zone, so an eerie ethereal tone could be the right soundscape for this year. Everything is just a bit... off!”
“A lightning strike sums up 2020 pretty well because, well, 2020 has been a bit grim for a lot of people. This is the scary no-turning-back part of the story and a thunder bolt illustrates that pretty well.”