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2019 · Trey Edward Shults · 2h 15m

Waves

Credit
Sound Designer
Logline

A suburban African-American family is tested by the tragic mistakes of its high-school son.

The Unseen Narrative

The film is built as a diptych: first the nervous system of the son, then the nervous system of the sister. We engineered the two halves to have opposing acoustic biologies — compression and release — so the audience feels the break in the body before the script confirms it.

Selected Frames
#001
The Car

Bass through seat springs. A voice thinned by traffic.

#002
The Wrestling Mat

Exertion at close range. A shoulder compressed beyond tolerance.

#003
The River

Hull on water. Wind finally without threat.

#004
The Hallway

Fluorescent tone. A door that will not stop opening.

Stems
Acoustic Breakdown

The film is built from these components. Each stem below is a narrative thread — the work is in how they are woven, and where they are withheld.

The first half is mixed to compress the audience. Narrowed stereo image, rising sub-bed, transients pushed forward. The body tenses before the story discloses why.

Elements
  • Narrowed image
  • Rising sub
  • Forward transients

To inquire about an acoustic breakdown on your next production, or to request access to unreleased work, use the channels below.