Sound support for the mysterious environment of Caddo Lake – with David Forshee

SSome places are surprisingly beautiful, and Caddo Lake looks to be one of them. Directors/screenwriters Celine Held and Logan George capture this mysterious setting in their thriller caddo lake – Now streaming on MAX. The lake is home to paranormal phenomena and a place where time becomes fluid. Those who enter find their lives changed forever as events that occur at different times have a dramatic impact on others.

Emmy-winning sound editor and sound mixer David Forshee, who grew up in a small town near Caddo Lake, uses sounds of local insects and birds captured over the years, recordings he captured from set, and atmosphere. Design rich atmosphere.

Here, Forshee talks about changing ambient sounds to match different time periods, creating the sounds of “time portals” and how portals affect the environment, the challenges of mixing ship scenes, and more!

[WARNING: SPOILER ALERTS]

Caddo Lake | Official Trailer | Maximum

When did you start doing voice work? caddo lake? What were your initial conversations with the filmmakers about the role of sound in this film?

Logan George and David Forsey on the dub stage for “Caddo Lake”

David Forshey (DF): I like to think that my work on the film began in 2021 when I first read the script.

I’ve worked with directors Celine Held and Logan George before upper part At the beginning of 2020, we had a great creative relationship. That summer, I reached out to them during the pandemic. They mentioned that they lived near Caddo Lake and began writing a new script. We had an interesting realization, I’m actually from Shreveport, Louisiana, just a short drive from Caddo Lake. It was a big surprise for all of us to find out that their new project was based near my hometown!

Our early conversations about sound design started after I read the script, and by early 2022 I started sending in some preliminary sound experiments while they were producing the first cut. But most of the editing and mixing will happen in the summer of 2022.

Caddo Lake live recording

Set in a real location, Caddo Lake is an interesting lake bordering Texas and Louisiana. How did you create the sound for this location? Since you are familiar with the area, have you recorded sounds at this location?

DF: I collected recordings from northwest Louisiana (my hometown). On each visit I bring a voice recorder (Sony PCM-D100) and capture the local atmosphere as much as possible. Using this archive gave me a wealth of realistic insect and bird sounds to help shape the background atmosphere of the lake.

On each visit I bring a voice recorder (Sony PCM-D100) and capture the local atmosphere as much as possible.

I happened to be in Louisiana visiting family during filming, and I went on set to record additional sounds. Celine and Logan also captured the vibe while exploring and researching Caddo Lake, which we incorporated into the mix.

Find the location of “Caddo Lake” in Caddo Lake

The story takes place in the same place but unfolds at different times: 1952, 2003, 2005 and 2022.

DF: For every period, contrast is the key idea. Whenever we transition to a different era, we want the transition to feel unique, not just through the portal sounds themselves, but through subtle details in the background that reflect how the environment may have changed over the decades.

Whenever we transition to a different era, we want the transition to feel unique…

There’s even a brief scene where Ellie is transported to an almost prehistoric time. To do this, we look at some of the more bizarre and otherworldly insects and frogs to contrast with more modern times. This was a fun opportunity to do some experimentation with background sounds.

What sound did Anna, Ellie, and Paris make when they walked into the Time Gate? Can you talk about your process of discovering this sound design element?

DF: There are elements to the sounds of the portal (and the sounds surrounding the portal). First, when a character enters a portal, the sound interrupts at that moment to draw attention, as the visual cues are intentionally subtle.

… It has long been established that sound can and often does travel from one side of a portal to the other.

The next level is “travel” sound – the experience of walking through a portal. Inside, the sound is heavily distorted and muffled, amplifying the feeling of being in a void. That said, it has long been established that sound can and often does travel from one side of a portal to the other. Celine and Logan often use this as motivation for characters to enter portals – they hear other characters shouting at different times, helicopters, dam construction sites exploding, Ellie’s phone being left next to the portal, etc… If you There are some Easter eggs here if you listen carefully.

Some early design experiments revolved around how portals distort sound and how it travels to the other side. We ended up toning this effect down a bit for clarity, but hopefully you can still feel it’s a bit distorted.

How do you use sound to help the audience understand the story, especially when the timeline is confusing?

DF: It’s all about contrast, punctuation, and consistency in the portal. There’s a moment in the movie where, after going through the portal, Ellie relives a scene we saw earlier in the movie, and we were very careful to use the exact same sounds and the exact same timing as before. Subconsciously, I thought this attention to detail aided clarity and hopefully gained something upon rewatching.

What is the most challenging scene for sound editing? Why is it challenging?

DF: The portal scenes were probably the most challenging because they are the heart of the story. Important plot points were incorporated into the sound design of the portal and its impact on nearby sounds. Here, balancing style with clarity in the service of storytelling is crucial, and ensuring that the effects never overshadow the narrative can be challenging.