Barton Fink New Ideas

In class we discussed some methods and thoughts on how to tackle the Barton Fink clip. These are some of the points that I wish to follow up on and I have added to to make the sound design better.

Its about both Barton and the hotel. Begins with the hotel and changes to him through the camera perspective. Emphasise on the elements in the room like fans lights and room tone. After this bring in the footsteps over the top of it more changing the focus of the viewer. How do you get a warm sound tone? What does warm sound like? Saturation?? Electrical hum.

Using a different sound for the footsteps. Maybe wooden floor or different shoes to show the weirdness of the hotel when its all meant to be carpet. Particular focus on tempo and pace. I feel the footsteps should be very heel/toe and over emphasise this flow, pace and uncertainty…..

The clip starts from a standstill this provides the reference level for the rest of the sound. This could be a simple base there and probably would be the lights hum or hiss. Draw particular attention to it at certain points where the visuals are on screen but it should always be subtly in the mix.

The scene needs a clock but the even though there is nothing on screen to back up this. It can be used to slow down the pace and make this movement to the desk or even the wait on the bell hop even longer.

The bell rings the whole time which is unusual, think about drawing out the weirdness. Finding a reverb feedback loop that builds you would create a slow rising tension. I could gently bring the reverb into the mix through automation.

Steve Buscemi's footsteps are sock on wood and shoe on wood. He is holding the other. Make a point of this.

When the elevator bell rings it can have the same base layer sound as the desk bell to keep a common theme. Keep the unusually long sound reference as well. As though the bell is echoing down the hallway.

Long corridor and how can that be communicated. Does windy suit it? The same undertones as before with hum from the lights. Wouldn't suit the warm tone any more. People in some of the other rooms would add to the fact the hotel actually does have guests. Maybe an old timey radio or tv echoing through the hall with a big reverb to give an idea of how long it truly is.

Make the hotel room seem dank and dingy. Outside when the window is opened have some gulls? How can the room be made more miserable? Drip of water from the tap in the bathroom? The hiss and hum from the lights stops.

How do you make the space bar seem more significant? Amplification of sound as before. Its and affectionate touch. Intimacy that is layered with the sound of a skin on skin caress to signify the connection. The painting on the wall would be the big flow of music beginning to fade in. SFX of the sea and idealised beach scene. Music is of the period both in style and piece to give reference to the 1940’s. If I was considering more music does it really need it? What does it bring?