Foley
Foley is the art of creating everyday sound effects that are added to movies, TV shows, and video games after they're filmed. Named after sound effects pioneer Jack Foley, this technique involves recreating sounds like footsteps, clothing movements, or door creaks in a studio. Think of it as creating a sound costume for films - just like costume designers dress the actors, Foley artists add the subtle sounds that make scenes feel real. Without these sounds, movies would feel empty or artificial. This is different from sound effects libraries because Foley sounds are created live and custom-matched to the specific actions on screen.
Examples in Resumes
Created Foley effects for 3 independent short films using practical props and recording techniques
Led Foley recording sessions for a 12-episode animated series
Designed and executed Foley sound elements for video game character movements
Supervised junior Foley artists and managed Foley stage operations
Typical job title: "Foley Artists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Foley Artists
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you manage a Foley department for a major feature film?
Expected Answer: Should discuss budget management, team coordination, scheduling sessions, maintaining equipment and prop libraries, and ensuring quality control across multiple projects.
Q: What's your approach to training junior Foley artists?
Expected Answer: Should explain mentoring techniques, teaching proper recording methods, prop selection, timing techniques, and how to match sounds to on-screen action.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you choose and prepare props for different types of sounds?
Expected Answer: Should describe their prop collection, experience with different materials, and how they select or create props to match specific sound requirements.
Q: What's your process for syncing Foley sounds with video?
Expected Answer: Should explain their workflow for watching footage, planning sounds, and recording in sync with the action, including tools and techniques used.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic types of Foley sounds?
Expected Answer: Should mention footsteps, clothing movement, props handling, and be able to explain how these different categories of sounds are typically created.
Q: What equipment is typically used in Foley recording?
Expected Answer: Should be able to describe basic recording equipment like microphones, recording surfaces (Foley pits), and various props used to create sounds.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic sound recording techniques
- Understanding of common Foley effects
- Ability to match basic sounds to picture
- Knowledge of recording equipment
Mid (2-5 years)
- Efficient workflow in studio sessions
- Broad knowledge of props and materials
- Good timing and sync abilities
- Experience with different genres
Senior (5+ years)
- Project management and team leadership
- Complex sound design integration
- Budget planning and resource management
- Training and mentoring abilities
Red Flags to Watch For
- No hands-on experience with sound recording
- Lack of knowledge about basic recording equipment
- Poor understanding of timing and sync
- No experience working with digital audio workstations
- Unable to work under tight deadlines
Related Terms
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