ABSTRACT
Some say that sound represents 50% of a film. Some say 80%, others 40%. As if it were a contest between the sound and visuals. But it's not a contest. Sometimes the visuals do the heavy lifting, and sometimes it's the sound that takes center stage. Clearly both are critical components of the cinematic experience. The author think of it more like sound's domain is immersion. When a film is muted with the volume all the way down, it might possible to figure out what's going on narratively, but it will not feel immersive. It's kind of like walking around town with earplugs in place. Sound in film infuses the experience with life and detail. It provides a blanket of place and time. Sound can smooth things out, or make things rough. Sound can make things feel real, or can erase things from awareness. Sound in film is simultaneously a basic technical requirement as well as a vast creative outlet.
