ABSTRACT
It would come as no surprise to any film fan who is aware of the role of postproduction sound that, at some point, someone is replacing the footsteps of an actor in a scene. That someone is the Foley artist. It may seem logical that the audience would need to hear the character in the scene walk. However, as people examine the actual dramatic needs in a scene, this may or may not be the case. When a Foley artist selects shoes for a performance, she or he considers the choice of surfaces. This affects the sound of the shoes. The microphone used as well as the distance from the microphone affects the performance. The sonic character of the room affects the performance. The choice of a shoe for the character is not simple, but, as one gains experience, the elimination of improper shoes becomes easier. Before digital editing, Foley artists would work on stages that recorded using magnetic film.
