Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

Director Midge Costin's documentary on the importance and evolution of sound in movies offers a peak back at the progression of sound in film over the decades and the artists and movies which propelled the artistry forward. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound features interviews from a number of directors (who include George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, Robert Redford, Ang Lee, and Sofia Coppola) and sound editors (Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, Gary Rydstrom, Lora Hirschberg, Cece Hall, and others) who speak about both specific films and the use of sound in general.

Although the documentary loses a bit of steam during its second-half, when the focus shifts away from a historical approach on the people and technology that pushed innovation forward, to more of a breakdown and explanation of how sound works in films and the various aspects that are are blended together, on the whole Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound offers a valuable look at sound in film from those who worked diligently on the subject for decades. The documentary is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and various streaming services.