I had the opportunity to work on the complete sound design and re-recording of the animated short film 'Au revoir mon monde.' It recently won the gold price at the 2024 Student Academy Awards. My role as a sound designer and re-recording mixer was crucial throughout the creative process. I started by receiving simple sketches, which evolved over time, just like the editing. This required a great ability to adapt and a flawless workflow.
https://www.unifrance.org/film/59700/au-revoir-mon-monde
https://press.oscars.org/news/award-placements-revealed-2024-student-academy-awardsr
One of the major challenges was to create original sounds from scratch. Among my achievements are:
- the sound of an electric scooter zooming by
- the highly customized sound of a giant meteorite crashing into the Earth, as well as the sound of a massive wave of glass resulting from the collapse of a building
Each sound effect was recorded progressively to ensure it was perfectly integrated into the story and atmosphere of the film. Finally, I handled the final re-recording mix, ensuring optimal sound quality among all elements, including the original score. Several hundred tracks...
Various sound designs :
- The electric scooter: For the film, I designed the sound of an electric scooter. It is a key element in the protagonist's challenging journey. There were no sound libraries containing the specific noise of an electric scooter weaving at high speed between cars and meteorite explosions! So, I had to undertake extensive research to find THE perfect sound, combining recording, research, and sound design. On one hand, I needed to capture the realistic sound of the scooter on concrete. On the other hand, I had to create the characteristic noise of the electric motor. Additionally, it was essential to maintain a balance between realism and humor to perfectly match the film's spirit. 🛴
- The sound design of the asteroid: The second antagonist of this film is a giant meteorite slowly approaching Earth, threatening to destroy its entire surface. The directors had a very clear idea in mind: they wanted an impressive sound that would evoke both the grandeur and the danger of the asteroid while giving it a true personality. This sound needed to personify the asteroid, endowing it with an almost living presence. For instance, in sequences like the title reveal, the planet emits a chilling sound, as if it were speaking and announcing its impending massacre. I had to be more creative than ever before, innovating in my sound design, particularly with morphing techniques.
- The final explosion: For the end of the film—the end of the world—the directors had a very specific sound in mind, referencing one of the explosions from the movie Godzilla (2014). So, in summary, a reference from a world-renowned sound designer, NO pressure at all! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z5Lu_DCXbY&t=94s&ab_channel=Basih I also made sure not to create something too explosive and lengthy, as this final sequence is accompanied by the beautiful original score by Titouan Gramain. In short, I aimed to create an explosion that signifies the end of the world, with an impactful yet subtle sound! A TRUE challenge, not just in sound design but also for the re-recording mix.
- The glass wave: One of the film's standout moments is the explosion of a meteorite on a building, creating a wave of glass that the main character, still on his scooter 🛴, rides and crosses! This explosion, beautiful and highly detailed, consists of thousands of pieces of glass of various sizes. To achieve this effect, I conducted extensive sound research and recorded dozens of different sounds. I then layered all these elements during the mixing process. I used compression and saturation techniques to immerse the viewer in the sensations experienced by the scooter rider.
Would you like to know more, or are you interested in working together? Are you curious about my tools and my way of working? Check it out here: https://benjaminmartin.fr/equipements/
Otherwise, you can find my contact information at the bottom of the site. See you soon! 🛴
