Sound Talking: Mariana Lopez "The language of sound"
Channel: IntelligentSoundEng
Date: 12/01/2018

Sound Talking
London Science Museum
3 November 2017

http://www.semanticaudio.co.uk/events/soundtalking/

The Enhancing Audio Description project (AHRC) seeks to provide accessible audio-visual experiences to visually impaired audiences by using sound design strategies.

Film grammars we are familiar with have been developed throughout film history, but such languages have matured with sighted audiences in mind and assuming that seeing is more important than hearing. This talk will challenge such assumptions by demonstrating how the use of sound effects, first person narration as well as breaking the rules of sound mixing, can allow us to create accessible versions of films that are true to the filmmaker’s conception.

Bio
Mariana has a background in music, sound design and acoustics. Her MA dissertation (University of York) focused on exploring the creation of a new format of sonic art entitled ‘audio film’ that may be considered as an alternative to Audio Description for visually impaired audiences. In 2013 she completed her PhD at the University of York on the importance of virtual acoustics to further our understanding of medieval drama.
In 2014 she joined the Cultures of the Digital Economy Research Institute (CoDE, Anglia Ruskin University) as a Senior Research Fellow. In 2016 she moved to York to start a position as Lecturer in Sound Production and Post Production at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television. She is also active in the field of sound design, having worked on a number of short films, theatre productions and installations. She is currently the Vice-chair of the Audio Engineering Society British section.