The Apple and Biscuit Show – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to ‘Mr. Loudness’, Mike Thornton, about the issues of television programme loudness and dialogue intelligibility. Why is the background music too loud? Why can’t the viewers hear what the actors are saying? And why are films so loud in the cinema?

In a comprehensive and compelling journey starting with radio transmission concerns in the 1930s, to the present-day woes of broadcasters and streaming platforms, Mike’s accessible and understandable explanations demystify the raft of complex sound challenges that filmmakers continue to face in delivering effective soundtracks.  

About the presenters:

Mike Thornton - 

Web: https://www.production-expert.com/author-bios/2019/11/26/mike-thornton 

Loudness tutorials: 

Start here for Part 1 of Mikes series of 6 videos: https://youtu.be/jvcfwtrL0uw?si=QVhc9ee-wgWb-cO8

Neil and Jason –

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at 

https://www.drneilhillman.com and  https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Technical notes: 

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to emerging Australian sound designer Andrew Dean about his work, in particular the award-winning films ‘Mud Crab’ (written and directed by David Robinson-Smith), ‘Gorgo’ (directed by Veniamin Gialouris) and the forthcoming feature film ‘Salt Along the Tongue’, (directed by Parish Malfitano), that Andrew sound designed and mixed.

Andrew describes his journey from working in a Bathurst multi-screen cinema, then studying for a music degree, moving from recording studios to mixing television shows for SBS, and then studying sound design at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Andrew graduated from their Masters programme in 2022 and has subsequently pursued several creative endeavours with AFTRS alumni.

About the presenters:

Andrew Dean - 

Web: https://www.andrewdeansound.com

Films: 

‘Mud Crab’, (2022), available at: https://youtu.be/hclZdRKflNw?feature=shared

‘Gorgo’, (2023), trailer available at: https://vimeo.com/905788706

Neil and Jason -

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at https://www.drneilhillman.com and at https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

AFTRS:

Learn more about The Australian Film Television and Radio School here: https://www.aftrs.edu.au

Technical notes: 

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to Julian Treasure, the author and presenter of several of the most viewed TED Talks of all time, including ‘How to Speak So People Want to Listen’ which has been viewed more than 150 million times. A self-proclaimed ‘listening evangelist’, Julian shares remarkable insights into the ways in which conscious listening brings about positive change both in personal and professional relationships, how low-cost acoustic considerations for classrooms deliver remarkable educational improvements and how sound in space created life, the universe and everything.

About the presenters:

Julian Treasure - 

Web: https://www.juliantreasure.com

Julian’s Books: 

‘Sound Business’, (2006), published by Management Books 2000 Ltd

‘How to Be Heard’, (2017), published by TMA Press

TED Talks:

https://www.ted.com/talks?q=julian%20treasure&sort=relevance

Neil and Jason -

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at https://www.drneilhillman.com and at https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Also mentioned in this podcast:

Harville Hendrix, ‘Making Marriage Simple: Ten Relationship-Saving Truths’ (2014), is published by Harmony. 

R. Murray Schafer, ‘Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World’, (1993), is published by Inner Traditions Bear and Company.

Gordon Hempton, One Square Inch - https://onesquareinch.org/ and

Quiet Parks International: https://www.quietparks.org/

Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/forest-bathing-nature-walk-health

Technical notes: 

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to American indie filmmakers Sebastian Pigott and Lizabeth Yandel about their latest film, Bring It All Back Home as it nears completion. They delve more deeply into the challenges Sebastian as the director and Lizabeth as the sound editor faced in production and then subsequently in post-production. It's an experience to inspire all filmmakers!

(Explicit language)

Mentioned in this podcast:

Bring It All Back Home: trailer here - https://vimeo.com/830991977

Hillman, N. (2021) 'Sound for Moving Pictures - The Four Sound Areas', Abingdon - Routledge.  See: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-for-Moving-Pictures-The-Four-Sound-Areas/Hillman/p/book/9780367517786

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr. Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to Philip Belcher about his career as one of Australia’s most successful, but possibly least recognised, technology sector CEOs. Philip’s behind-the-scenes stories and strategies when managing multi-national companies such as NEC and Cisco Systems makes riveting and relevant listening for sole traders, freelancers and small companies alike; as does his fascinating insight into steering the audacious sale of the legendary digital audio workstation company Fairlight, to fellow Australian media-tech company, Blackmagic Design.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Philip Belcher’s book ‘Top Secrets for Sales Success, 101 Secrets that sold $$$Millions’ (2020) is available on Amazon books, at https://amzn.to/3KGKe9Y

The website for Philip’s CEO coaching company, LSE Consulting, is here: https://www.lseconsulting.net.au

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 Coaching Programme for media professionals are available here: https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Hillman, N. (2021) 'Sound for Moving Pictures - The Four Sound Areas', Abingdon - Routledge.  See: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-for-Moving-Pictures-The-Four-Sound-Areas/Hillman/p/book/9780367517786

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr. Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to the Oscar-winning supervising sound editors and sound designers, Nina Hartstone and John Warhurst, about their work and specifically, in-depth about the sound design considerations for the feature films Les Miserables, Gravity, Cats, Bohemian Rhapsody and the documentary of David Bowie’s life, Moonage Daydream.

Whilst the David Bowie vinyl album cover of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars boldly stated, “To Be Played At Maximum Volume” (which we caution against) we do suggest that the examples of the subject material in this episode of The Apple & Biscuit Show are “Best Listened To On Headphones”.

About the presenters:

Nina Hartstone – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0367243/

John Warhurst – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1341243/

Neil and Jason –

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at: 

https://www.drneilhillman.com and  https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Technical notes: 

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode (part 1 of 2), Neil and Jason talk to Oscar-winning Production Sound Mixer Simon Hayes about his demanding work on location film sets and deep-dive into Simon’s philosophy and approach to modern location recording techniques. We discuss the importance of a fully-digital signal chain, the understanding with directors he establishes at the beginning of each project and the very different considerations he applies to recording and mixing musicals such as Les Misérables, Cats and Wicked or action films such as James Bond’s No Time To Die, X-Men: First Class and Guardians of the Galaxy. Simon talks about the refreshing nature of shooting low-budget, single camera productions epitomised by the spirit of his early work on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. This is a compelling and unique insight into film sound for experts, novices and movie aficionados alike.   About the presenters:   You can find more about Simon and his work here: https://www.simonhayes.com

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at: 

https://www.drneilhillman.com and  https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching and www.soundformovingpictures.com

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman – IMDb

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

All original motion picture soundtrack clips are licensed through SceneClipper Inc.

In this episode (part 2 of 2), Neil and Jason talk to the Oscar-winning Production Sound Mixer Simon Hayes about the work-ethic he learned from filming with his father, Production Sound Mixer John Hayes; other Production Sound Mixers that have inspired him; the importance of a life lived outside of the film business (to both your health and your finances); and his close and long-standing friendship with the film director, Guy Ritchie.

And stay tuned to hear how Neil throws caution to the wind and offers to grapple with Simon in the dojo to decide who between them should mix the next James Bond Film…

About the presenters:

You can find more about Simon and his work here: https://www.simonhayes.com

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at: https://www.drneilhillman.com and https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching and www.soundformovingpictures.com

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman – IMDb

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

All original motion picture soundtrack clips are licensed through SceneClipper Inc.

Dr Mark Deeks is someone who likes to challenge our assumptions about music, and in particular Heavy Metal, which he suggests has more than a passing resemblance to folk music (as someone with a Ph.D. from researching Heavy Metal music, he’s able to say). But not only is he a Heavy Metal performer with his band Winterfylleth and as a solo artist, he’s also a piano teacher, a musical director for various professional artists, as well as a conductor for ensembles as diverse as workplace choirs and the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Mark’s passion is helping people to understand the important role that music can play in mental wellbeing; and his workshops and seminars on subjects surrounding the use of music to improve mental health and reduce stress are hugely popular. In this interview, Marks speaks candidly about his own experience of trauma; coming to terms with the loss of a child, and the role that music played in his recovery. This is an unusual and remarkable interview that may very well change your life.

About the presenters:
Mark’s website is here (https://markdeeksmusic.com/)

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here (https://www.theaudiosuite.com)

Details of our 1-to-1, training and coaching programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at: https://www.drneilhillman.com and https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching and www.soundformovingpictures.com

Technical notes:
Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman – IMDb
Recorded using the CleanFeed remote recording system
Programme edited and mixed by Jason Nicholas

British Supervising Sound Editor and Sound Designer Stephen Griffiths is responsible for some of the most intelligent and entertaining soundtracks of the last two decades or more, seamlessly moving between multi-million-dollar movies and high-end television dramas.

In this episode Neil and Jason are in conversation with Stephen about his role in helping to create one of the most complex yet subtle soundtracks of the recent era, the 2022 movie, TÁR. 

In this thorough exploration of the film’s precise sound, Stephen describes the meticulous attention to detail demanded by Writer and Director Todd Field and details how bringing together live orchestral recordings alongside dialogue was achieved, why dialogue perspective was so important, and the benefit of fully loading temp mixes.

About the presenters:

Stephen’s IMDb page is here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0341756/

Books mentioned in the podcast:

The Routledge Handbook of Sound Design (with a Chapter on Tár by Neil Hillman)

and

Sound for Moving Pictures by Neil Hillman

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Details of our 1-to-1, training and coaching programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at: 

https://www.drneilhillman.com and https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching and www.soundformovingpictures.com

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman – IMDb

Recorded using the CleanFeed remote recording system 

Programme edited and mixed by Jason Nicholas