Foley Craft Studio

Foley Journal

Stories, techniques and notes from the Foley stage.

A place to share how Foley is made, from footsteps, props and surfaces to the small decisions that make a scene feel real.

Lúcia Carvalho wearing headphones, crouched over a woven basket of props in front of a boom microphone, laughing.

Foley 101 · Part 1 · Start here

What Is Foley?

A short introduction to Foley: what it is, what it covers, and why so much of a film’s sound is recorded after the shoot.

· 3 min read

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Three short pieces

Foley 101

The basics of the craft. A good place to start if you work with picture or sound and want to know where Foley fits.

Best read in order.

  1. What Is Foley?A short introduction: what Foley is, what it covers and why films need it.3 min
  2. Foley vs Sound EffectsThey work side by side, but they come from different places. Where Foley ends and sound effects begin.3 min
  3. How Is Foley Recorded?From watching the scene to delivering synced tracks: the Foley workflow, step by step.5 min

Coming next

Foley Craft

Closer to the performance: how footsteps, weight and surfaces turn into character on screen.

  1. How to Perform Convincing FootstepsRhythm, weight and the small irregularities that make walking sound human.In the works
  2. Matching Weight and CharacterWhy two people in the same shoes should never sound the same.In the works
  3. Choosing the Right SurfaceConcrete, wood, gravel or something built on the day: finding the floor a scene needs.In the works

Coming next

Behind the Scenes

How I actually work, from the first viewing of a film to the last take of a session.

  1. How I Prepare a Film for FoleyFrom the first viewing to the cue list.In the works
  2. Building a Foley Prop CollectionWhat earns a place on the shelf, and why props are rarely what they look like.In the works
  3. Inside a Foley SessionA day on the stage, from setting up the microphone to the last take.In the works

Need Foley for your project?

If you’re working on a film, series or animation and need Foley, I’d be glad to hear about it.

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