Create custom sound effects that are the mainstay of soundtracks for films, broadcast, animation and games. Learn how Foley is designed, crafted and edited for any project- right down to the nuts and bolts of spotting, cueing, and performing sounds. An array of techniques is illustrated with artists presenting their own methods for selecting and handling props, "walking" various characters, and other tricks of the trade. Various renowned artists, editors and mixers contribute stories and perspectives on what is necessary for a film or media project, and how technology has changed the craft over the years. The Foley stage is discussed in detail, with illustrations to assist you in designing your own stage, whatever the size. The companion DVD includes video demonstrations of Foley Artists at work, along with illustrated techniques for the novice.
The Foley Grail
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Ament's book is valuable in putting the spotlight on this aspect of sound postproduction, in establishing a 'classical' baseline against which the variations of animation and game Foley performance can be judged, and, occasionally, in its suggestions as to what these variations may be. Rather than revolving around the less specific notion of 'sound design', future crucial reflection on animation and game sounds can only benefit by feeding in the kind of specialist practical knowledge Ament provides about the aural footprint left by a very particular aspect of the sound production process."--Animation: An Interdisciplinary Journal
From the Back Cover
Craft the environmental sound effects that are essential to making your media project feel authentic to the audience. Learn how Foley is designed, crafted and edited, including the nuts and bolts of spotting, cueing, and performing sounds. Build your own Foley stage with the detailed instructions and illustrations provided.
Creative inspiration is crucial to this performance art, and The Foley Grail is packed with it. Renowned artists, editors and mixers share stories, techniques and perspectives on what is necessary for different projects, how technology has changed the craft over the years and their own methods for creating different effects.
The companion DVD includes video demonstrations of Foley artists at work illustrating their respective creative processes, stage techniques and prop handling.
Creative inspiration is crucial to this performance art, and The Foley Grail is packed with it. Renowned artists, editors and mixers share stories, techniques and perspectives on what is necessary for different projects, how technology has changed the craft over the years and their own methods for creating different effects.
The companion DVD includes video demonstrations of Foley artists at work illustrating their respective creative processes, stage techniques and prop handling.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm giving this book three stars, but I really didn't like it. For the past two decades, I have made my living, exclusively, in the sound for motion picture business. Because I am so passionate about it, I feverishly snatch up every book on the subject. The business is so complex, there is so much information, after twenty years, I still thrive on learning something new. And I do, almost every single day.
For years, I have been looking for a book specifically about foley. I'm fascinated by the many sounds that come out of various objects. I understand that experimentation is the name of the game, but the most fun thing about foley is finding out what items are used to create what sounds. I probably shouldn't give a book a bad review just because it wasn't written the way I wanted. But the fact is, I wanted a recipe book. I was disappointed because that's not what this is.
To be fair, this book contains a lot of information. It covers everything you could ever want to know about the history of foley and pays homage to several great foley artist. That's all great. Foley artists are under appreciated, and the work they do is incredible. Foley artists should get all the credit they deserve, and they deserve a lot.
There is also a great deal of information about what, in my opinion, has gone wrong with the Hollywood system. I'm speaking, specifically, about heavy-handed departmentalization. Without getting into it, I'll just say I found it very discouraging, even depressing. Not a quality I look for in a book, especially a book so closely associated with what I do every day.
This book is relatively expensive. A college student or a struggling, young filmmaker would be better off spending the money on something else. Despite what the title implies, "The Foley Grail: The Art of Performing Sound for Film, Games, and Animation," is more like a history book. The technical information isn't there. If technical information is what you're after, you'll have to look somewhere else.
By the way, when I bought this book, I also purchased "The Sound Effects Bible," by Ric Viers. So far, I've read only about half of it, scanning, quite a bit, over a lot of information I already know. But I can tell you this; Ric's book is full of very good, very useful technical information. It's presented in a positive, entertaining way with lots of nice pictures and useful diagrams. It's actually inspiring. I plan on reviewing Ric's book (I'm calling him by his first name, as if I know him, but we've never met), and I will give it five stars.
For years, I have been looking for a book specifically about foley. I'm fascinated by the many sounds that come out of various objects. I understand that experimentation is the name of the game, but the most fun thing about foley is finding out what items are used to create what sounds. I probably shouldn't give a book a bad review just because it wasn't written the way I wanted. But the fact is, I wanted a recipe book. I was disappointed because that's not what this is.
To be fair, this book contains a lot of information. It covers everything you could ever want to know about the history of foley and pays homage to several great foley artist. That's all great. Foley artists are under appreciated, and the work they do is incredible. Foley artists should get all the credit they deserve, and they deserve a lot.
There is also a great deal of information about what, in my opinion, has gone wrong with the Hollywood system. I'm speaking, specifically, about heavy-handed departmentalization. Without getting into it, I'll just say I found it very discouraging, even depressing. Not a quality I look for in a book, especially a book so closely associated with what I do every day.
This book is relatively expensive. A college student or a struggling, young filmmaker would be better off spending the money on something else. Despite what the title implies, "The Foley Grail: The Art of Performing Sound for Film, Games, and Animation," is more like a history book. The technical information isn't there. If technical information is what you're after, you'll have to look somewhere else.
By the way, when I bought this book, I also purchased "The Sound Effects Bible," by Ric Viers. So far, I've read only about half of it, scanning, quite a bit, over a lot of information I already know. But I can tell you this; Ric's book is full of very good, very useful technical information. It's presented in a positive, entertaining way with lots of nice pictures and useful diagrams. It's actually inspiring. I plan on reviewing Ric's book (I'm calling him by his first name, as if I know him, but we've never met), and I will give it five stars.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first and only book, to my knowledge, written exclusively on the art of Foley. Written by someone who has well over one hundred film and television shows to her credit and a background in teaching, The Foley Grail lives up to its given title. This is not, however, a how-to book. It's not page after page of recipes for getting the best "face-punch or arm-break" sound. One can easily go online for that content. To be sure, Vanessa writes at length about things such as "walking" a character correctly or choosing props based on sonic characteristics over appearance (which can be a typical mistake). This book is much more about the collaborative process of foley as well as the things that have driven men and women to this profession over the years.
Ament gives us insight into the world of foley that only one with her experience can provide. From the foley artist, mixer and recordist to the editor and final dub mixer, the reader is taken through the very interesting, creative and challenging process of producing sound for film.
Ament gives us insight into the world of foley that only one with her experience can provide. From the foley artist, mixer and recordist to the editor and final dub mixer, the reader is taken through the very interesting, creative and challenging process of producing sound for film.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jon K. Oh
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Reaches deep into the heart of the art and craft of performing sound to picture. Rich in technical details and notable in tone for never losing sight of the humanity of the sound artist within her/his myriad of working tools (i.e. endless props, digital/analogue hardware and sundry foley stages). Frank, in describing difficulties, less then professional behavior and the high task level which a working foley artist must be able to perform at. Somewhat expensive but, in my opinion, worth every cent. The depth of knowledge and feeling as I read it portends a book of lasting value. Jon Oh
Update. 3-11-2012
I continue to study this book for technical tidbits and for inspiration in my own film/video sound work which I have been doing professionally for over 20 years.
It may take patience to watch the entire included DVD but a complete foley session like this has never, I think, been documented before. Note the sustained focus, ingenuity, set manners and attention to detail of the artists.
Update. 3-11-2012
I continue to study this book for technical tidbits and for inspiration in my own film/video sound work which I have been doing professionally for over 20 years.
It may take patience to watch the entire included DVD but a complete foley session like this has never, I think, been documented before. Note the sustained focus, ingenuity, set manners and attention to detail of the artists.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE definitive guide!
What a different a sound makes. Every minor detail is covered and every concept is explained clearly and precisely. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Lover of Truth
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is what it is, folks ...
Some reviewers choose to rate a book according to how it extends their prior knowledge of a subject. Read more
Published 16 months ago by The Sarcasticynic
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very little information about the actual subject of foley
The book contains almost no actual information about foley. If you selected a few chapters from the Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound, heavily edited them down to an almost... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Goopstavos
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Grail Indeed!
The Foley Grail is an excellent resource...actually the resource for Foley production. Vanessa is well respected in her field and has so meticulously detailed the inner workings... Read more
Published on May 4, 2009 by R. Viers
