In this talk, we explore the provocative use of music and sound of one of the world’s most influential filmmakers. Delving into his work with sound designers such as Alan Splet, Randy Thom and even himself (assuming the role), we discuss the symbolic use of textures, the creation of atmospheres, and sometimes surprising and even disconcerting use of music. We reveal the strategies that lie behind the construction of the whole soundtrack. From the ‘fake informative’ music present in many films, up to complex audiovisual and sonic constructions, we focus on clips from Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, among others.
GUSTAVO COSTANTINI
Argentinean sound designer, musician, professor, and researcher, Gustavo received his PhD in Sound Design from the University of Buenos Aires (under the guidance of Michel Chion), and is now professor of Sound and Editing at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and at the National University of the Arts (UNA). As visiting professor he has taught at University of London (Goldsmiths and Royal Holloway), University for Creative Arts, London Film School, International Film School (Cologne, Germany), European Film College (Ebeltoft, Denmark), John Cabot University (Rome), and at ORT University and the University of La Republica (Montevideo, Uruguay), among others. He has worked in cinema, video, theater, and radio, in Argentina and internationally. He was a member of the Editorial Board of The Soundtrack and The New Soundtrack journals, along with Walter Murch, Michel Chion, Roberto Perpignani, Carter Burwell, among others. Previously, he has delivered the ‘Sound Design and Audiovision’ and ‘Music in Film’ series for the School of Sound.