Yesterday I came across, as many of you probably have already, the article relating one man’s attempt to add a little something extra to Mahler’s 9th Symphony. Now I’m pretty certain Gustav did not intend to add that particular instrumental sound to his piece, but nonetheless, some forgetful soul inadvertently discovered the two just don’t mix to the chagrin of the conductor, performers and concert attendees.
This article got me thinking about how we, as film folk, almost certainly have cell phones on our persons during a shoot. Production crews, please take heart and understand that yes, mistakes do happen, and we live in a society now where it is almost second nature to have a phone either on your ear or close by at all times. However, PLEASE turn your phones off. And I do mean OFF. Not set to vibrate, not set to silent, but powered off. Why you may ask? Because your phone likes to send messages without your knowing it (or if you do, then you have no excuse) to cell towers, your provider, and various other locations to maintain your data and connectivity. These signals can be picked up by audio recording equipment and ruin a perfectly good take, and you may not even be the wiser until Post Production. And by that point, not a lot can be done but throw money at the problem and pray. As a Sound Operator, don’t be afraid to assist the Director in making sure everyone knows to turn them off before shooting begins. Put up signs, and be specific that you mean to power off the device and not just silence. All in all, you’re going to be thankful at the end of the day that there was one less thing to worry about in Post, and you’ll be the happier for it.
