The interview of Jen Ralston was extremely interesting. I think it is really cool that we are able to listen to someone who actually did work on The Wire and get and inside scoop of how the sounds were created. First, I never realized how important sounds were to shows and movies. Minus the actors talking and the major significant sounds the quiet background noises and songs are so important. I first realized this while working on my audio assignment. Using the soundtrack from Toy Story to make my assignment I saw how the quiet background music made scene more exciting or nerve racking. I completely agree with Jen Ralston that sound is underappreciated. It is important to any show but doesn’t get the credit that actors or characters get. If you take the sound out and just let the actors talk would the scenes be as good as they are or would they be dull and boring? I now have a greater respect of the background noise just from doing one audio assignment and from listening to an episode of The Wire on the radio.

I was so glad Jen discussed how they dealt with all the noise of Baltimore. I was curious as to what they did to make it not overpowering as well as seem realistic. Working in Baltimore this summer I can personally say that the amount of sirens and car horns you hear in a 15 minute walk is ridiculous. Even once you get inside a building if you’re near a window you can still hear a lot of the sirens. I think it is pretty cool how she described how they dealt with the mic of one person may get background sound of traffic and the other person they are talking too doesn’t have it. To be able to add background sound that sounds natural with the person talking is very interesting.

I did not realize how much the sound added to the scene when Kima was shot. It started out with being so important to have the bugs set in the car so the detective and police could hear everything going on. Then as they drove she said specific things to keep them in the loop of where she was. Once the dealer got in the car and turned the music up loud it blocked out her backup to knowing where she was but it also made the viewer become more excited or nervous about not knowing what was going to happen. Also, as Professor Groom said the sound from that scene was extremely important to the rest of the season.

The scene of Bubbles sitting on the bench and just listening to the sounds created a scene of Bubbles finally feeling free and clean. I thought that him being able to finally hear all those nice sounds around him gave me the thought that his mind is cleared he is done with drugs and wants to continue the right path. The acting was good but what really did it was the sounds I was hearing. However, then seeing the drug dealer nearby I thought that was a foreshadow that Bubs was going to go back to drugs. Now hearing Jen Ralston mention that the drug they were selling is called star and the little kid was playing with a star shaped bubble baton made me consider it even more. Are the bubbles coming from the star shaped baton a foreshadow of bubbles needing the star to continue being bubbles? I never would of realized that if Jen didn’t mention it.

This Interview was extremely interesting and I am glad I had the opportunity to listen to it. To hear someone who is so passionate about the sound effects it really makes me realize that it is such an important part to any show, movie, or any form of digital media. I have gained a greater appreciation to the quiet background sounds and look forward to seeing if I am able to hear them better and understand their meaning in future shows I watch.