It was really cool to be able to get first-hand information from the sound editor of The Wire. It really made me think about the dynamics of sound. She explained the little things that go into being a sound editor such as the filming area, songs to set mood, etc.

Thinking about how they filmed this in Baltimore, it would be very difficult to find areas where there is enough noise so it sounds busy but not so much that  voices are lost. For example, she shares the scene with Wallace and how they had to make a decision on whether or not to move the scene or edit excess sound out. I also enjoyed when she shared her thoughts behind the scene where McNaulty’s kids follow Stringer. She used everyday sounds during the scenes outside, but the way she changed them to dictate the mood. When scenes are more intense, such as McNaulty looking for his kids or the scene in the police car, sound is much louder, creating anxiety in the listeners.

She also discusses the advanced technology in the world. She talked about how now it is easier to project a character’s voice with microphones whereas it used to be more difficult. She also contrasts the soundtracks shows use based on when they are produced. I did notice the change in the theme song when the second season began. The lyrics remained similar, but the tune was updated. I always like when shows do this because it keeps things interesting. Towards the end of season one, I would often fast forward through the theme song because I had already heard it so many times.

Sound is a really important aspect in TV shows,. Often times when I am watching something on TV, I am also trying to do something else. I rely on the sounds a lot to understand what is going on when I am not looking at the screen. The sound notifies me when it’s important to really pay attention, which is something I never really thought of before.