Bolt - Storyboard

AG0920A: Audio Production Methods

Bolt Storyboard

1)    Bolt approaches heavy goods vehicle which has an armed explosive attached to it. In this clip the soundtrack consists of bolts footsteps overpowering everything else, as the character races to get the explosive. The musical underscore for the footage begins here.

2) Bolt needs to climb this vehicle in order to snatch the explosive. For this scene I was able to implement a Foley sound as he bites down onto the device, this sound was created by hitting a metallic radiator with a wooden pole and recorded on a handheld Yamaha recorder. The resulting  sound is plausible for the action that takes place.

3) As children on the bus observe and appear astonished as Bolt races by, I made the decision to create a dialogue part for them, this did not involve any recording as I was able to acquire a suitable gasping effect of children from one of the royalty free sound websites.

4) Helicopters are introduced here, so by using one of the helicopter sound effects, I was able to apply directional automation so that they can be heard approaching from the right. Volume automation was also necessary as the helicopters draw closer to the screen.

5) As Bolt sprints along the edge of the wall, the scene switches to what is occurring below, this is where a train is introduced to the shot. I applied a sound effect that consisted of train ambience, then carefully applied volume automation appropriately.

6) Bolt jumps from the wall to escape the pursuit. As he swings through the air on what looks to be a rusty and shabby crane, I implemented a suitable sound for the swinging action from the Foley folder.

7) A close up of the timer on the explosive, some sort of sound for the countdown on the device would support the urgency of the situation. For this, I applied a suitable sound effect obtained from the sound effects folder.

8) Bolt makes a dramatic impact as he lands on top of the train, which catches the attention of a traveller inside. I was able to use a suitable sound for the impact from the Foley folder, which involved the recording of banging my fists onto a metal sheet. The woman gasps in response to the impact, an appropriate sound effect was applied here from the SFX folder.

9) The helicopters continue to pursue Bolt who is carrying the device. This part of the chase sequence has required volume automation as the helicopters appear from behind the bridge.

10) The first person view now appears from underneath the helicopter, a turret gun is rotating whilst the chase continues. An appropriate sound effect is applied here for the gun whilst the helicopter sound is increased due to the proximity of the shot.

11) Bolt turns to handle the helicopter with his convenient laser beams. I was able to find a reasonable sound to follow what happens in the visuals here.

12) The pilot now in a full scale panic, it’s clear that the helicopter is going down. For this shot, I felt that the soundtrack required some dialogue to voice the frightened pilot. By performing some appropriate panic sounds into the microphone, I was able to implement a voice for the pilot. An alarm sound effect was also used here to signify the danger of the situation.

13) Bolt continues with the escape. Two separate explosion effects were implemented here in order to fully capture the scale of the helicopter crashing, by using a low-pass filter and small amount of equalisation, the sounds of a large-scale crash occur, followed by volume automation for the second helicopter which shortly approaches.

14) Bolts next problem, another enemy approaches by directly dropping from the helicopter. An impact Foley sound, followed by the motorbikes engine sound were implemented here to support the visuals.

15) In this scene, rocket hatches at the side of the vehicle are deployed followed by a rocket being fired. Foley sounds for the hatches opening were used, by turning a hatch lock and recording the action closely, a suitable sound was created and implemented.

16) The sound of the rocket required volume automation, as it approaches the screen the volume increases suitably. The sound effect for this was obtained from one of the royalty free websites.

17) The shot quickly changes to another pursuit that is taking place. For the soundtrack in this scene, I have applied the motorbike engine sounds, and automated the volume appropriately.

18) A helicopter approaches from below. For this scene I applied volume automation for the close-up helicopter as it transitions to the next scene inside the cockpit.

19) As the pilot attempts to lock onto Bolt, various sound effects were used to represent the locking device that the helicopter is using.

20) This shot is suddenly slowed down, as Bolt jumps directly over the helicopter. For this scene, various experiments were carried out, such as just using silence before re-introducing the soundtrack. I made the decision to apply a slow motion ‘rotation of the blades’ sound to the entire scene.

21) As Bolt makes an impacting land on the concrete, the normal speed of the footage resumes. To bring the music back into the sequence, I decided to use the beginning of the next verse rather than from where the music had stopped, as it sat better with the re-introduction to what was going on.

22) Dialogue for this pilot was used here. A simple “Hmm?” was acted out and implemented for the pilot, as they come to realise what is about to happen.

23) Explosion 1/4. the effect used here was obtained from a royalty free website. I used an EQ tool to adjust the low-end frequencies to result with a larger impact.

24) Explosion 2/4. The sound effect used here is the same as the first, with adjustments made to the EQ tool as well as slight volume and directional panning in order to result with a slightly different explosion, as it occurs at different angle.

25) Explosion 3/4. The closest we get to the explosion. I used the same effect here again with slightly increased volume automation, but no adjustments made to the directionality.

26) Explosion 4/4. I used a different effect here, due to the distance we are from the impact. The effect required a considerable amount of the low-end frequencies to be cut, in order to provide the effect of the sound being boomy and quite a distance away.

27) The shot has now progressed to the next pursuit. A sound effect for the electric hand was implemented to the appropriate location, as well as traffic ambience and the sound of a distant helicopter, which was achieved using volume automation.

28) As the explosive device is placed upon the head of the enemy, I was able to implement suitable Foley sounds for the device being discovered. By shaking a plastic object I was able to re-create a believable sound for what the device being removed.

29) Another shot of the countdown. I re-used the same sound for the digital countdown and gave it a slight volume boost, due to the timer nearly done, I wanted to ensure this countdown was heard clearly.

30) The end of the countdown. I used a different sound effect here to signify the end of the countdown and the beginning of the detonation, which consisted of three close-together beeping sounds.

31) The final explosion to occur. I used a different effect from all of the previous explosions, and applied a small amount of EQ to result with another boomy explosion.

32) The relief of not being caught in the explosion ends with the rider touching their head, which results with electrocution. I applied a suitable sound effect for this situation which was obtained from one of the royalty free websites.