Movie Madness University at PSU presents "What is Sound Design?"

Monday August 25th 2025 7:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Blue, lavender, and pink sound waves on black background
Location
Lincoln Hall Studio Theater (LH 115)
1620 SW Park
Portland, OR 97201
Cost / Admission
$45 (General Public) or $30 (Member)
Contact
Movie Madness University: education@moviemadness.org

Sound in film has a long history of being considered secondary to image, but when we pay attention to how it impacts our experience of movies, we discover how essential and creative this element of cinema is!

In this two-hour lecture class, we’ll explore the creative decisions and sonic elements that go into building the soundscape of a film — from dialogue and soundtracks to foley, ADR, and more. We'll track the history of sound design in film, from how the introduction of sync sound to the ways that new technologies like Dolby Atmos have transformed what filmmakers can do. We’ll learn about the sound recording and design process, listen to examples from key scenes in sound design history and contemporary cinema, and uncover the profound ways that sound design shapes, makes, or breaks every film you’ve ever watched.

This class will be taught by MMU Instructor Max Swanson, a filmmaker/performer, writer, educator, and organizer based in Portland, OR. They currently also teach at NW Doc and PSU, and work as a freelance story consultant.

Class will be held in room LH115 in Lincoln Hall, at 1620 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97201 on the Portland State University Campus.

Please note: no food or beverage is permitted in the auditorium.

Questions? Email us at education@moviemadness.org