The Primacy of Audio in a Visual Medium
It may seem ironic to some that the biggest films and television productions from Hollywood and beyond are shot on sound stages rather than say, “image” stages. While camera lenses and lighting units are fairly easily focused to exclude the crew nibbling around the edges of the frame, the same is not true of microphones. An apoplectic Assistant Director can wave and gesticulate as madly as they want, but the moment they stomp a foot during a take, an unhappy Director my become obliged to call cut. Worse even, a once-in-a-lifetime moment of performance my be lost. Also remember, not withstanding the sheer wonder of the visual medium of moving images, human beings use sound for some of their richest, deepest and most complex communication, that being the spoken word.
What’s the Dif?
A sound stage is designed to eliminate sounds from the outside world as well as to provide the maximum ability to control and manage the audio of any given scene that is being shot. A photo studio on the other hand is not necessarily designed for shooting sync-sound film or video and is usually on balance much smaller that a stage. Both types of spaces tend to provide enough room to back off either moving picture or still cameras, suitable background or cycloramas and enough power for equipment. Sometimes both kinds of locations include lighting grids, dressing and make-up areas and on-site equipment rentals, however, many photo studios are simply rooms large enough for photographer, light stands and subject.
