The RedShark Interview: Building suspense in 'Conclave' & crowds in 'FIFA' with sound designer Ben Baird

In the latest instalment of the RedShark Interview podcast, Chris Wells sits down with acclaimed sound designer Ben Baird to explore the unseen (or rather, unheard) power of audio in film.

With credits spanning hundreds of productions, including Conclave, Lady Macbeth, and The Wonder, Ben Baird shares how subtle soundscapes, character-driven Foley, and even deliberate silence can shape emotional storytelling just as much as visuals.

"I don’t really subscribe to the phrase that a good soundtrack is one you’re not aware of. I think it can actually be a character in the film," he says.

A good chunk of the episode is devoted to exploring the innovative ways sound, or the deliberate lack of it, is used to create and control the impeccable tension in the surprisingly prescient Conclave.

Ben shares how different silences were carefully sculpted tools that can carry emotion, build suspense, and heighten the audience’s awareness.

The conversation also covers some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from Ben's early career in video game sound design, including the classic FIFA '96.

“We had amazing sessions where we got a load of really drunk Manchester United fans into the studio, which had regrettable connotations for some of the bits of the piece of the studio, but actually got quite an interesting result.”

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