The greatest films and shows have one thing in common. You forget there are cameras. You forget the people you’re watching are actors. You forget the sound is recorded. It feels so real that you forget you’re watching fiction.
Adolescence achieved all that through masterful storytelling and technical precision. Each episode was filmed in a single continuous take, nearly an hour long, with no edits. It is already the third most streamed show on Netflix, ever.
Everything had to work. The actors moved with exact timing. The camera crew rehearsed their path through tight, shifting spaces. One mistake from anyone on the team could ruin the entire take.
That included sound. Boom operators followed the action without being seen. Wireless packs were adjusted live. Footsteps had to be carefully managed. Some supporting actors even wore pads on their shoes to avoid unwanted noise during takes.
We talked to Jules Woods and James Drake of Splice Post Production about the extraordinary planning and execution behind capturing audio in real time, and how they approached sound design in post. They used Soundly extensively, both for managing their own libraries and for using Soundly’s catalog when they needed the perfect sound.
Adolescence stunned audiences around the world, earning recognition as a masterpiece almost immediately. It’s a clear example of what can be accomplished when great talent works in perfect collaboration.
It’s also a reminder that great sound design isn’t always about standing out. Sometimes it’s about carefully shaping soundscapes that move the story forward, where even the sounds you don’t notice help draw the viewer deeper in.
Congratulations to the entire team, and special thanks to Splice Post Production for speaking with us!
Download Soundly at getsoundly.com