“Truth” a first for short documentary

Immersive and spatial audio brings the finishing touch to this powerful documentary.

Commissioned piece called “Truth” was a part of national not-for-profit Wesley Mission’s commitment to reconciliation.

Aunty Kathy takes us on a powerful journey of reflection and rediscovering her family roots as she re-tracing her mothers steps through mission placement and her own early childhood on the reserve. Through her personal narrative supported by the sisters and aunties, the film explores themes of truth, resilience, and reconciliation, providing a profound insight into Kathy’s family life and the broader Aboriginal experience.

Captured over the space of two days, this true run and gun style documentary benefited from these technologies and new tools available in post production.

Commissioned by: Wesley Mission
Production Company: Pink Monkey
Writer / Director: Agnieszka Burrell
Executive Producer: Jim Wallace (Wesley Mission)
Cinematography: Shane Burrell
Edit & Colour: Final Post
Sound Post: Anthony Marsh
ATMOS Studio: Production Station
ATMOS Field Recordist: Thomas Mitchell

An Innovative Solution

Through a strategic and inventive collaboration with Final Post and Production Station, the filmmakers behind “Truth” were able to leverage the groundbreaking potential of spatial audio, crafting an authentic and immersive auditory experience. This transformative journey unfolded through a meticulously orchestrated series of three vital phases:

Although the production schedule was incredibly tight (1 day) and the team even tighter (2), Pink Monkey took on the ambitious story and travelled to small town called Brewarinna in outback Northern NSW. It was a mere 9 hour drive each way for a single day shoot, it was worth it!

Nestled about 800km inland from Coffs Harbour in northern NSW, this town is a testament to the grandeur of nature. It boasts one of Australia’s most significant Aboriginal sites: ancient fish traps and muddy waters. It is believed that Ngemba, Wonkamurra, Wailwan and Gomolaroi people have shared and maintained the traps for thousands of years and may be the oldest surviving human-made structure in the world.

Agnes and Shane have worked together for many years in remote and sensitve areas globally. So they know how to work with very little resource and still achieve high production values.

01. Precision Capture:

For those who might be new to spatial audio, compared to traditional surround sound, spacial or immersive audio adds the ability for sound to reach the listener from above and around. This creates a sphere-like sound scape that gives an accurate and enjoyable experience wherever you sit in and audience.

This immersive experience is much closer to what we hear everyday in “real life” and makes for a much more realistic and three-dimensional experience in the theatre.

Working with Thomas Mitchell, we were able to incorporate the rich textures of Australia’s unique outback and bush sounds.

Tom has painstakingly experiemented and tested many recording setups in which he can capture a true to life and balanced 360 degree recording of natural and man made environments.

You can see here one of his “trees” which utilises 11 microphones focused on different directions to capture an immersive recording of this early morning river as used in the scene below from “Truth”.

02. Post-Production Mastery:

Moving into the audio post-production, we worked with the wizard Anthony Marsh (Production Station) to weave the magic. His new ATMOS suite features a 7.1.4 speaker array, reproducing the environments in all their glory.

This new way of placing sound in a three-dimensional space is a big step away from the traditional method of “panning” sounds to a specific level on a specific channel. To now place a sound anywhere in the 3D space and allow the Dolby processor to do the rest. Ultimately, this means that no matter the room or speaker setup, you should get a true representation of what Anthony intended when he mixed the soundscape.

This level of control allows for enhanced detail, separation, and clarity, enabling listeners to hear in unprecedented clarity and richness.

03. Effortless Integration:

The seamless integration of spatial audio into the documentary was a testament to the collaborative spirit and creative synergy between Final Post and Production Station.

By melding technical expertise with a keen creative vision, they successfully crafted a soundscape that amplified the emotional depth of Aunty Kathy’s narrative and highlighted the profound historical significance of Brewarinna’s landscape.

The Future:

The incorporation of spatial audio into the “Truth” documentary significantly elevated the audience’s engagement levels. No longer mere passive observers, viewers find themselves immersed in the vivid, dynamic environments and captivating stories depicted on screen. The multidimensional, three-dimensional soundscape added depth to the narrative, fostering a deep emotional connection with the film and transforming the viewer experience.

There has been growing interest and research into how spatial or immersive soundtracks can enhance audience engagement in documentaries.

We believe these soundscapes can create a more immersive experience, making viewers feel as if they are part of the environment depicted in the documentary.

We look forward to working more in this space and helping others bring unique and memorable experiences to their audiences.