Cracking the Books. Sound Design

CREATING SOUND DESIGN STEP BY STEP.

•  The first script reading - Immerse yourself in the written description of the scenes and let your inner ear come alive
• What to listen for-- objects, action, environments, emotions, transitions (some of my favorites: Atonement, Black Swan, Repulsion, Apocalypse Now, Alien, 2001, Do the Right Thing, The Shining, The Social Network, No Country for Old Men, Das Testament of Dr. Mabuse,  The Hurt Locker)
• Grouping the voices - Find the polarities between these elements to develop balance and counterpoint 
• Drawing Visual Maps - Use graphic representation of the flow of the story with the sonic structure to reveal an overall composition for the sound design
• Meeting with the director - Present your work in progress to confirm the style, tone, and choices, listening carefully for feedback and global perspective
• The sound map -- draft one - Separate the script into sequences and list the sounds in categories of concrete sounds, musical sounds, music, and voice.
• Consulting before and during the shoot - Ideas for sound that arise from the script can help the producer lower production costs and ensure more consistency with the narrative direction of the film. The sound designer will seldom be hired before production, but if the opportunity arises early enough in preproduction you can offer exremely beneficial advice to the producer, director and sound recordist.
• Accompanying the picture edit
• Analyzing the final picture edit (LOCKING DOWN YOUR FRAME)
• The sound map
• Defining voice sources and modifications
• Defining sound effects and ambiance sources
• Coordinating with the music score
• Experimentation and open options
• Exhibition considerations
• The Sound Map -- draft 3 
• Pre-Mix decisions
• The Final Mix and Print Master
• Similar processes count to mixing anything that has to do with sound, so think of lyrics or a poem, refer to the one below... Please don't. But your own... and write accordingly what you hear in your head, around you in your environment. The drafts are for yourself and yourself only. 

Wash and Repeat. 

Tone down the action, Less Explosions...