14 / RECORDING AND AUDIO POST STUDIOS
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TheWorkRoom, a Cape Town-based post studio, has worked on shows such as Chernobyl (far right) and Warrior (above). Warrior photography by Graham Bartholomew © Cinemax/HBO,
AUDIO SPACES:
SOUNDBITES FROM SA’S TOP STUDIOS When it comes to quality sound at every stage of the production process, South Africa definitely isn’t lacking in audio spaces that deliver every time. By Lesley Marchant
S
outh Africa’s audio studios have had a productive year. With streaming giants like Netflix and HBO showing a keen interest in the South African market for new original programming, and more big-budget local shoots than ever before, many of the top studios have not only expanded their staff, but expanded their offerings. International and technological trends are ever-changing, and trying to keep up while still delivering at the highest standard is anything but easy. In fact, it’s resulting in some studios altering their business models.
For Produce Sound in Johannesburg, it’s been a big year of change: the company recently relaunched as a full-service audio agency, with a focus on more – and earlier – involvement in the creative process. Louis Enslin, Owner and Creative Director at Produce Sound, says the rebrand is enabling them to create better, more compelling content. As a result, they’ve picked up more international work and several new local clients through referrals. “Different sound design techniques, file delivery options, immersive audio and even just brainstorming with clients helps
us to refine a project,” says Enslin. Now, Produce Sound has had projects go from TV execution to radio to podcast, simply because they were able to get involved in the process early on and bounce ideas off other creatives. TheWorkRoom, a Cape Townbased post studio, has also seen an impressive year of international projects. Director and Production Manager Jenna Lange says 2019 has been considerably busier than previous years. “In the past 12 months, we’ve been given the opportunity to work on wellknown shows such as Chernobyl, Warrior, Raised By Wolves, Doctor Who, Motherland, DC’s Titans
and Black Mirror,” she says. Pressure Cooker Studios, a Full Service Audio Production House in Cape Town, has been equally busy on projects ranging from feature films (a Syfy reboot of the classic horror flick, Leprechaun) to the Disney XD animated series Supa Strikas to Semblance – Africa’s first-ever game released on the Nintendo Switch console. Clearly, it’s an exciting time. But, as the need for new content, games and media grows, South African post studios are tasked with the difficulty not only of keeping up with international trends, but of staying ahead of the curve in an ever-changing landscape.
