SoundWorks Collection

How do you create a horror score that defies expectations? For Resident Evil, composers Hays Holladay and Ryan Holladay take an unconventional approach, blending manipulated brass, experimental electronics, and unexpected musical influences to create a distinctive sonic identity for director Zach Cregger’s film.In this conversation with SoundWorks Collection, the Holladay brothers discuss their long-standing creative partnership with Cregger, dating back to their years making music together in a band. They explore how that shared history has shaped their collaborative process, allowing them to experiment freely while remaining focused on the director’s vision.The brothers also reveal how jazz albums by Miles Davis, including Bitches Brew and Dark Magus, helped inform the score’s musical DNA, why they initially sought to avoid synthesizers, and how recorded trumpet and trombone performances were transformed into sounds that blur the line between acoustic instruments and electronic textures.From developing musical ideas before production begins to experimenting alongside the film’s edit, Hays and Ryan explain how an evolving, highly collaborative workflow allows them to discover the right sound for each scene. They also discuss the importance of restraint in horror scoring, avoiding genre clichés, and knowing when the most effective musical choice is to do less.Discover how the composers behind Resident Evil combine experimentation, shared musical instincts, and a deep creative connection with Zach Cregger to build a score that serves the film’s unsettling atmosphere and relentless action.Moderated by Charles Steinberg

Go behind the sound of the Backrooms with Re-Recording Mixer, Sound Designer & Supervising Sound Editor Eugenio Battaglia and Production Sound Mixer Jan Hetmer.
In this SoundWorks Collection exclusive, Eugenio and Jan discuss the creative approach behind the film’s unsettling sonic world—from the intentionally sparse production sound and buzzing fluorescent lights to the use of silence, reverb, and spatial movement to build tension.
We explore how the sound design gradually expands from a restrained, almost mono presentation into a much more immersive and surreal soundscape as the tension increases. We also break down the recurring wind chime motif, electromagnetic recordings used to create unusual textures, and the importance of leaving space for the audience’s imagination.
The team also discusses the sound of the creature and how unexpected recordings—including camel sounds—became part of the process of creating something that felt unsettling without sounding like a conventional monster.
Rather than constantly showing or revealing the source of the horror, the sound team discovered that what you don’t hear can be just as frightening as what you do.

The sound of Spider-Noir blends gritty period character with immersive mixing. Re-recording Mixer/Sound Designer Ryan Collins and Re-recording Mixer Nick Offord explore vintage dialogue treatments, atmospheric transitions, distinctive web effects, and inventive sonic details—including a unique sound for Spider-Sense—to create a fresh sonic identity for this new take on Spider-Man.
The team also created a unique sonic identity for Spider-Man’s web powers, deliberately moving away from the familiar sound of previous Spider-Man films. Ben Reilly’s suppressed abilities inspired a drier, more cobweb-like sound incorporating textures reminiscent of bone creaks, while old magnetic film stock was manipulated to create the distinctive trailing sound of the web.
Electricity was another opportunity for experimentation, combining synthetic sounds with organic details to give the power surges weight and scale while maintaining the show’s period character. Even small sounds were carefully crafted, including a skincare wand recording that became the foundation for subtle electrical movements.
It’s a fascinating look at how Collins, Offord, and the wider sound team used experimentation, collaboration, and immersive mixing to give Spider-Noir a sonic identity all its own—all within the intense challenge of a five-day final mix.

Go behind the scenes of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters with re-recording mixer and sound effects editor Shaughnessy Hare and re-recording mixer Brittany Ellis as they explore the art of building scale, emotion, and immersion through sound. From shaping the massive presence of Titans like Godzilla to crafting intimate, story-driven moments, they break down how sound design, mixing, and music work together to guide the audience’s experience.

Go behind the scenes of "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere", the new film from Director Scott Cooper. We are joined today by production sound mixer Todd Maitland, composer Jeremiah Frates, Re-recording Mixer and Supervising Sound Editor David Giammarco, and Supervising Sound Editor Eric Norris.We discuss shaping the film’s sonic identity — from capturing live vocals on set, recreating Springsteen’s iconic studio environments, and blending Jeremy Allen White’s performances with Bruce’s original recordings, to using silence, heartbeat motifs, and era-specific gear like the Echoplex and the TEAC 114 tape recorder.Hear firsthand stories about filming at The Stone Pony, recording in the legendary Power Station, navigating the emotional father–son finale, and exploring Springsteen’s creative process through sound.