Job Overview
The ADR (automatic dialogue replacement) supervisor is responsible
for the replacement of production dialogue that is unusable due to poor
sound quality, script changes, and so on. For example, an actor's voice
may be obscured by the sound of an airplane flying overhead during the
filming of a scene, or by speaking too softly for the microphone to pick
up. Substitutions also may be necessary to accommodate dialogue
changes or to clarify a plot point.
Special Skills
A well-rounded background in film production is an asset. ADR
supervisors must possess the ability to work well with a variety of per-
sonalities for long hours.
Expanded Job Description
"The supervisor spots the show with the sound supervisor, the direc-
tor, and the picture editor, making note of dialogue to replace," explains
ADR supervisor Jim Borgardt. "Next, the ADR supervisor sits down and
goes through the entire movie, writing down the starts and end of
footage, or time codes, for each line."
Once all the material has been programmed and broken down for each
individual actor, the production office is informed of which actors are
needed for looping and for how long. The production office contacts the
actors or their agents and arranges for them to come into the studio to
record. "Then the supervisor comes in with the film and we rerecord the
new dialogue against the picture. Then we prepare it for the mix." The
new dialogue is delivered to the mixer with the supervisor's notes.
"During the recording, I'm taking notes as to what takes are good and
what alternates the director might want. Then the editor follows those
notes and prepares the tracks and sends them with my notes to the dia-
logue editor."
Advice for Someone Seeking This Job
Find an ADR supervisor or equipment rental house that will allow
you to apprentice to learn the gear and basics of the job. "There are a lot
of houses willing to take on apprentices," says Borgardt, "people who
JOB TITLE: ADR SUPERVISOR
User Comments Add a comment…