Fixing it in post

ADR on Blood Bond

You never realise how important sound is to a film until you have to try to get decent dialogue recording on a noisy location. ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording) allows you to go into the studio later and re-record unclear lines, and add extra audio as needed.

For 'Blood Bond', we booked a session at Hong Kong's famed recording studio, MBS (Media Business Services) in Kwun Tong. (Its the same facility at which I record my DVD commentaries, of which I'm sure you're all great fans...) The MBS staff kindly printed a sign for the studio door, albeit one more suitably for a Roger Corman horror flick.

If you looked up the word 'professional' in a film dictionary, you'd probably see a picture of Simon Yam. Though it was the day after he won his Best Actor prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Simon turned up at MBS early, minus entourage, ordered lunch and chatted with the staff until it was time to record.

Though he'd shot his scenes months earlier, Yam got right back into character to clarify and add a couple of lines to his dialogue. He didn't need more than two takes on any line, and was soon up and away. He probably had scenes for three others films to shoot before tea time!

Next up was the irrepressible Michael Wong, actor, helicopter pilot, big band balladeer... There's just no beginning to his talents. He was accompanied by his new assistant, Frosty McCool.

Michael kindly provided his chopper for the production, and also plays its pilot. It takes an actor of his calibre to deliver a line like "(It's) changed hands more times than I've had my blades oiled."

Seriously, thanks so much to Michael for all his generous support of the project. It is appreciated!

Finally, in bounced AnD stalwart Simon Yin, our audio MVP, who delivers a series of different voices for different characters that would do a Looney Tunes dubber proud. (Actually, Simon kind of looks like a cartoon himself...)

My thanks to Simon, Simon and Michael, and to the good folks at MBS.