Glenn Freemantle and Ben Barker, the sound design and supervising sound editing duo behind the film “Warfare,” embarked on a unique journey to recreate a harrowing experience for the audience. This Iraq-based war drama, penned and directed by Alex Garland, was inspired by the true story of a Navy SEAL communications officer who was ambushed in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. Ray Mendoza, an Iraq veteran who served as a military advisor on “Civil War,” co-wrote and directed this passion project, which he wanted to bring to life with a forensically accurate approach.

“We just knew it was an absolute, brilliant opportunity for us,” Freemantle told IndieWire. “Everything was going to be realistic and in real-time. We really looked forward to going down to the set. It was a great atmosphere. It was complete military mode all day, every day, even during breaks. So you knew how it was gonna be.”

The film was shot in a studio set recreation of the apartment building where the platoon was deployed, north of London. The crew employed a unique filming approach, capturing the action in 12-minute blocks, with the camera running continuously throughout. The platoon was caught off guard by the Al Qaeda operatives next door, who launched a surprise attack. The soldiers were initially hit by a grenade hurled through a sniper hole in the wall, followed by an IED explosion outside the building, which gravely injured medic and sniper Elliott Miller (Cosmo Jarvis), to whom the film is dedicated. The platoon then had to hold on for reinforcements to help them evacuate the building. To create a true-to-life sound experience, Freemantle and Barker conducted extensive research with Mendoza, who shared his knowledge of the sounds of gunfire and explosions. “Like the snap that you hear was really important,” Freemantle said. “Because they hear the snap before they hear the bang. Ray was very specific about the sound of the snap, which was the bullet passing overhead, and that was his sound memory.” Barker added, “And Ray’s team are reacting to that snap sound. And you’ll hear it quite a lot during the film. And whenever there’s a snap, they would then turn and fire and fire and fire. And that would be the key. So whenever there’s a volume of fire from the U.S. troops, that’s when they were moving. It was always short, sharp taps of the weapon.”
To enhance the realism, the sound team provided realistic sound effects through the PA system during filming. “On the first few takes,” Mendoza and Garland didn’t let them know that the shots or bangs or explosions were going to happen. Freemantle and Barker even traveled to Czechoslovakia to shoot live rounds of ammunition, carefully piecing together every separate element of the gunshot sound. They recreated the sounds of live ammunition, airplanes, and even the sonic boom, which added to the immersive experience.

One notable scene stood out for its intense audio design. “The perception of how they heard these things was quite interesting,” Freemantle said. “So doing it from the perspective of not just seeing into the film but how each one perceived things as it was happening, was part of a massive thing.” In this scene, the sound team recreated the sensation of radios coming on and off, creating a chaotic and immersive experience for the audience. Definition: Sound Design
Sound design refers to the process of creating and editing sound effects, music, and other audio elements to enhance the overall audio experience in a film. In the case of “Warfare,” the sound design played a crucial role in recreating the harrowing experience of the Iraq-based war drama. Example: The Sound of the IED Explosion
The IED explosion in the film was recreated using a combination of realistic sound effects and meticulous attention to detail. The sound team carefully recreated the sound of the IED, taking into account the weight, air pressure, and other factors that contribute to the sound of the explosion. Quote from Glenn Freemantle:
“Everything was how it should be and the sounds of the airplanes coming above and firing. We actually had previous recordings of the correct jets, so we were lucky to use those sounds again. But from Ray’s memory was the sound of the sonic boom. That’s when you really feel the impact of that noise. And Ray said, ‘I think that sound is slightly a bit too early.’ From his perception of where they were, it was right down to those sort of details.”
Conclusion:
The sound design in “Warfare” is a testament to the power of realism and attention to detail. By employing a unique filming approach, conducting extensive research, and using realistic sound effects and meticulous attention to detail, the sound team created a true-to-life sound experience that immerses the audience in the harrowing world of Iraq-based war.