FACTFILE: GCE A2 LEVEL MOVING IMAGE ARTS ADVANCED PORTFOLIO – PRACTITIONER STUDY SOUND DESIGNER: ALAN SPLET Alan Splet Overview Some recommended texts:* Abandoning a previous Eraserhead, David Lynch (1977) career as an accountant, Alan Splet entered the The Black Stallion, Carroll Ballard (1979) film industry in the late 1960’s and worked initially The Elephant Man, David Lynch (1980) on industrial training films. From the early 70’s Dune, David Lynch (1984) onwards he began a long association with director David Lynch. Splet’s innovative use of found sounds *Please note that the filmography of some practitioners featuring in the A2 MIA fact file series may include 18 certificate and distorted industrial audio textures made an films. These films, if significant, may be mentioned in the indelible contribution to Lynch’s work, helping to overview to provide career background but will not be listed transport viewers to strange new realms such as as recommended for study by CCEA. It is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure that students only view films with age the surreal Victorian London of The Elephant Man appropriate content and certification. (1980) and the mysterious desert setting of Lynch’s sci-fi epic, Dune (1984). Many films have had their certification reviewed in recent years. For more details go to www.bbfc.co.uk and use the film certification search function. Some techniques for study and exploration: Credits All images by C.Ryder • Use and repurposing of real sounds Splet built up an extensive library of such sounds for Lynch’s debut Eraserhead (1977) and made startling use of clanking noises and electrical hums. In The Black Stallion (1979), Splet made similarly inventive use of natural sounds, employing techniques such as placing microphones next to a horse’s belly mid-run. © CCEA 2016 1.