Foley
The art of creating everyday sound effects in post-production by physically performing actions in sync with the picture.
Definition
Foley is a specialized post-production technique where artists recreate everyday sounds — footsteps, clothing movement, object handling, doors opening — by performing physical actions in a recording studio while watching the film. Named after sound pioneer Jack Foley, this craft adds rich, detailed audio layers that production microphones fail to capture cleanly on set.
Foley artists use a variety of props and surfaces to reproduce sounds. They walk on different floor materials to match on-screen surfaces, handle objects in sync with actors, and create subtle sounds like fabric rustling or keys jingling that make scenes feel realistic and alive.
Why It Matters
Foley is essential for creating believable, immersive audio in film and television. Without foley, characters appear to float silently through scenes — their footsteps absent, their interactions with objects muted. This disconnect breaks the audience's immersion instantly.
Beyond realism, foley gives sound editors precise creative control. Each footstep, punch, or door slam can be tailored to the scene's emotional tone, something impossible with raw production audio recorded on set.
Examples in Practice
A foley artist records 20 different walking surfaces for a single character — gravel, hardwood, carpet, tile, wet pavement — ensuring every scene has acoustically accurate footsteps.
For a period drama set in the 1800s, foley artists create the sounds of horse-drawn carriages, quill pens on parchment, and coal-fired stoves using authentic materials.
A foley team layers the sound of celery snapping, watermelons splitting, and leather stretching to create visceral fight scene impacts that make audiences wince.