Sound Designers Craft Alien Voice for Film

In the film "Project Hail Mary," sound designers Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn were tasked with creating a believable and expressive alien language for the character Rocky. Their challenge was to make Rocky's vocal performance as directed as a human actor's, despite the character being an alien scientist from 40 Eridani.

The team first experimented with a MIDI keyboard to play sounds but found it created an unnatural, processed feel. They then shifted to manually assembling sounds using Pro Tools, focusing on the emotional delivery required for Rocky's interactions with Ryland Grace.

To achieve the desired sonic palette, the designers drew inspiration from a variety of sources. Following director Chris Miller's desire for Rocky's language to sound pleasant, they incorporated elements resembling flutes, ocarinas, and jugs. This was further informed by an understanding of Rocky's anatomy, leading to a blend of wind instruments and diverse animal sounds, including whale calls and bird songs.

This intricate process involved fine-tuning sounds for individual words and ensuring tonal consistency throughout the film, even requiring adjustments during the mixing stage. The designers aimed to balance creature-like sounds with musicality, creating a unique and organic voice that conveyed Rocky's emotional journey and the film's dramatic moments.