Sound Designer's Ears Open New Cinematic Worlds

Sound designer Johnnie Burn's personal journey with temporary deafness and hyperacusis profoundly shaped his work on the film "Tuner." His own experience with sensitive hearing after an accident directly informed his approach to portraying the protagonist's condition.

The film centers on Niki, a virtuoso pianist whose life is altered by severe hyperacusis, granting him an extraordinary ability to perceive sound. This unique sensitivity becomes crucial when Niki is entangled with Israeli gangsters and his adoptive father's financial needs.

Burn and his team faced the challenge of depicting Niki's hypersensitive hearing without causing actual discomfort to the audience. They meticulously designed four distinct sound levels to represent Niki's varied states of auditory perception, from unprotected to heavily shielded.

Utilizing Dolby Atmos technology allowed for a more adventurous and accurate sound mix. Burn emphasized how the immersive capabilities of Atmos enabled greater daring in translating the film's sonic narrative, making sound a vital storytelling element.