How to work with sound
A new face is added to the Hall of Fame: it is that of Giulia Silvestri, an alumna of the Course for Sound technicians, now a sound designer and music producer active in advertising, fashion film and short films.
Read the interview!
How did music come into your life?
Fortunately, both my parents have always been great music lovers. My mother with her vast taste, from Battiato to the latest releases on MTV, my father on the other hand with a self-taught approach to any instrument.
So from the age of 12, pushed by them, I started playing the piano, an instrument to which the violin was later added, albeit for a short time.
How did you find out about the Academy and why, in your opinion, is this course worth attending?
It's quite funny how I discovered it. In 2017, after graduating with a degree in Visual Arts, I was looking for a course that could direct me toward a more technical aspect of the audio world, while at the same time being very practice-oriented.
My search in September had not yet borne fruit, when one day on my way to the café where I was working that summer a few days a week, I passed by the entrance to the Academy that was displaying posters with the dates of upcoming open days.
From there it all started!
In my opinion, it is worth taking this course because it is well organized between theory and practice, and most importantly it allows you to experience a summer internship, where there is a chance to really interface with the working world. In addition to this, I always had to deal with lecturers who were professional and tried to convey to us at all times their passion for their work.
What was your first outdoor practice experience?
I think it was in Stefano Barzan's studio, an explanation of how the mixer works and the organization of his recording studio. I was with three other classmates of mine, and we were all fascinated.
In your opinion, what are the most difficult aspects to control, in the job of a sound engineer?
Referring to what I experienced, among the most difficult aspects to control is the issue of job insecurity and certainty. I have spent quite a bit of energy in the search for stability, pursuing this passion that has been put to the test over the years.
In this industry it is often easier to work as a freelancer, but this implies a good deal of commitment and time in the care and promotion of one's image to the public, something that some people often do not feel like or do not know how to deal with.
One must always remember that want is power!
What about after the academy? What are you currently working on and what do you hope for the future?
After the Academy I worked as a freelance sound designer producing music for commercials, documentaries, and other more artistic projects related to new technologies in the field of sound, for example in the field of immersive audio.
At the same time, I maintained a job as an employee in a clothing company for which I organized photo shoots.
Now I am working instead for a studio in Amsterdam that does music production for advertising, where my role is really that of music producer. For the future among my dreams in the drawer is to soundtrack an entire film!
