Authentic Sounds

Although it makes sense now that I've thought about it, I had never realized how unreal "authentic sounds" in films are. The fact that sounds such as a gun shot or birds chirping — sounds that make a scene in a film as close to real life as can be — are recorded prior to the shooting of the scene and embedded onto the soundtrack seems contradictory. I understand that while filming, authentic sounds may not be picked up as well or may not work in the scene properly, but to me, that would be what makes a scene real.

Now, when I watch a film and hear any sort of sound that's supposed to be authentic, I know I'll be thinking twice about what I hear, wondering whether or not it's a fake "real" sound, or if it's one of the few truly authentic sounds picked up while shooting and kept for the scene.

While I watched The Departed this evening, I couldn't help but think about how all of those gun shots were recorded after shooting was done; how they weren't real at all. I know it's something I can look past, something that doesn't have to bother me, but it may take a bit of time before I let it go.