The Most Undervalued Force in Filmmaking—And Why It’s Costing You
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how sound design is still treated as an afterthought—something added at the end of the cinematic process, polished to technical standards, then quietly checked off the post-production list.
Until it’s recognized as a vital, intentional part of the filmmaking process—and more importantly, as something that directly impacts the emotional and financial success of a project—it will continue to be undervalued, underfunded, and misunderstood.
The uncomfortable truth is this:As long as sound can’t be tied directly to financial return, it will remain undervalued.We can measure what a celebrity actor brings to the box office.We can estimate how a famous director moves markets.But sound design? It’s invisible.
You can’t point to a single scene and say, “That sound design made us $10 million.”
And yet—we know it changes everything.
Sound design doesn’t just support the film. It elevates it. It shapes tone, deepens performance, shifts perception.
It transforms a moment from competent to unforgettable.But because its impact can’t be easily measured, its value is misunderstood.And so, the budget stays small. The timeline stays tight. The credit stays minimal.
If we want to change that, we need to help studios and producers connect the dots. We need to stop talking about sound as a technical support system and start showing how it drives emotional engagement, critical reception, and yes—profit.
Let’s start asking:
How does immersive, intentional sound design increase audience retention?
How does great sound lead to rewatchability, virality, awards? • How does it shape brand identity for studios in a saturated marketLet’s quantify the qualitative.
To all the studios, filmmakers, producers and directors out there:If you’re not directing with sound in mind —you’re not really directing the whole film.