DPA Microphones equipped the stars on the set of hit Now You See Me, released in the UK this week. The company’s d:fine Headset Microphones provided both the artistic director and sound mixer with the vision and audio aspects they needed.
The film’s art director, Danny Michael was looking for a microphone which could be seen but not held, so replaced the foam windscreen that typically comes with the d:fine, with the exposed grill version.
“The director asked the production designer and me to find a few solutions to meet his needs,” said Michael. “We received a few different samples, but I made sure to include the d:fine as it was the one that I felt would provide the best sound. Since it was an artistic decision, I left it to the director to make the final call. It was very fortunate for me that he selected the one I wanted most.”
Now You See Me is an action-packed thriller that pits an FBI team against ‘The Four Horsemen,’ a group of the world’s greatest illusionists – played by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fischer and Dave Franco – who pull off a series of heists during live performances in cities such as Las Vegas and New Orleans. Equipped with the DPA d:fines while on stage, the team explains each of its illusions and tricks, and with several close-ups on the actor’s faces during these scenes, the microphones are prominent in the film and trailer.
Michael had not previously worked with DPA Microphones, and explained: “In the case of a microphone, the main focus is always whether the sound is ideal for the purpose for which you’re trying to use it. Since I rely on it to do good work for me, I certainly want a microphone that has a good voice quality. In the case of DPA, the answer is always simply ‘yes.’ ”
