CRUISING: CULT FILM & CONVERSATION
CRUISING is a new social cinema event that pairs cult cinema with conversation onboard Theatreship in London’s historic Docklands. The programme launches on Sunday 03 March with the 19th film in the Bond franchise, Michael Apted’s THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999). Pierce Brosnan’s sensational third outing as 007 opens with an extended speedboat chase that was shot on the Thames and locations throughout Docklands, including the Millwall Docks, very near to where Theatreship is now moored.
We are delighted to be welcoming the Emmy Award winning Foley Artist, Ruth Sullivan, to join us for our first CRUISING conversation about film. Ruth was a member of the original production team for THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH and will be talking with CRUISING host Token Homo about her career in Foley as well as her memories of working on one of the film industry’s killer franchises.
Foley Art is the live creation and recording of often everyday sound effects that are added to films, videos, and other media in post-production to assist with world building and storytelling. Foley sound effects could include the sound of Fred Astaire’s tap shoes, the opening of a suitcase, or the loading of a gun… anything that can’t be recorded live on set.
Having trained in dance and drama, Ruth’s career in Foley started after she responded to an advert in The Stage that was looking for “dancers for film work”. Assuming this was for a spot of extra work as a dancer in a club scene or similar, she was surprised to receive a phone call from a woman who was looking for dancers to train up to do Foley – had she ever heard of it? No, but she soon would (even if the training didn’t quite prepare her for what was to come…).
Ruth’s first official Foley credit was for TWIN TOWN in 1997, however, her very first bit of work as a Foley Artist was for an episode of SOLDIER SOLDIER at Shepperton Studios earlier on that year, panicking about getting that very first footstep in sync with the actor on screen though not really having a clue who she was meant to be following…
Since that auspicious day, Ruth has worked on hundreds of TV series and films. Her credits include THE DEATH OF STALIN, THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS (for which she has an Emmy), EYES WIDE SHUT, DOWNTON ABBEY, KILLING EVE, CRIMINAL RECORD, ONE DAY, TOP BOY and, of course, THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH. More recently she has been fortunate to combine her Foley and theatre work and can be seen performing live sound effects on stage at the Coliseum with the ENO’s production of The Magic Flute, a production she has been involved with for over a decade and which has taken her to opera houses in Aix-en-Provence, Amsterdam, Basel, Bergen and even The Metropolitan Opera in New York.
CRUISING: CULT FILM & CONVERSATION #01 – THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH with Foley artist Ruth Sullivan in conversation with Token Homo on Theatreship (Sunday 03 March 6pm / Tickets £4.50): Booking now!
Queer-led, CRUISING promotes inclusion through accessible programming, vibrant hosting, radical film histories, and a diverse lineup of guests with their own distinctive voices. All films are served with intros, intermissions, and post-screening conversations. For adults aged 18+ only.
IMAGE CREDIT: Ruth Sullivan, Foley Artist, Tim Bowditch Storm Exercise – dir. Janina Lange.
