Dexter Studios showcased its Hollywood-caliber technical expertise by providing sophisticated sound for director Bong Joon-ho’s first new film in six years, “Mickey 17.”
Dexter Studios [206560] announced that its subsidiary, Livetone, a professional sound studio, was responsible for the sound work on Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17.” With this, Livetone has handled the sound for all eight of Bong Joon-ho’s feature films, including “Barking Dogs Never Bite,” “The Host,” “Snowpiercer,” “Parasite,” and “Mickey 17,” further solidifying its status as a core partner for Bong Joon Ho.
“Mickey 17” tells the unpredictable story of Mickey, an expendable who is sent on dangerous missions and is reprinted every time he dies. When Mickey faces his seventeenth near-death experience, a new Mickey (Mickey 18) is printed under the assumption that the original Mickey has died, setting off a series of unexpected events. This is Bong Joon Ho’s first science fiction film set in space. The film has generated significant buzz by bringing together Hollywood stars such as Robert Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, and Toni Collette.
Livetone spent over six months working intensively from the pre-production stage to vividly realize Bong Joon Ho’s unique and imaginative universe, blending fantasy and reality. The team focused on finding the perfect balance between “K-SOUND,” known for its detailed direction that maximizes realism, and the grand, powerful sound effects characteristic of Hollywood sound, creating an optimal combination for the film.
This project is especially significant because Livetone’s proven sound technology, recognized through numerous acclaimed works, has now earned recognition not only in Korea but also in Hollywood. Warner Bros. finalized Livetone’s participation after conducting a thorough on-site inspection of the studio’s systems, facilities, security, and working environment.
In particular, Livetone utilized its proprietary “remote sound system,” the only one of its kind in Korea, to enable remote Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) sessions for key cast members such as Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo while they were filming overseas. Director Bong Joon Ho and the sound supervisor communicated and monitored in real-time from the Livetone studio in Seoul, working with actors located in overseas studios to complete the recording of dialogue and narration.
Sound supervisor Choi Tae-yeong, CEO of Livetone, stated, “Although this is a science fiction film set in space, it was essential to achieve the signature ‘Bong Joon Ho sound,’ which places great importance on dialogue. The key challenge was to balance the actors’ narration, the music composed by Jung Jae-il, and the sound effects. ‘Mickey 17’ brings together every aspect of Livetone’s expertise—not only K-SOUND and creature sound, which are our strengths, but also Hollywood-style ambient sound. Audiences will experience a new kind of sci-fi film unlike anything they’ve seen before.”
