August 16
Sfera X5, Gorky Park, Golitsynsky Pond
5:30 PM — ADHD Lecture: How Music is Actually Created in Film
7:00 PM — Star Wars: Watch with Sound. HSE Art and Design School ADHD Lecture
On August 16, the HSE Art and Design School will host a lecture on ADHD and sound in cinema: first, we will explore how sound is created and how it governs our perception of narrative, and then we will examine all of this using an example from a far-flung galaxy.
5:30 PM — ADHD Lecture: How Music is Actually Created in Film
- Anatoly Grinberg
- Alexei Artishevsky
The main question we will be answering together is: can you completely rewrite a narrative without changing a single frame? In cinema, this happens constantly—thanks to sound. A rustle behind you, a barely perceptible hum in the silence, a musical pause, urban background noise, or a sudden emphasis can make the viewer wary, relaxed, believe the protagonist, or feel anxious even before it appears on screen.
In this lecture, we will discuss how the sonic world of a film is created—from working with libraries of sound effects, music, and ambiance to selecting the background sounds, accents, and subtle details that often go unnoticed yet directly dictate the scene’s emotional tone. We will explore how the sound designer makes decisions that influence the perception of the narrative: why the same shot can sound frightening, touching, or ironic; how music and sound design help build the rhythm of the storytelling; why silence is essential in film; and how sound design transforms into a complete instrument of dramaturgy.
Let’s discuss why sound in cinema is not merely technical accompaniment to the image, but an authorial language that shapes atmosphere, amplifies meaning, and deepens the viewer’s experience. After all, it is often sound that suggests what to feel, where to look, and how to remember the film.
Guest Experts:
Anatoly Grinberg, sound designer, mastering engineer, and electronic music composer, instructor at the HSE Art and Design School;
Alexei Artishevsky, film composer
7:00 PM — Star Wars: Watch with Sound. ADHD Lecture by the HSE Art and Design School
- Елена Ключкова
This time, we’ll discuss how and from what the sound was constructed for one distant, distant galaxy. The sound of a lightsaber, Darth Vader’s breathing, the squeak of droids, and the roar of Wookiees—today these auditory images are recognizable from the very first seconds. But once, they didn’t exist: the distant galaxy had not only to be conceived and filmed, but also to be made to sound. Thus was born one of the most influential sonic universes in cinema history.
In this lecture, we will discuss how the sound design for «Star Wars» was created—from field recordings and unexpected everyday sources to studio experiments that became legendary effects. We will examine how the voices of characters, planets, and space battles were assembled, and why these sounds still feel alive, tangible, and convincing. We will discuss how Ben Burtt’s work changed perceptions of sound in cinema, why audio design can tell a story as powerfully as visuals, and how random noise, animal cries, or the hum of an old engine become part of the myth. Ultimately, it is sound that makes the fictional world feel real—a world not only seen but heard.
Elena Klyuchkova, Ph.D. in Philosophy, laureate of Russian and international music competitions, Instructor at the HSE Art and Design School.
We remind you that the ADHD Lecture Hall is an educational chill format where you can let go of endless deadlines or learn without leaving your work (and other) chats. Connect three in a row, solve Sudoku, watch Reels—don’t tame ADHD, embrace it, and take everything it offers.
HSE Art and Design School is an educational hub in the creative industries that trains specialists in design, fashion, contemporary art, film, game development, media, music, and other creative fields. The School’s mission is to shape a new generation of professionals who transform creative industries through their own ideas and projects.