From pre-visualisation to post-production, spanning nearly three years, Boom Tracks played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of Better Man.

Sound work began early in production, with crowd recordings captured on set and a mobile recording booth set up in Robbie’s hotel room for voice-over sessions. Design and effects work continued across multiple temp mixes over the following years as the film was screened for investors and distributors.

The film provided a broad spectrum of opportunities for sound design, from high-energy crowd scenes and dance numbers to quieter, more dramatic moments. The production benefited from the support of Robbie Williams’ team, granting Boom Tracks access to recordings of his live performances in 15,000-seat arenas in Australia, as well as at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Robbie embraced the approach, encouraging the crowds to sing solo and cheer, enabling the capture of clean, high-quality recordings of the large concert audiences.

Working with a fully CGI main character presented both creative and technical challenges, particularly concerning dialogue and foley.

The production dialogue, recorded on set by Production Mixer Guntis Sics, was captured under a wide range of conditions and then carefully crafted into a seamless track. As the animation of the Robbie character progressed, there was greater flexibility to make dialogue changes, allowing for additional recordings long after the main film shoot. ADR sessions with lead actor Jonno Davies involved filming his face so that animators could synchronise lip movements and facial expressions with the new dialogue, integrating them with body movements captured on set months—or even years—earlier.

Working with the main character at various stages of animation also required considerable guesswork for the foley team, particularly regarding the character’s clothing, shoes, and interactions with props and locations. Over the course of more than two years in post-production, the character’s visual appearance evolved gradually. Often, his clothing would change—what was once a suit jacket could become leather, for instance—necessitating a new foley pass to ensure accuracy.

During one of his Melbourne tours, Robbie visited the Boom Tracks mix stage to watch a selection of scenes from the film. Watching a biopic alongside the person it portrays is a rare opportunity, made all the more special by the intimate setting—just ten people in the room—and the fact that it was the first time Robbie saw himself depicted as a monkey.

Better Man is a creative and technical feat, and Boom Tracks is proud to have contributed to such an exciting film.