Senior Re-Recording Mixer Jamie Selway spoke with Jenny Priestley at TVB Europe on crafting the soundscape for Channel 4’s adaptation of A Woman of Substance, helping distinguish the series’ two timelines: Emma Harte’s rise from servant girl in the early 1900s to her life as a powerful business mogul in the 1970s.

Jamie credits early collaboration with producer Charlie Palmer and lead director John Hardwick for aligning sound with the story from production to post. Using Avid Pro Tools and Dolby Atmos workflows, he built distinct sonic identities for each era, from the creaking floors and crystal-filled opulence of Fairley Hall to the cleaner, more modern feel of 1970s Manhattan. “We spent a lot of time building this palette of opulence,” he says, layering sounds to reinforce the wealth and atmosphere of the mansion. Company 3 also provided color, finishing and imaging science services, with Senior Colorist Paul Staples helping shape the series’ final look.

To address challenging production audio, Jamie also relied on Pro Tools’ Hush plugin for noise reduction. Together, the team created Altiverb reverbs for realistic acoustic environments, adding foley elements such as creaking staircases and even introducing tropical birds during a key garden scene to heighten the drama. “Everything has character and we really thought about every little element within that house,” says Selway, using subtle details to reflect both the estate’s grandeur and the family’s changing dynamics.

Now streaming on BritBox.

Learn more about Jamie’s sound work here (pgs. 38- 40).