Beyond just showing the variety of music and sound effects that Getty Images has to offer, we decided to prove it. That’s why we chose a silent film from 1922, which is already in the public domain, and we created sound for it from scratch. The sound design, the soundtrack, the voices, sound effects, the terrifying atmosphere, everything. And we transformed the classic silent film Nosferatu into “Nosferatu – The Non-Silent Film.” The most iconic movie vampire of all time was given a voice. In fact, he got a lot more than that.

Creating the sound for a film is generally a long and complicated process. In this case it was even more so, since it entailed an intense degree of research. None of the sounds were created or produced. All of them were downloaded from Getty Images’ site. Ninety minutes of film was set to thousands of audio files, painstakingly assembled to create a uniquely skin-crawling atmosphere and give the film its own identity. In all, the research, creative, editing, and mixing process took over 3,300 work hours to create the sound of a silent classic: Nosferatu. Users who watch it online are given the option of seeing the sound timeline as the movie plays. When they pause it, the sound files become clickable, and users can listen to the original version. They can also click on “Buy sound” and be taken to the Getty Images website where they can purchase that specific file.

Nosferatu was heard in more than 50 countries. Within 1 week, nonsilentfilm.com received thousands of visits. Traffic of gettyimages.com/music increased by 140%. The highest ever. Given its huge success online, Getty Images is considering partnering with the Museum of Image and Sound in São Paulo to produce two more movies and put together a “non-silent” series, to be shown alongside Nosferatu.

To promote Getty Images’ sound collection, we created a content-based project where potential clients could see (and hear) the incredible potential of our audio stock. Over the course of a 90-minute project, clients were played thousands of files from our collection and saw the infinite possibilities they contain. Some watched it at our movie theater pre-premiere, while others watched online, on the project’s website. There, they could see each sound used in the timeline and click on each one individually, being taken straight to the Getty Images website.

Why just say that our audio stock is incredible if we can create something incredible with it and prove our point that way? That was the strategy behind our idea. To publicize it to agencies and production companies, we debuted the film at a movie screening for potential Getty Images clients. Then we created a website where everyone could see the brand-new, non-silent version of Nosferatu. The whole film was put up on the site. And it’s still online, so everyone can see the incredible things that can come out of Getty Images’ audio collection.

Getty Images is a benchmark for the world when it comes to – obviously – images. But when we’re talking about Getty’s audio stock, the situation changes. Our challenge was to publicize the variety of music and sound effects available in Getty Images’ little-known audio collection. And to reinforce how useful it can be for audio and film producers, as well as other potential Getty Images clients.