From Ambience to R&B | By Elizabeth Weiss, Victorio Gomez
In independent filmmaking, music and sound often carry as much storytelling weight as the performances on screen. For “Full Figured Flings,” composer, sound designer and music supervisor Dominique Perry approached every sonic detail with intention. With intention, she carefully recorded room ambience to the placement of an independent R&B track that elevates one of the film’s defining moments. Accompanied by fellow director and writer Lillie Jones’s vision, they break the fourth wall by creating a soundtrack that feels tangible and real.
The film follows two plus-sized models, Amber and Lauren as they discover the corruption and deep racism embedded in the fashion industry. A love interest throws their friendship in the midst, and chaos along with a testimony of female empowerment unfolds.
As Lillie Jones describes it, Full-Figured Flings is a powerful story of self-love, solidarity and the complicated ties that bind us.”
According to Perry, the creative vision for Full Figured Flings began long before post-production.
“I feel like our initial conversation regarding the mood of Full Figured Flings took place during our cover photoshoot. As we photographed the characters, we envisioned a thrilling atmosphere.”
The process was very much one of seeing what personally resonated and felt right. Perry’s intuition was right on target, delivering a soundtrack that defines the ability to intervene thematic elements into audio.
One of the pair’s biggest priorities was authenticity. Instead of relying solely on stock ambience, he captured real environmental sounds to immerse audiences in the film’s world.
For the ambient sound and foley, I wanted the audience to feel as though they are actually in the room with the characters. “ Perry says.
For the film’s game night sequence, he recorded the room using a Zoom H6 Handy Field Recorder during a naturally quiet moment. Those recordings preserved subtle details that many viewers may not consciously notice but instinctively feel and immersive, much like seeing a Cinemax film with atmosphere coating the walls and drawing you in.
“In that natural setting, you can hear traffic driving by, the consistent airflow from the air conditioner ducts, the subtle hum of the refrigerator, text message alerts from my wife’s phone in the other room and crickets chirping as it grew dark.”
As the emotional tone shifts, Perry introduced a low-end violin string to heighten dramatic tension.
“It is truly a testament to how sound and music can affect your emotions.”
The result is a layered soundscape that quietly supports the performances while drawing audiences deeper into the story.
One of the film’s standout musical moments arrives during its climax fashion show scene, where Drea Nicole’s R&B single “Disclaimer” anchors the sequence.
Perry says the choice came after exploring the artist’s broader catalog.
“Drea Nicole is a beloved sister of ours, and her music has always touched on real-life experiences, which made the selection process easy,” she says. “She initially presented a different song that was good, but I wasn’t quite satisfied. I took some time to listen to her entire catalog, and when I heard ‘Disclaimer,’ I told my wife that it was the perfect fit for the fashion show scene.”
The song’s emotional honesty and contemporary R&B energy helped reinforce both the confidence and emotional momentum unfolding on screen, making it a natural centerpiece for one of the film’s most memorable sequences.
The film itself rests in a process of the friends coming together and learning how to be vulnerable, and that realness is exactly what the scene needed.
Beyond composing and sound design, Perry also handled music supervision, a role made possible through his background as a recording artist.
“As a film production company, we create a cue sheet detailing all the music used and submit it to the performing rights organizations,” she said.
For independent productions, properly documenting music usage through cue sheets is an essential part of the licensing process. Cue sheets identify every piece of music used in a production and are submitted to performing rights organizations so composers, publishers and rights holders can be properly credited and, where applicable, receive royalties.
“Being a small production, many of us wear multiple hats. Given my background as an artist, I naturally stepped into the music supervisor role due to my knowledge of the administrative aspects of the music industry,” she finished, emphasizing how the independent sector often relies on those who have many skills in their toolkit.
For musicians hoping to have their work featured in films, television, or streaming projects, Perry emphasizes perseverance above all else.
“My advice to all artists looking for career advancement opportunities in the arts is to never give up,” she says. “Keep knocking on doors, keep learning and continue perfecting your craft. Keep seeking to fulfill your passions, as your gifts will ultimately make room for you.”
Her guidance reflects the reality of today’s independent entertainment industry, where persistence, professional relationships and continual growth are the factors that open doors for career advancement.
While viewers may remember the score and featured songs, the pair say one of their proudest creative decisions involves something audiences may barely notice at all.
“I feel like the quiet moments are the ones most frequently overlooked,” Perry says. “I purposely left certain spaces completely silent to emphasize the dialogue. In a world with so much noise, my hope is for people to find peace in the stillness of that silence.”
It’s a fitting philosophy for Full Figured Flings. Rather than filling every moment with music, Perry allows silence to become part of the storytelling itself, proving that sometimes the most powerful sound in a film is the absence of it.
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