How 'Elf's' burp became legendary: UNCSA's Wade Wilson shares insider details

Did you hear that? It was the burp heard ‘round the world. Many are familiar with the heartwarming tale of "Elf," where the main character, Buddy, embarks on a journey from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father. However, a standout moment in the film owes its brilliance to our very own Wade Wilson, Sound Design faculty at UNCSA and the head Sound Designer for the movie.

In this unforgettable scene, Buddy, portrayed by Will Ferrell, downs a two-liter bottle of Coca-Cola and unleashes an impressive 12-second burp. The belch defies biology, and natural rumbles pale in comparison. So, how did they fill the script’s 12-second demand?

Wilson sat down with fourth-year sound design student Courtney Jones to delve into the intricacies involved in bringing this iconic scene to life.