NORTH LAWNDALE — Dick Wolf, who created a TV empire on the strength of his wildly popular "Law & Order" franchise, has a great way of keeping the flagship on his mind.
His cell phone rings with the iconic "dun-dun!" sound effect that "Law & Order" uses between scenes. Actually, Wolf pronounces it "chung-chung."
Appearing in Chicago Wednesday for an event with Mayor Rahm Emanuel to celebrate the booming success of Chicago's TV-show filming climate, which includes four Wolf shows, reporters were abuzz with excitement when they heard Wolf's phone go off.
Can confirm Dick Wolf's cell phone ring is the "Dun-Dun!" clang from Law and Order.
— John Byrne (@_johnbyrne) August 31, 2016
Can double confirm. Truly a great moment for all parties. https://t.co/TPEuFl72Fb
— Lauren Chooljian (@laurenchooljian) August 31, 2016
The distinctive sound effect was intended "to be reminiscent of both a jurist's gavel and a jail-cell door slamming," according to the New York Times.
The creator, composer Mike Post, has called it "The Clang," telling Newsweek that when Wolf asked him to create a noise to be played between scenes, he told him, "Call sound effects. I do music."
He ended up using drum sounds, a sample of a jail door slamming and "some guys stomping on the floor" among other noises to create it, Post said.
Wolf produces four NBC dramas that are set in and film in Chicago — "Chicago Fire," "Chicago PD, "Chicago Med" and the upcoming "Chicago Justice."
What does the super producer think of his leading lady city?
Chicago "is a cleaner, politer New York with slightly heavier people," Wolf said to laughs.
"Chicago Fire" executive producer Dick Wolf promotes new series "Chicago Justice" at a press conference at Cinespace Wednesday as Mayor Rahm Emanuel looks on. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
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