Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1061972
130 CINEMONTAGE / Q4 2018 by Jeff Burman • photos by Sarah Shatz R e-recording mixer Lee Dichter, CAS, was presented the Motion Picture Editors Guild's Fellowship and Service Award at the Sheraton New York at Times Square on Saturday, October 20. Some 200 friends, colleagues, mentees and well-wishers were on hand to honor the ninth recipient of the Guild's highest honor. The presentation ceremony and dinner began with Guild National Executive Director Cathy Repola welcoming the crowd before turning over the microphone to Guild President Alan Heim, ACE. Heim described the qualities the award represents: Professionalism, Collaboration, Mentorship, Generosity of Spirit and Commitment to the Labor Movement. Dichter clearly upheld these qualities, having been a much-sought-after mixer who worked with directors like Sidney Lumet, Nora Ephron, Robert Altman, Errol Morris, Mike Nichols, the Coen brothers, M. Night Shyamalan, Julie Taymor, Lasse Hallström, Jim Sheridan, Alan Pakula, Woody Allen and Ken Burns. Dichter mixed literally hundreds of feature films, as well as many prominent documentaries, such as Harlan County USA, The Fog of War, The Times of Harvey Milk, From Mao to Mozart, Pumping Iron and The Civil War. He also mentored dozens of his fellow mixers. Nearly 80 of Dichter's friends and colleagues wrote glowing tributes to him, which were published in the evening's program book. According to Heim, "Lee Dichter's effect on his peers has been described as huge. He has been called 'the guy in New York.' He has gravitas. You want a quote?" asked Heim. "A fellow mixer, Reilly Steele, with over 180 credits, said: "'When I think of Lee, two things immediately come to mind. Of course, he is a superb mixer, to the extent that he can surprise and impress his peers, daily — this mixer for instance — and he is a warm, caring person. Lee is friendly and respectful to everyone. In a work situation, he will treat a messenger as politely as he does the film's producer. Of course, this makes him everyone's favorite to work with. To give you an idea, if you've never met Lee, imagine if Tony Bennett were a mixer — 20 years or so younger. Not bad, right? First class in every way!'" Heim also made note of the significance of the Fellowship and Lee Dichter Receives Editors Guild's FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICE AWARD 3. Lee and Sophie Dichter surrounded by members of their family, from left, Phoebe Dichter, Harley Dichter, Chloe Dichter, Arlie Burg, Kendra Burg and Sam Burg. 4. Re-recording mixer Larry Blake compiled a tribute reel to Lee Dichter and spoke to the attendees at the ceremony. 5. The Editors Guild's National Executive Director Emeritus Ron Kutak and National Executive Director Cathy Repola also spoke at the Fellowship and Service Award ceremony. 1. Re-recording mixer Lee Dichter, left, was presented with the Motion Picture Editors Guild's Fellowship and Service Award by picture editor Andrew Mondshein at the Sheraton New York at Times Square on Saturday, October 20. 2. Guild President Alan Heim, left, with Lee Dichter. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.