Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1178376
56 F A L L 2 0 1 9 C A S Q U A R T E R L Y Lessons learned from veteran production sound mixer Tod A. Maitland CAS as he discussed his long and varied career (Tootsie, The Doors, JFK, Seabiscuit, Joker—and these are just the title-character movies) and, in particular, his recent turn on Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story. Knowing six months ahead of time that it was a musical with up to in excess of 20 speaking or singing parts TOD A. MAITLAND CAS LIVE INTERVIEW: CAPTURING AUDIO FOR SPIELBERG'S WEST SIDE STORY OBSERVATIONS b y J a m e s R i d g l e y C A S a n d K u r t K a s s u l k e C A S in any one given scene, he decided to test several wireless manufacturers to see which system might serve him best. Shure, one he had not even considered at first, won the lottery. He used their new TwinPlex microphones and lightweight transmitters through a receiver, spectrum manager, and wireless workbench system that made frequency management painless. Not only did it assign two dozen wireless frequencies with one push of a button, but the software could also assign a complete four-channel IFB system for boom op com, director, and crew IFB, earwig assignments (up to 50 earnings available), and also playback systems on Pro Tools with up to 30 small speakers which could line the circumference of the stage to account Some of the sound team for Stranger Things gathered together to discuss their work on the hit series. For Season 3, the theme was "Make it THE SOUND OF STRANGER THINGS 3 MODERATOR: Glenn Kiser (Dolby Institute) PANELISTS: Craig Henighan (sound supervisor/designer and re-recording mixer, FX), Mark Patterson (re-recording mixer, dialogue & music), David Klotz (music editor), Angelo Palazzo (FX editor), and Katie Halliday (FX editor). OBSERVATIONS b y K u r t K a s s u l k e C A S for possible latency or delay issues. Maitland commented, "Wireless are just a part of our life. It took me till this movie to really embrace it." Maitland also offered up some career wisdom on success stating, "50 percent is how good we do, and 50 percent is how well we play the game." Surely, he would know as only a master sound mixer can pull off a feat like this for the most famous director alive today. And for an iconic property, based on Shakespeare's famous Romeo & Juliet, reenvisioned to become a smash hit Broadway musical, then a smash hit 1961 film, winning 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, the classic West Side Story. bigger!" Craig noted, "We thought of the show as eight massive reels." He stated that the Duffer Brothers' directive was we "just want you to try anything," which fearlessly gave new material a chance. Craig concluded saying, "If we cut it, they are into it!"