Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1197255
So, he retired. Jim's legacy lives on with the many sound people he mentored, as well as myself, and his daughter, my aunt, Alicia Alexander. She was a sound mixer on documentaries and reality, including Road Rules, Survivor, and Eco- Challenge. Even though she had gotten into the business on her own, Jim was always a valuable resource when faced with seemingly impossible mic placements. She would call him late at night, in a panic about the next day's work, be it anything from whitewater rafting to skydiving. He always had the answer to solve any problem. I got into the business on my own as well. After working in a post house for a while, I decided doing long hours in confined spaces wasn't really my thing, either. A client I had just wrapped mixing a feature for asked if I was available to record the sound on the next one. I bought some gear and went to work. There I was, a sound mixer in the great outdoors, in the snow. Jim was my lifeline. I remember calling him when I got my first wide and tight, and he asked, "What time is it where you are?" Wondering why this was relevant, I said, "About 2 pm?" His response: "OK, great. So, the snow is probably soft right now, you can bury a mic right in front of them." Once again, he always knew what to do. The stories he told me and the things he taught me opened up a whole new line of conversation between us. One thing he said that stayed with me the most: "Oh, so you're getting into sound, huh? Here's something you should know: The job is much more than just swinging a boom or pressing record. Your job involves every department, so you should learn their jobs as well as you know your own. They won't ever know what you do, but if you know what they do, they'll help you out. You can only do your best work with the collaboration of others." These words resonate with me every day, on every set. Thank you, Grandpa. • From top: On Only the Lonely using two booms, which was common practice for them; Jim with his boom ops Greg Agalsoff and Jeff Williams on the set of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York; Jim trying to figure out where that sound is coming from (film unknown).