Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1197255
78 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 C A S Q U A R T E R L Y Allan Byer, a staple of the New York City production sound community, passed away this October. New York native Byer was a radio wave operator in the Air Force and started his career in sound for picture at Image Sound and then Sound One. He worked in post-production before stepping outside the studio to try his hand in production sound. Allan ended up being the production sound mixer for six Coen brothers films, including Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, and Fargo—all with Peter F. Kurland CAS as his boom operator. Allan was nominated for a CAS Award in 2000 for his work on The Sixth Sense. Wanting to spend more time with his family, Allan began regularly working on NYC-based television series such as Ed, New Amsterdam, and Gossip Girl. Allan retired in 2015 after working on multiple seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The CAS extends its condolences to Allan's wife, Joanne, his children, family, and friends. I N R E M E M B R A N C E Allan Byer PRODUCTION SOUND MIXER Don was so much a part of my life, having spent over half my life with him over the last 40+ years. We did 67 movies together, countless commercials, and co-founded Northstar Media Sound Services. I owe so much of my career to Don's incredible talent and his unwavering commitment to our work together. So often when I was offered a job or someone was recommending me, they would always say "get Jeff-and-Don"—like it was one entity. And in so many ways we were. So different from each other, our strengths and weaknesses, but so incredibly complementary as a team, so much more than either of us individually. Everyone we ever worked for could see this right away and Don truly redefined what it means to be a boom operator. I know it is somewhat of a cliché, but Don was a true filmmaker who just happened to work in sound. It is a terrible loss for all of us and for the industry. He will be missed. –Jeff Wexler CAS Don Coufal BOOM OP I N R E M E M B R A N C E