Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1259912
42 S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 C A S Q U A R T E R L Y One of the perks of the profession is knowing what's going on in a series before the public. For such a loved and popular series, was it difficult to know what happened at the end of the show and keep that to yourself? I'm sure you had a lot of people trying to get you to talk! OB: I loved keeping the secret of the ending safe. People asked me almost every day questions about the show! I would always say the complete opposite of what actually happens. It was so fun to see people's faces and minds trying to put the pieces together. MW: The toughest and most fun part of that was not being able to tell my wife—who is a super fan. She would get so mad at me! She would want to know who would die and what happens with the dragons and I couldn't tell her. It almost caused a divorce—twice! And then it would also be fun being out to lunch with all of us and hearing people around us discuss GOT without knowing that we worked on the show. We would just giggle at some of their thoughts because they were usually so off-base. You two have worked on a number of series and projects together. From the action/adventure of GOT, to rom- coms like I Feel Pretty, to dramas like If Beale Street Could Talk. How does that translate on the dub stage? MW: I think we always listen to one another as we are mixing and play off of each other nicely. I will listen to where Onnalee is struggling or creating to tell the story and try and help and she will listen to me where I am struggling and creating and try and help me out. I would also say we had some great talks while mixing. You know, when you are two feet from one person all day, every day, you get to know them pretty well and work becomes therapy sometimes. OB: Mathew and I have been working a long time together. We have a flow and rhythm together that has been developed over the years. We take the same approach to every film and TV show that we mix. How can we take each scene and lift it up, make it pop off the screen in a new way? Even the film Just Mercy we did last summer ended up becoming the quietest film both of us have ever done, which was a whole different challenge. One great thing about working with a friend is we can really lift each other up and challenge one another. There are no feelings that will get bruised if we throw out new ideas that maybe the other person didn't think about. You both have been active in the CAS for years and are current Board of Directors members. Why did you volunteer to be involved at the BOD level? MW: You know, I just got to a place in my life where I realized how much this industry and this group of peers have helped me and have meant to me. I just wanted to start giving back to this wonderful group. OB: I like being on the BOD since we converse and vote on topics that can help our sound community. Even if my part of being on the Board is small, it has created a nice place to share ideas of new ways to help our fellow "soundies." What do you have coming up this summer? OB: Since COVID-19, there has been a lot of changes in our industry with pushing schedules, etc. This summer, I will be working on a new Barry Jenkins project, which is very exciting. MW: Coming up this summer, I am enjoying a wonderful Jacuzzi! "IF EVERY CUT IS THOUGHT OUT FOR SOUND, THEN I AM DOING MY JOB AND FEEL SATISFIED WHEN I LEAVE FOR THE DAY." –Re-recording mixer Onnalee Blank CAS