Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1353865
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S I 15 –MICHAEL DRESSEL Remembering Alan Robert Murray 1954/1955–FEBRUARY 24, 2021 It is hard to put into words how sad it is to know that Alan Murray is gone. When I first worked with Alan in 1999, he was already a legend of the sound business, having been Clint Eastwood's "sound man" since Escape from Alcatraz. When we met, the industry was in the middle of the great digital revolution and Alan was holding on to the old way of doing things to the last possible moment. He was a true conservative in wanting to stick to the tried and proven. Many believed him to be a "dinosaur" destined to fall by the wayside because of his attachment to the "old way" of doing things. Having different options who to work with, I made the instinctive decision to go with him despite those dire predictions because I had learned in the time we worked together that he had personal morals which are rare in this business and the world. He was a man with a deeply ingrained sense of honor. His honesty and general decency made him loved by most he encountered. His dry sense of humor didn't hurt either. He was tough and asked those working with him for their very best and then some, but he also greatly appreciated it and rewarded it with friendship and fierce loyalty. Despite the grim forecasts, Alan showed that what mattered ultimately, was artistic vision and capability. The feared digital tools turned out to be just that, tools. In the end, the "dinosaur" went on to create more great soundtracks than most and win two Oscars and 10 nominations as a result. He still Over the span of his 43-year career, Alan Murray won two Oscars and eight other wins, including three Golden Reel Awards and 48 nominations. Last year, Alan set a sound editing record with his 10th career Academy Award nomination, for Todd Phillips' Joker. remained one of us who looked out for his people and stood up for his crew even when it was hard to do so. He always did things his way, being true to himself and his code. I feel great sadness knowing he is not here with us anymore.