Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/348146
www.postmagazine.com 11 POST JULY 2014 BITS & PIECES CULVER CITY, CA — As the pro- duction sound mixer on ABC's hit sitcom, The Goldbergs, about a highly screwed-up, very loud but loveable family, it's essential I always get the mix right. The show, which stars Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jeff Garlin, is based loosely on creator Adam F. Golberg's "nine- teen-eighty-something" childhood in the suburbs of Pennsylvania. Being able to see what our A and B cameras are shoot- ing at any given moment is an essential part of my job. Whether it is to coach my boom operators safely out of the frame or to simply keep tabs on the ever-changing camera angles, I fi nd I rely heavily on my Smartview Duo from Blackmag- ic Design (www.blackmagic- design.com), which has proven to be a valuable component of my sound package. I am able to take a direct HD-SDI feed from our DIT, which gives me a pristine image as I work with my sound crew to eliminate unwant- ed shadows or refl ections from the overhead boom mics. Being light on our feet, espe- cially on-location, is important in order to keep up with the fast-paced shooting schedule. The Duos, which weigh less than fi ve pounds, have a considerable advantage, especially when my team needs to lift the sound cart up stairs or has a long push to the next set. The image quality is exceptional as well, and I often fi nd other crew, including our DP, peeking over my shoulder to grab a glimpse of the clear picture. Production ended up buying another Duo for our directors to use so they can be closer to set. Clearly a great image and useful tool for both sound and picture. Image quality is not only essen- tial during production, but post also loves it. As a weekly show, The Goldbergs is on an incredibly-tight schedule. If production doesn't think with post in mind, the whole thing will take much longer. On- set, with the SmartView Duo, I can help avoid shadows and refl ection issues that could otherwise limit a shot's usefulness or even have to be CGI'd out after the fact. The clarity of these monitors has saved many shots and allows me, as a mixer who is watching every take live, to catch issues and make adjustments to improve the post work, that even the operators may overlook. — BY RICHARD MERCADO, CAS, PRODUCTION SOUND MIXER, THE GOLDBERGS FORSCENE. MAKE THE STORY VISIT WWW.FORSCENE.CO.UK Whatever content you make, Forscene helps you make it quicker, more creatively, more completely and with greater certainty. Make the moment. Make media that makes hearts race. Make delight. Move your post production into the cloud and discover how Forscene enables you to make the stories that we all respond to, with more simplicity and speed than ever. BLACKMAGIC'S SMARTVIEW DUO MONITORS GO ON-SET WITH ABC'S THE GOLDBERGS The cast of The Goldbergs (left); production sound mixer Richard Mercado (above).