Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/778398
40 W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 C A S Q U A R T E R L Y I I have currently found myself in the posi- tion to positively influence a young sound professional. I have no idea what I'm doing. I've never mentored before. Even though my learning will still never stop, it might be time to start teaching others what I've absorbed. With Google, YouTube, and various sound forums, it seems like new professionals can go learn all about this unique production sound stuff with just a few clicks of the mouse, right? (I say sarcastically—inserting an eye roll emoji). But honestly, nothing—in any craft or profession in this world—can replace good old-fashioned mentorship. Danny first popped onto my radar screen after he won the Cinema Audio Society Student Recognition Award in 2015. What a crazy small world that he also happens to be from my hometown! In college, at the University of Colorado Denver, he had specialized in post-production sound. It was interesting to become acquainted with him after the awards and when he was advised to reach out to me, my first thought was, "OK, yeah, I'll meet with him, but I'm not sure how much I can help other than introduce him to post- production sound people that I know." But to my surprise, his move to Los Angeles had been motivated by a desire to pursue production sound specifically. Given this, I thought, "OK, I actually can help him." I can get busy and mono-tasked sometimes and not always come through with seeking people out who may need guidance. But Danny's persistence made this factor irrelevant. He was brand new to town and bugged me enough to secure himself a set visit to the show MENTORSHIP: b y D e v e n d r a C l e a r y C A S THE VALUE OF Birthplace Danny Maurer Danny Maurer visiting the set of Secrets and Lies (Season Two).