Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1335892
88 I M PS E . O R G communication and relations between the various departments of sound—generally, production and post-production. Those original members represented all the key areas of recording, editing, and mixing. They wanted to learn from each other, and support each other, with the aim of improving the quality of sound work in Australian film productions. Although our constitution lists a number of aims, I think keeping communication open remains one of our most important tasks. Our other key responsibility is to raise the awareness of, and celebrate the craft of sound. Apart from our work with members, we work with other industry guilds and screen organisations in Australia, through the Australian Screen Industry Group. There, we are able to broaden that aspect of communication to our peers in directing, composing, editing, cinematography, screenwriting, production design, and so on. We meet a number of times throughout the year, working together to ensure the best for all of our members (around 15,000 people across all the organisations). This year has been a particularly busy and challenging one for all of us, and we definitely achieved more on behalf of the industry and our members through this collaboration than we might have individually. At the start of all ASSG events, there is an acknowledgement to the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand. Can you expand on the message behind that? Wherever you are in Australia, you are on indigenous land. And the sovereignty over that land has never been ceded. But at the same time, European and other settlers in Australia have not had a great track record in terms of treatment of either our First Nations peoples, or the land itself. An Acknowledgement of Country is just that—a recognition that the custodianship of this land is in the hands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. But it is also a reminder that we have much left to do to reconcile the relationship between our First Nations peoples and those of us who have arrived here in the past few centuries. The history of our First Nations peoples is that of the world's oldest living culture: They have been here for more than 60,000 years. And throughout that time, storytelling has been central to their survival, to their relationship with the land, and to the passing on of knowledge. If we, in sound, are part of a modern storytelling tradition, then we should be aware of—and celebrate—our privilege in living on the lands of the oldest such tradition. At the end of each year, ASSG has an awards•show. Where is it located, and what does it celebrate? Comedian Craig Reucassel prepares to host with Zoë Norton-Lodge ZENN Stream director Nathan Gatt orchestrates the show, alongside ASSG committee member Mick Boraso