Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1359892
32 C I N E M O N T A G E F E A T U R E union. And from there, I worked as an apprentice, then assistant editor on a few movies, learning editorial skills. This was a very intense yet exciting program. Since my desk was only six feet away from Randy's, I was immersed with his sound design work all day long." I n t h e a r e a o f a p p r e n t i c e s h i p s , Lowden says Skywalker has diligently tried to build a fertile training ground for young talent as a way to increase diversity, in addition to the company's ongoing efforts to improve balance and representation in other ways. "[Smaller crew sizes] have made it harder for new people to get into the industry and get the experience they need," he said. "To help offset this, we're bringing in new apprentices that are not attached to specific project budgets, so that we can offer them a continuity of experience and training without having to stop-and-start on projects. Along with that, we are pairing up some of our more experienced editors with veteran super- visors to act as mentors." For veteran Skywalker women, how- ever, mentoring younger women is more than a formal program—it's a passion. Whittle, now a supervising sound editor and a two-time Oscar nominee, is among a group of trailblazing women on the company staff who, in addition to their professional duties, are actively looking to open doors for younger female professionals. She's been at Skywalker 32 years—"as long as the building has been opera- tional," she says proudly—and worked on the second film ever to mix at the facility, "Willow" (1988), as an assistant sound effects editor. She well remembers often being "the only woman in the mix room," but since that era, she says, the art of mentoring has been among her favorite pursuits. "The Ranch has always been good at incubating talent," Whittle said. "But anyone who has ever worked with me as an assistant knows that if they have any interest in dialogue and ADR editing, and many certainly do, I will be happy to teach them everything that I do." Patrick seconds the notion, declaring, "the mentorships I have received over the course of my education and career thus far are something I consider to be absolutely essential for my own success and progression. Now, I'm hoping to do the same, especially for women still in school or just starting their careers." She points to resources many Sky- walker women support, like the Women's Audio Mission (WAM), a San Francis- co-based non-profit that Patrick calls "a leader in training women for audio-relat- ed careers and connecting women audio professionals from around the world. This model of training and connecting women in the f ield really resonates with me and seems like one of the best ways to maintain a large and active sound community." Melanie Mociun, currently an audio technician at Skywalker w h o h a s b e e n a t t h e f a c i l i t y s i n c e 1 9 8 6 , e m p h a s i z e s t h i s point — the desire of established women of Skywalker Sound to help a new generation of women a u d i o p r o f e s s i o n a l s e x t e n d s beyond facility work. She praises her colleagues for actively participating in and encouraging external outreach programs. For example, Hirschberg and Dupre donate time to Reel Stories, a non-profit youth media organization to guide young women in making content and pursuing media careers, and Jones has taught recording at the Institute of 'A roomful of guys is not perceived as a normal thing anymore.' Coya Elliott of Skywalker Sound. P H O T O : S K Y W A L K E R