CAS Quarterly

C A S Q U A R T E R L Y I S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 73 the field by award-winning CAS sound professionals. It's pretty nuts! (LOL) Any immediate plans for the money? I'll probably use most of the money to pay off the debt from gear I already own! I'm sure I'll be able to add a new toy to the collection though. Having won this award, do you have any advice for someone who would like to apply for the Student Recognition Award? Yeah—just do it! Apply. What's to lose? Make the effort and put your best foot forward while you do it. I learned a good deal about myself in the process of applying. I'm confident that you will, too. Do you have any advice for someone starting out in the "sound for film" business? Well, I'm just starting out, so I'll take some advice as well! Jokes aside, I love sound. I love how integral it is to filmmaking. You don't have a movie if you don't have sound (at least not one that I'd want to watch...). I love being the person that can contribute excellence to that supremely important element of the process. I guess the advice I'd give is to love it. Hard. And to take every opportunity seriously. The "better" jobs are a byproduct of continued passion and attention to detail. Do you have any stories or challenges from your path that you can share? Aside from being a filmmaker of color in America? I'm sure Student Recognition Award Committee Chair Sherry Klein CAS announces the SRA winner. there's plenty of material in there somewhere. Maybe we can save that for a drink at a later time! (LOL) I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity. It makes me smile to know that someone somewhere will see me as a kind of model of success and use that to create a lane for themselves in this industry. When one rises, we all rise. Who have been the people that have influenced you the most and what did you receive from them? Definitely family—my son, mom, pops, siblings... Extended and chosen family have been crucial, and well deserving of praise—especially my L.A. peeps. Technically, I'm out in Los Angeles on my own, but I've never felt lonely or unsupported. My circle is pretty amazing... Man, honestly, everyone who I've ever come across. I'm a big believer that people are in your life for seasons and specific reasons. All of my encounters (good and not so good) have been helpful in getting me here. I appreciate you all! I would like to take a moment to show gratitude toward the Black and brown filmmakers who have broken ground and paved the way for young people like myself. I'm afforded more opportunities and space to create because of their contributions to this art form as a whole. What's your next step? Keep doing what I'm doing—mixing, learning, growing, supporting—with the people and creative collaborators I admire. Practically, though, I'm looking to get into the local union and eventually become a CAS member. Any tips (wink- wink)?

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