Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1487666
C A S Q U A R T E R L Y I W I N T E R 2 0 2 3 33 Scott Farr CAS brings a perspective that many seem to lose sight of: "I think a lot of folks have forgotten that they were hired to record first and want to die on a hill every day—which takes time away from more important things. Most if not all problems are easily corrected in post with very little effort." As for creative input and set management, again it seems to be a wide-open playing field. As budgets increase, and as the projects get more detailed, the involvement of the mixer rises accordingly. Small corporate gigs, commercials, and some documentaries give zero ability to interact on an artistic level. Smaller budget episodic and small feature films have exactly the same input (or lack thereof) from sound. The common tool that is used to navigate goes back to open communication. Nearly every single mixer I asked said that to the best extent practical, they simply open conversations when possible. The more experienced mixers all make note that some battles cannot be won. Knowing when, and more precisely, what to fight for, is the key to success. Ultimately, I find that I am running my sound department much like those whom I hold in high regard and who are well-documented and respected industry pros. To take this into a realm where most can understand, sound is a team sport. On my team, I am the coach. I have key players who are excellent at their positions and need very little input from me on the daily field of play. We constantly train with each other and talk about missed opportunities, wins, and those that fall in-between. They call most of the plays on the field, and I am there for support and assist when it gets super crazy. My players work with other players on other teams to keep the game going, and I coordinate with other coaches, team owners, and MVP's to make sure we are setting them up to win. In the end, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but we never stop trying with standard plays, new plays, and occasionally, when we are really up against it, a trick play. I hope you take the time to look over the charts and data to help you understand where you and your team might be, and use them as a guide to get you where you want to be. I can't possibly offer enough thanks to those who took Aron Siegel CAS the time to participate in my poll, answer my phone call, and send me emails. You are all amazing and truly know what it means to move this business of sound further and for the better. Jim Tanenbaum CAS Michael Wynne CAS Scott Farr CAS