Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1491103
28 S P R I N G 2 0 2 3 I C A S Q U A R T E R L Y With Kevin Cerchiai at the 007 Stage David Raymond is a terrific boom operator who brings his own character and personality and great relationships to all those people he works with on set, which will ultimately affect what I do. This business is all about relationships and David Raymond would quote to me, "What's this business about? It's about relationships." You've been a member of the Cinema Audio Society for quite some time. When did you first join? I got a letter after I did Any Given Sunday, telling me that I was nominated for a CAS Award. I didn't know the CAS, I was unfamiliar with the organization. But when I came out and they were having the reception at the Universal Hotel over at Universal City and I was surrounded by the best of the best, I couldn't quite believe that Any Given Sunday got nominated and that I was out there. I remember Warren Beatty was one of the presenters that evening. I was there with Maureen and her sister, Dorothy, and just seeing that there was an organization that was devoted to what we do. I had an amazing evening. We didn't win that evening, but I just felt very privileged and honored to have kind of made the grade. With that, the CAS extended an invitation for me to join the organization. And I said, "Sure, I want to join this organization and learn more about it." It was the first of a few more nominations and it is an organization that I've been on the Board of and have watched it over the past 20 years turn into a membership 1000 plus strong with representation from all across the world. And to see how it has touched many people's lives, whether it be in the student awards, celebrating filmmakers and nominees, and also career achievement awards. David MacMillan, Paul Massey, Andy Nelson, Doc Kane, all these towering figures. It's an organization that I feel great to be a part of. I'll be completely honest; you've been my mentor since we first worked together. Can you talk about mentoring? I know that when Dixie Deane in Belfast took that chance on me to work on the play with the then unknown Kenneth Branagh, he changed me. He helped me. He put me on a course. And you don't know it at the time because you don't know what the future holds for you. And there are people that we come into contact with that we can also influence. I'm doing it now with some of the kids that have graduated from the Academy Gold program. I can remember David MacMillan when he received the Cinema Audio Society's Career Achievement Award, just talking about those people that he worked with and that he then pushed on to become mixers. And I think we've all influenced people in that regard, though you're not aware of it at the time. On Chris Pine's directorial debut, Poolman, with David Raymond and Chris Last Days in the Desert with Ewan McGregor