Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1500716
58 S U M M E R 2 0 2 3 I C A S Q U A R T E R L Y CAS STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD WINNER TIMO NELSON by PETER KELSEY CAS This is the ninth year the CAS has presented its Student Recognition Award (SRA). As in previous years, we had a great number of applications from a very diverse group of students. I would like to thank all the CAS members who volunteered their time to judge the applications and the finalists' videos. The award this year went to Timo Nelson from the University of Texas at Austin. Aura Sound & Color sponsored the award this year and prizes were given in the amounts of $5,000 to the winner and $1,000 to each of the four other finalists. All five received a valuable collection of software and other gifts from these generous companies: Acon Digital, Avid, Deity Microphones, DTS, Halter Technical, iZotope Inc., JBL Professional by Harman, K-Tek, Krotos Audio, Lectrosonics Inc., McDSP, ShotDeck, Sounddogs, Sound Particles, and Todd-AO/Absentia DX. I reached out to Timo to learn more about him. What brought you into sound and specifically sound for film? The first project I ever did sound on was in the seventh grade during an after-school film class. It was my second semester taking it and our teacher suggested that I hold the boom pole for the next film (which also meant operating the Tascam recorder we had). Turns out I was all right at it! My teacher must've seen a spark in my eye or something because he then had me work with him on the sound design in post-production. It was a really good intro to the world of sound because he worked at CBS on Psych for years and knew his stuff. Of course, I didn't do the dialogue edit or mix, but my imagination was intrigued at how I could use sound to tell stories in film. I just kept working on sound projects and my love of it has never faded. What's your favorite part of the sound for film process? I enjoy being on set and working as a production mixer, although that's not to say I don't enjoy the other parts. The social atmosphere of set, the constant problem solving, as well as the technical precision needed makes it a very fulfilling position for me. I get to be up and about (which can be tiring, of course) and working with my hands as part of a team—that's something that makes my reptile brain very happy. It also helped that production mixers were in high demand at UT and so I had no shortage of jobs. I do have a little soft spot for Foley recording and mixing, though. Performance is fun, but I really enjoy crafting those raw recordings into emotional notes that elevate the film's story. I'm not nearly as experienced in that field, but each time I've worked in it, I found myself having a lot of fun. Who have been the people that have influenced you the most and what did you receive from them? I must credit my teachers with influencing me the most. Marcelo, the teacher who pushed me to discover my passion in middle school, continues to be a good friend. In fact, I worked with him on his feature debut last year, [which was] probably the best possible environment to learn MEET THE WINNERS Event photos courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages SRA winner Timo Nelson hard at work on pickups for Men of Law.