Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1518296
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S 3 Dear MPSE members: Welcome to Wavelength's Spring 2024 edition! All my previous president letters were about the MPSE and upcoming events. This one will have a noticeable change in tone as it is more about me and will reflect personally on what being your President meant. As the outgoing President, I wanted to thank you all for having the confidence in electing me to serve as the President of the MPSE for two terms. It was an amazing honor because I hold the MPSE in such high esteem. After getting into post sound, I couldn't wait to join MPSE and when I had the credits, I joined as soon as I could. I was extremely proud to have MPSE after my name. I could have never imagined I would have been president one day. Soon after getting elected President, it all went off the rails when there was a global pandemic. Luckily, our amazing Board and understanding membership allowed us to pivot to virtual events, including two virtual award shows. This permitted us to continue to bring you, the members, quality events and still interact, network, and stay on top of the latest tech. We just started to get back to normal when the industry was hit by a devastating double strike. Once again, the Board stepped up and did not just postpone the membership dues for people who were laid off, but completely waived them for the year for the entire membership. Showing how MPSE puts the members first and wouldn't want them to have to choose between a membership and other obligations, we wanted the members to stay connected and educated, ready to come back to work when the strike was over. I stood on the shoulders of giants. There were many people in the MPSE who inspired and encouraged me to be able to fill this role. Rick Hinson, Hudson Miller, Suhail Kafity, Warren Hamilton, Tom McCarthy, Frank Morrone, Ethel Crutcher, and David Bondelevitch, just to name a few. There were also many who helped me during my presidency, starting with Steve Urban, Bernard Weiser, Solange Schwalbe, Eric Marks, Anne-Marie Slack, Christina Horgan, Miguel Araujo, Linda Rosner, outgoing CAS President Karol Urban for amazing cross- organization collaborations, Stuart Morton for keeping us all focused, our entire Board of Directors, but above all, Tracie Costabile, for being the most organized person I know, doing the heavy lifting, and keeping the office and events running like clockwork. The encouragement to do this job was mainly from my wife Deby, I wish to sincerely thank her for sacrificing many nights and weekends together so I could and be in many committee meetings, as well as attend events. Our hours are long in this business even without serving in this capacity, I realize the sacrifices you made for the past four years and very much appreciate it. I could not have done this without your love and support. I hope to eat less dinners at my desk while in a meeting. Part of me is glad I get more time for other things and don't have the stress the office brings with it, but more of me is sad to not represent the amazing members and to not be the one steering the organization into the future. I really cherished the time I spent as your President and am deeply honored and humbled to have been trusted with the reigns of the organization. I will stay on the Board of Directors for at least two years to make sure the transition to the new President is smooth and because I love being involved with the MPSE. Speaking of the new President, David Barber, he has been a rising star on our Board for a few years now and I have the upmost confidence in his ability to lead us going forward. He has a deep love and respect for the organization and an enthusiasm coupled with new ideas on keeping the organization relevant and meaningful to the members. As we turn the page figuratively, as well as literally (I understand his President's letter is on the next page), I congratulate David Barber and Eric Marks who is the interim Vice President on their new positions, wish them well, and will do whatever I can to help them and the MPSE going forward. Thank you again for four amazing years representing you. MARK LANZA MPSE Sound Designer and Supervisor Sony Pictures Studios