Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1521235
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S 63 know I was in labor. I thought I was just having Braxton-Hicks contractions, my due date was not for another three weeks. Amber was concerned and encouraged me to go home. My water broke the minute I walked in my front door. Amber has always had my back like that. We grew close working together and became good friends. I fondly remember celebrating Thanksgiving together the year her and her husband Chris adopted their son Zach. Amber: We did form a strong bond outside of work. We started doing half marathons and mud runs which required hours of training together on mornings and weekends. I think because we were such good friends and were always there for each other, it was a natural fit for us to become business partners. We have a lot of the same ideas and goals but with different approaches. Sharyn: We don't run like we used to, but we do keep a tally of races on our website, along with our Emmy and MPSE Award nominations. It's important to celebrate victories. We have a 100% track record in finishing races. Perry: What is "Create Harmony Media"? Amber: "Create Harmony Media, Inc." is a collective of established industry professionals who specialize in music editing. We try to emphasize work-life balance and want to build a place where we share our creativity with one another and have each other's backs like Sharyn and I have done over the years. Sharyn: We started in 2019 with just the two of us and we currently have three full-time employees: Richard David Brown - music editor, James Sullivan - assistant music editor, and Bobby Avila - office manager. At times, we've expanded to include two satellite music editors, Lisa Arpino and Troy Hardy. 2020 was rough dealing with the pandemic. Being suddenly thrown into everyone working from home and a huge learning curve as business owners with things like PPP loans. During that time, we adopted a motto I heard on Christopher Lochhead's podcast, "Be thoughtfully aggressive and radically generous." That approach has guided us through some challenges, including the 2023 strikes. Perry: While I'm sure every project presents different challenges, what does a typical project workflow look like amongst you and your team? How do you coordinate things? Amber: No two projects are the same. You really need to be able to pivot and accommodate the unique needs of the producers, composers, and post-production crew. We have learned through experience that the best results come when one editor sees a project through all its phases. We generally head up our own shows and cover each other when needed. James assists all of us at different times, and Bobby as our office manager, makes sure everything runs smoothly. Daisy Jones & the Six was a little different. Due to scheduling, Sharyn headed it up the first three months and then I headed it up the final three months. It was a team effort. Sharyn: Communication and coordination are keys to success. We use apps like Slack to communicate with each Chris Cookson, Sharyn Gersh, and Amber Funk at the 2016 Surf City Half-Marathon Right: Chris Cookson, Sharyn Gersh, and Amber Funk at the 2014 Mudderella