Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1521562
C I N E M A A U D I O S O C I E T Y. O R G 45 Now that we have an overview of your backgrounds, let's get into the show. Michael, how does a gig like this come to you up in the Calgary, Alberta, area? MP: [Over time], I developed a resume, got some shows under my belt, and won some awards and whatnot. So, when The Last of Us came, I got a call. I had an interview and basically, they wanted to hire me. I was actually quite shocked because it was quite a high-budget show—or at least the highest ever shot in Canada! And all I could think was this is quite a privilege. So, when we were in pre-production, things went well, and I really liked what the producers had to say and their attitude about sound. Craig Mazin, the show runner, really wanted to set the bar high for sound, and made sure that everyone was conscious that they really wanted to get good sound and dialogue on this show. So, he was telling the other departments not to ride roughshod over the sound crew, they need to get this quality of product… MP: Yeah, and [while shooting], he was checking in with me saying, "Mike, is that OK, is this going to work," and I would give him my opinion or say, "It's there but we could do it again," and so we would do it again. I'm not a set guy, but I feel like that is not the norm these days. From what filters down to my level, I frequently hear it is all "GO! GO! GO!" and you record the best that you can in the shooting rush. MP: It is not the norm for most shows that I'm on. That's how I learned to try and get it on the first take. Even when doing rehearsal, if you even get a rehearsal—a lot of times now you don't get a rehearsal. You watch a blocking and all of a sudden it's "Roll sound!" Wow. In these pre-production meetings or on set, was there any sort of sonic mandate from the producers? MP: Not that I can recall, they just had the general attitude that they wanted to do this "right" and give me what I needed to do that. L-R: Production sound mixer Michael Playfair CAS, re-recording mixer Kevin Roache CAS, Foley mixer Randy Wilson CAS, and re-recording mixer Marc Fishman CAS Production sound mixer Michael Playfair CAS keeping warm(er) while shooting on Fortress Mountain