Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535880
60 M PS E . O R G The Birth of Boom Box Post Korey Pereira: Can you give an introduction to anyone who isn't familiar with Boom Box Post and tell us a bit about about how the company started? Kate Finan: Jeff and I were both working together at Warner Bros. as supervising sound editors. We had a vision of running our own spot, and in 2014, we opened Boom Box Post. The idea was to create a place that is not just a post house, but a learning studio where we would share our knowledge. We strongly believe that anyone has the ability to join our industry and be a part of things. Jeff Shiffman: Exactly. We built Boom Box Post with the principle that there's no secret sauce in what we do—it's all about the creativity each individual brings to the table. We were happy to open the doors and share the technical side of how things are done and our thought processes. Korey: What were some of the initial challenges you faced when starting Boom Box Post? Kate: One of the biggest challenges was finding the right space to set up our studio. We spent about six to seven years in rental locations, which was not ideal. Jeff: Coming from a situation where both editorial and mix were happening "on the lot," there was a bit of an adjustment period for both us and our clients because editorial would be happening in our office, then we would have to drive to the stage. I think these growing pains lead to us really wanting a space we could call home. Building the Dream Korey: How did you transition from rental locations to your new facility? Jeff: In early 2022, we opened a brand-new facility built during COVID. We wanted a space that reflected our ethos—light, bright, and airy, where creativity could flow. The new facility includes an editorial bullpen, eight 5.1 editorial suites, three 5.1 mix suites, and three Dolby Atmos mix stages. Kate: We looked for a building for more than a year and ended up buying an auto body shop, which was just a shell of a building. We built everything to our exact needs, creating a space that matched our vision of a comfortable, creative environment. Korey: What were some of the key features you wanted in your new facility? Kate: We wanted the space to be light and bright, with plenty of natural light. We didn't want to be like the dark studios that everyone in our industry are used to. We wanted a space where people could feel comfortable and get their creative juices flowing. We also wanted the mixing facility to be in the same place as the editorial facility, which was a big change from our previous setup. Jeff: We also focused on creating a collaborative environment. We have a lot of open areas and smaller seating areas where people can communicate and work together. Our entire staff eats lunch together every day, whether it's inside or outside. Kate Finan and Jeff Shiffman MPSE CAS sign their first commercial lease for Boom Box Post. The small office space became Boom Box Post's home for the next eight years (2014). Kate Finan MPSE CAS and construction superintendent Chuck Kallas supervise the mix stage construction in Boom Box Post's new building (2021). Tim Vindigni MPSE, Boom Box Post's studio engineer, worked closely with Westlake Pro to test gear on the newly constructed mix stages prior to the full installation (2021).