Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535953
24 PRODUCTION SOUND & VIDEO – Summer 2025 fashionable scarf. Chloe led creative wiring with the "usual" principals and problem solved for Cam. Creative wiring can include everything from hiding in one's hair all the way down to wrapping a pack on one's ankle (unless you're wearing basketball shorts and a tank top jersey). Going Full-Court Press Shooting the basketball scenes was a new and fun experience; using Sanken CL-3 mics, at the court's four corners, four voice-of-God mics (routed through my board) for the AD department and director, at least six wired players and another six for the principals, MKH50's for the crowd, and both Chloe and Tony on their booms. This was a five-day sequence and included intense and simultaneous coordination between game play, the crowd, the players themselves, the players and the coach, and the principals. On a daily basis, inclusive of this sequence and general filming, we typically had at least ten actors wired per scene. Costumes ranged from the players' uniforms, street clothes, three-piece suits and ties, wet clothes and no clothes (more on that later). One of my favorite scenes was Sandy (Drew Tarver) playing acoustic guitar live in the basketball arena set. We originally Lee Orloff, Luigi Pini, & Jeffrey Humphreys pre-recorded this, but myself and Drew wanted to try it as a live performance. The scene was about expressing love, in the truest sense, and the live energy would be essential to further support the creative vision of this scene. The arena was packed with fans, about one hundred-plus background and the mic was set up for the National Anthem. The set was large and naturally noisy, including arena-style bench seating, tall ceilings, and a very reflective floor. Our work included a Lectrosonic HHa with a DPA 2028 capsule, which was hot to the house PA system and wiring Sandy with a DPA 6061, our six principals, all the players and coaches, and specific actors embedded in the crowd. We mic'd the crowd via six zones with Sennheiser MKH50's, and running all sound through the house. We also set up a PA that surrounded the basketball court. As Sandy played live and crooned his tune, we captured the crowd-based actors' lines and as well as the person who won Sandy's heart as he ran toward an embrace. The director and actors let us know that they felt the thrill and energy of being in a real sports arena, especially as the sound system focused attention on Sandy and his musical number, and when the crowd roared and cheered for the lover's reunion, it sounded huge. The Waves won, and everyone got wet and sticky. I'm still finding confetti. The gift that keeps on giving.