Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541612
world. Then, finishing out 2025 with mixes and sound design projects, I wrapped two projects from the Pristine Seas (National Geographic Society) initiative with the Spinn Creative team. These ocean expeditions use scientific and visual media capabilities to support the advancement of ocean conservation in the Solomon Islands and the Papua New Guinea region. We were tasked with sound designing and mixing for 5.1 immersive playback. A deep dive into underwater sound design was the challenge and building contrasting changes between the marine biodiversity and gorgeous ambiences from around the world." The start of 2025 was slow for Aron Siegel CAS and crew, relegated to a few industrials. That changed when late spring brought a new Amazon/MGM feature film from writer/director David O. Russell, Madden, starring Nicolas Cage as the legendary football coach, broadcaster, and video game namesake/inspiration. Christian Bale co-stars as Raiders team owner and best friend Al Davis. Rounding out the cast were Kathryn Hahn and Sienna Miller playing Madden and Davis' wives, respectively. Other notable appearances were from Shane Gillis, John Mulaney, Snoop Dogg, and some former Oakland Raiders. Fully filmed on location in Metro Atlanta, the 36-day shoot traveled Oscar-winning DP Bob Richardson and company to head up Russell's vision. Boom operator Leo Nasca and sound utility Nik Waddell had their hands full helping Aron capture clean dialogue. Leo was tasked with 30-minute takes while Nik was challenged to maneuver around the body suit to wire the lead actor, since Cage opted for prosthetics rather than real-life weight gain. Playback operator John Maskew was on hand for several scenes including a sing-along on the Madden/Dolly Parton tour bus that forced both him and Aron into the tour bus restroom to stay out of site. Production sound mixer Mike Sal and boom op Jason Sullivan clocked in on a second unit day to record football players running plays on the field. CAS Associate Jorge Del Valle was on set to monitor and maintain eight earwigs for main talent and mixed a splinter unit for Al Davis' speeches. "Every day is an adventure," became the mantra to the filmmaking style that only David O. Russell can create. Madden looks to be a 2026 theatrical release. Amanda Beggs CAS started the year mixing the hilarious stoner comedy film The Wrong Girls, starring Kristen Stewart, with crew Jason Benjamin and Chris Hall. She's now finishing the year on a new Ryan Murphy '80s horror show, The Shards, with crew Zach Wrobel, Danny Maurer CAS, Shorif Suhel, and Maribeth Powers. From James Ridgley CAS: "I have been spending my time doing production sound for my own feature films—it's nice that my recording package still has use! I am on my fourth feature film which I'm also writing, directing, and editing. I love being my own boss and so far, have not had to do any ADR!!! Of course, I could use a good post- production sound person—let me know! Also, I've really enjoyed all the great FYC screenings going on in Los Angeles! Happy holidays to this fantastic CAS family!" From NBCUniversal StudioPost Mark Fleming and Myron Nettinga are mixing NCIS: Tony & Ziva, Season 2 of St. Dennis Medical, and Ponies for NBC on Mix 1… On Mix 2, Keith Rogers CAS and Steve Bucino CAS are mixing Nobody Wants This for 20th Television, Never Stop Chasing, a documentary directed by Ken Cole, and rounding out the quarter is Season 2 of the hit series Fallout for Amazon… On Mix 6, Larry Benjamin CAS and Tim Hoogenakker CAS just wrapped director Jason Bateman's Black Rabbit on Netflix, The Burbs coming soon on Peacock, Tracker for 20th Television, and Pluribus for Apple TV+… Mix A has Kevin Roache CAS and Adam Sawelson CAS mixing Chicago Med… The mix team of Todd Morrissey CAS and Milo Train are mixing Season 5 of For All Mankind and Apple, Chicago PD, and Chicago Fire on Mix B... Mixers Andy King and Jon Mete have started up on the 27th season of Dick Wolf's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on Mix F… Mix G has Darin Heinis CAS and Alex Lee mixing Season 25 of Dick Wolf's Law & Order for NBC… On Mix 14, John Cook CAS and sound supervisor/ re-recording mixer Paul Hackner CAS just wrapped the DreamWorks Animation feature Gabby's Dollhouse for director Ryan Crego. John also mixed Man on the Inside with James Parnell CAS, Abbott Elementary with Brian Dinkins, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians with supervisor/ re-recording mixer Ben Cook CAS… And nominated for an Emmy for the show Mid-Century Modern, mixers Pete Nusbaum CAS and Whitney Purple are currently mixing Loot for Apple TV+ and Happy's Place for NBC on Mix 15. T H E L I G H T E R S I D E Production sound mixer Sean Byrnes CAS (R) with Natasha Fagan (2nd boom and wire duty) and Gunnar Walter (boom op) on the set of S2 of Sugar. See the "Been There Done That" submission from Gaby de Haan CAS to see what this image is about! CAS Associate member and boom operator Peter Deutscher AMPS, production sound mixer Ken Ishii CAS, and utility Dave LaVenture finishing up the fourth installment of the Meet the Parents collection, Focker In- Law, due out at the end of 2026. Daniel Vasquez V. CAS and Mathew Waters CAS at the Macondo Awards of the Colombian Film Academy where they were nominated for Best Sound for the film Uno. Continued on page 64 Ignoring all warnings, Camille Kennedy (2nd boom/utility), Rob Beal CAS (production sound mixer), and Toban Mills (boom op) answer the Black Phone on the set of Black Phone 2. "We had a lot of fun in the snowy wilderness making this horror flick!" Photo: Sabrina Lantos