Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1543098
finish, but Master and Commander was different. Retirement Retirement is very interesting. When we retire, there is no fanfare, no gold watch, no dried‑out cake from Costco. We just rode off into the sunset, hoping we don't fall off the horse. Trust me, I really enjoy retirement, but in a certain sense, it's like hitting a brick wall going one hundred miles an hour. There's no more call sheets, no more being asked to go into a grace period. I have to make my own breakfast burritos, and if I have a Fraturday, watching a Saturday sunrise while eating Thai food, it's of my own choosing. I don't stress out in traffic anymore. If I'm in the sun at one‑hundred‑degree temperatures, I'm most likely at a beach resort with an umbrella drink. Things are just different now. In the end, the experience I treasure was never about the project itself, it was always about the people I shared it with. I mean everyone, not only the sound team, but every single person who steps onto the set. We are fortunate to work in a business filled with a wonderfully diverse group of people from different backgrounds, races, genders, religions, all coming together with one common purpose; to make a great film. That spirit of collaboration is what defines each and every project we do. I know I was lucky. I gave everything I had to the film business, and it returned the favor. It gave me all that I asked for. A good living, an amazing adventure, and great people like all of you. Forty‑seven years well spent. I'll end with the words of the great philosopher, Ted Lasso: "Fairy tales do not start, nor do they end, at the dark forest. That's only something that shows up smack dab in the middle of the story, but it will all work out. It may not work out how you think it will or how you hope it does. But believe me, it will all work out, exactly as it's supposed to." And it did. needless to say, I wasn't asked to return the next day. Having me on the set was like losing ten of your best men. If Joe reads this, he will have no idea what I'm talking about or who I am, because I don't think we ever spoke. My first real job was with Sound Mixer Dean Vernon and Boom Operator Ron Long. These guys were completely old school; everything was done on a Fisher Boom. They had been around so long, they really knew every trick in the book. I don't think there was ever a Boom Operator as good as Ron Long. It goes back to that old saying, "He taught me everything I know, but not everything he knew." What was your favorite movie to work on? My favorite film experience was Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. I had the privilege of working with the legendary Academy Award‑winning Sound Mixer Art Rochester. It was the only film we made together, but it left a lasting impression. Art wasn't just a great mixer, he was one of the most fascinating people I've ever met. His love of the outdoors and his stories about life beyond the set captivated me. Art's passion was a huge part of what made Master and Commander so special. When working with a director like Peter Weir, passion comes naturally. I had never worked for anyone like Peter before, and I never would again. The set was a full mock‑up of the British frigate HMS Surprise. Peter made it clear that every person mattered. He knew the names of every crew member, every background sailor, even the animals on board. At the final production meeting before filming began, Peter insisted that everyone attend. He shared his vision for the movie and told us that every job was integral to making something great. I'll admit, I was skeptical at first, but it didn't take long to realize he meant every word. The entire project of Master and Commander was just incredible. From the time I arrived, and I saw the HMS Surprise sitting on its gimbal in the yet to be filled tank in Rosarito, Mexico, to boarding its deck and observing the meticulous attention to detail in the construction of that vessel. Once we began filming, the background arrived, adorned in their perfectly tailored wardrobe, climbing in the rattling as though we were in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. These were professional sailors who knew exactly what they were doing on that ship. Every move they made replicated what would happen if we were at sea in 1805, preparing to battle the French. At the very end, having the opportunity to travel to the Galapagos Islands to film the beautiful scenery, and creatures that are found nowhere else on earth. Every step of the way of that film was challenging but rewarding. I have never been so proud when I wrapped. I believe it was the only movie I didn't want to end. I think no matter how good the experience is, we all want the job to Jeffrey in the Galapagos Islands