Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545099
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S 47 at Maryland Public Television after the JMU alumni magazine ran an article about him winning an Emmy for sound. He generously opened his studio to me and showed me professional post workflows on the SSL ScreenSound and Scenaria long before I truly belonged there. That generosity and willingness to share knowledge shaped how I viewed mentorship and community from the very beginning of my career. Working in documentaries also taught me to prioritize emotional clarity and storytelling over spectacle, which still informs how I approach narrative work today. In 2011, Steven and I moved to Los Angeles. We immediately became involved with the LA Sound Group, alongside Rob Nokes and the incredibly talented and kind Sam Flynn, who sadly passed shortly after we arrived in town. Through that community, I was fortunate to learn from so many artists and mentors like Jeff Wexler CAS, Steve Maslow CAS, John Roesch MPSE, Gary Bourgeois CAS, Mark Mangini MPSE, Steve Flick MPSE, Dennis Sands CAS, Chuck Michael MPSE, Mike Minkler CAS, and many others who each contributed something meaningful to my growth. Month after month, I found myself sitting in rooms with these artists and craftspeople I had admired for years, listening, learning, building friendships, and building community. The impact of that period on my career and perspective was enormous. Some mentors taught technical discipline. Some taught leadership. Some taught diplomacy, collaboration, resilience, or generosity. Many advocated for me in rooms I was not yet in. It's also important to acknowledge that when I entered the field, there were very few women in post sound, and access to major rooms, consoles, and (Top): Some of many adventures in episodics at Westwind; (below): Celebrating Emmy- nominated Loki Season 2 "Glorious Purpose" with props.