Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546054
22 M PS E . O R G BREAKING ENTERING & my own company, Soularity Sound, and began collaborating with other supervising editors in Austin. Eventually, I reached a point where I wanted to expand my opportunities. In 2018, I flew to Los Angeles to attend Mix's Sound for Film and Television event on the Sony lot. I met a number of great people, and at one point found myself at the MPSE table speaking with Mark Lanza. I was admittedly a bit starstruck. He encouraged me to join MPSE. About a month later, through my writing for Designing Sound, I secured an invitation to Skywalker Ranch. Between those two experiences, I connected with Tim Rakoczy, who supervises sound for Robert Rodriguez's films. I was invited to join his team as an assistant sound editor on one of Robert's projects. By the end of the show, I was also cutting dialogue and ADR. While working with that crew, I met David Butler, who later recommended me for Stranger Things Season 4. That opportunity helped me establish a foothold in Los Angeles and led to additional work with other teams. If there is one lesson in all of this, it is the importance of relationships. Joining MPSE, attending events, and engaging with peers, even through spaces like the MPSE Members-Only Discord, are all ways to build the connections that shape your career. Aim high and remind yourself that you have what it takes. Looking back, I would never have imagined earning an Emmy and a Golden Reel, becoming a professor at The University of Texas at Austin, or authoring the third edition of Dialogue Editing for Motion Pictures and Television: The Invisible Art, originally written by John Purcell, a book I once treated as "the editing Bible" early in my career. I remember in college seeing MPSE and CAS next to names in the credits and deciding that one day I wanted those letters after my own. Today, I serve as Vice President of MPSE. There is still much I hope to accomplish in my career, so I continue to set my sights high. Most of us will experience self-doubt or imposter syndrome at some point. We will also face setbacks. The important thing is to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward. When an opportunity presents itself: take it. When plans change: go with the flow. "The important thing is to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward. When an opportunity presents itself: take it. When plans change: go with the flow. "Have faith in yourself. You may be surprised by what you are capable of. I know I continually am." THIRD MONDAY MONTHLY POST SOUND HANG Brews Brothers Brewpub Burbank, CA SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 Submissions Open OCTOBER 20-21 GameSoundCon Burbank, CA OCTOBER 25 MPSE Fall Family Picnic Agoura Hills, CA OCTOBER 31, 2026 Student Submissions Close NOVEMBER 15 Sounding Board 6.0 Los Angeles, CA NOVEMBER 18-19 Sonic Days Denmark DECEMBER 1, 2026 Submissions Close DECEMBER 10, 2026 Nomination Voting Begins DECEMBER 12-13 SoundGirls & Women in Vinyl Virtual Conference Online only JANUARY 3, 2027 Nomination Voting Ends MARCH 7, 2027 74th Golden Reel Awards Los Angeles, CA M PS E COM I N G ATTRACT I O N S