Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546135
C I N E M A A U D I O S O C I E T Y. O R G 7 Chris Welcker CAS is a production sound mixer with roots in New Orleans and a background in jazz performance. After working in commercial scoring, he transitioned into film and television, rising through the ranks under the mentorship of Oscar winner Kirk Francis CAS. His credits include Keanu, The Dirt, Bill & Ted Face the Music, and Daisy Jones & The Six, which earned him both an Emmy Award and a Cinema Audio Society Award nomination. Recent projects include the IMAX 70mm feature Sinners and the musical comedy sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, where his music-focused approach and collaborative mindset helped shape the sound of each production. Chris continues to pursue work that blends musicality with the craft of cinematic storytelling. Whitney Worthen studied communications with a focus in film at Grace College, but unsure of her place in the film world, headed back home to rural Indiana where she jump-started her journalist career. She began professionally writing in 2016 as a sports journalist for the Pilot News, covering high schools across North Central Indiana. After two years, Whitney moved to L.A. to pursue a career in production sound. She jumped in feet first, learning the ropes from a number of great mentors and getting to know the sound community better. She has since served as utility, boom operator, and sound mixer for series, shorts, and long-form. An avid Harry Potter fan, Whitney is often seen wearing a Pepsi hat while out-and- about. Ceri Thomas CAS is the founder of IMMERSV, a consultancy dedicated to advancing immersive audio technologies and modern production workflows. With over two decades of experience across studio design, spatial audio implementation, and workflow optimization for film, television, and music facilities in the UK and the U.S., Ceri has played a key role in shaping how creators approach immersive content production in real-world studio environments. Ceri spent six years at Dolby Laboratories, where he was deeply involved in the development and global adoption of Dolby Atmos for cinema, home entertainment, and music production. His work included designing reference immersive mixing environments, developing best practices for Atmos workflows, and collaborating with leading studios, engineers, and content creators worldwide to support consistent, scalable immersive production. Following Dolby, Ceri joined Apple, advising on the design and implementation of immersive audio production facilities, including the state-of-the-art studios at Apple's Culver City campus. Through IMMERSV, he continues to work with studios, technology companies, and creators on spatial audio workflows, modular studio platforms such as Nu. Studio, AI-driven tools with Forte.ai, and immersive audio solutions for live events and broadcast. His work bridges technical innovation and creative practice, ensuring emerging technologies truly serve artists and engineers.