Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546135
74 FA L L 2 0 2 6 I C A S Q U A R T E R L Y A not that kind of mixer. He was the first mixer I had worked with that used a Cantar recorder. The system he had built was very streamlined and fairly weather proofed. His minimal approach made him very adaptable to changing conditions. Kirk was not concerned with the aesthetics of the gear or the cases. He was about getting the job done and done well. The idea of geeking out over gadgets or remembering specifics of model numbers was definitely not of interest to him. I came to realize that he wasn't incapable of retaining these bits of information—it was more a matter of principle as he knew every breed of bird and species of plant in existence. Regarding the job, he was the sort of sound mixer who knew what was important to worry about and what was ultimately unimportant. Kirk was very much interested in shooting exteriors as this put him closer to what mattered most to him. Being outdoors was his happy place, and I was always amazed at how comfortable he was even in the toughest conditions. The man never wore sunscreen or used bug spray. His skin was immune to the sun's rays, and his blood was rich with enough garlic to make any insect regret biting him. I had learned the details of how he spent years as a falconer where he trapped a wild red- tailed hawk and trained it to hunt rabbits for him while his crew of Jack Russell Terriers would help him track them down. And, whenever the weather was brought into question, I had a tendency to look at my phone and radar app to make my predictions. He, instead, used his handheld anemometer to check the wind speeds and B lap steel guitar. I wasn't the best at guitar and told him that my primary instrument was the saxophone. "Bring it tomorrow," he grumbled, and so I obliged. Before you knew it, we had worked up a playlist of "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Summertime," and a few other tunes that we would put on for whatever crew was near the back of the open sound trailer. It became our own little live-music venue among the sugarcane fields. Being Italian, Kirk was an exceptional cook and had even written his own book that came with recipes and personal stories from the various locations he visited during his extensive career. You would know if Kirk liked you if you were the recipient of his book. I finally learned why he traveled with that propane camping stove. He knew that his apartment for the duration of the shoot had a convection top and that would definitely not do. He required cooking with gas. Kirk learned that my wife was an avid baker and this helped solidify my value on his team. One day, she volunteered to bake him anything he wanted. He requested chocolate croissants, to which my wife exclaimed, "Of course, he would ask for those!" That is when I learned how much work and skill was required then make assessments about the current and approaching conditions. When the rain and lightning finally caused delays, he would run back to the trailer and grab his Hawaiian lap steel guitar and put in some practice time. It was a good thing he brought along so many guitars and ukuleles because we got shut down quite often! I would sit and listen to the private performances while the rain would pour down over our trailer. Eventually, he invited me to accompany him on guitar so that he could get more opportunities to solo on his Weissenborn