Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/635406
C A S Q U A R T E R L Y W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 29 Well, when we were first starting out, not so great, as I am sure you can identify. We were working to build a company here and it was extremely stressful. My then wife and I had two young girls and things were a bit rough. But as time went on—and one marriage down (lol), things have definitely found their sweet spot in my life. As you well know Jesse, the passion for our work is a part of us, and we are like fish out of water if we are not twisting some audio button or placing some mic. I am constantly listening to and for sound in every part of my life— at work and home. For the most part, you just go "This is what we do" and they (friends and family) say "Okay." Then you work through the odd moments, like when you hear something that is driving you nuts but NOBODY else in the room hears it [ laughs], but we know it's there! [Doc shakes his finger up and down and I shake my head in agreement.] And there are the crazy work hours. How did you get your name Doc? My uncle was Dr. Lewis Mathew Kane, and he was a surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital in Downtown Los Angeles in the 1930s and '40s. So when I was born, I was named after him, "Lewis Mathew Kane." But my aunt had a great sense of humor and said, "Screw the formalities, let's just call him Doc." So you've been Doc since you were a baby? Yes. It was not one of those sound things—as many people think—it was my funny aunt! [ Laughs.] Destined maybe? [Side eye look, then both of us laugh out loud.] What do you do for fun? Well, I am a lover of music and had a band, but then we had grandchildren! [Laughing loudly.] Second marriage. [Laughs again.] So now I have two grandsons, ages 6 and 4. Those boys are like sacks of potatoes and tough as nails. So they keep us pretty busy. I still enjoy music when I can, but between work, the wife, two daughters, two grandsons, extended family and, of course, the dogs, there is never a dull moment—and I love it! You have more than 366 feature and TV credits which include (to name just a few) Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Muppets, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Wreck-It Ralph, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, Avatar, Brave, Cars 2, The Omen, The Fast and the Furious, TRON, The Social Network, Rango, Ladder 49, Frozen, Rio 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, Gone Girl, Rush Hour, Big Hero 6, Inside Out, and the most recently released The Good Dinosaur. You also have many award nomina- tions, which include four Golden Globes, four Academy Awards, and five CAS Awards. Your resume reads like the "who's who" of movies and is among the most impressive in the indus- try. What is one of your favorite memories? Actually, it's Avatar. The reason being is, on that show, we really let it all hang out. What I mean is, we used every tool at our dis- posal and I do mean every tool! We used samplers, a multitude of plug-ins, two, sometimes three recordists simultaneously, were having issues creating proper 1 to 1's. One day, I went to Don Rogers and told him that if a position in ADR or Foley comes up, I'd like to take it because I had been hanging out and watching the actors come in and out for awhile. It happens that Charleen Richards was working as the Stage E ADR mixer on the WB lot and she said, "Yeah, well, you can be my recordist, if I need some backup in the future." So I went down and sat with her who, by the way, I now consider to be the Queen of ADR. She was so nice and taught me the ropes. So, I ended up on Stage F and took over for Kevin O'Connell, who went off to be a dubbing mixer. It was a great learning experience. There are so many of us that can only hope to attain the level of professionalism and expertise that you have. Well, that is very nice of you! 'Tis true! So what is your favorite mic? My favorite mic is a Sennheiser MKH 50 for 99% of the loop- ing process. For the VO process, I would have to say the U47. Oh, not the U87? The 87 is a beautiful mic as well, but the 47 is more versatile and travel-ready. But either will get the job done with warmth and clarity. What would you tell an up-and-coming ADR mixer? What would be among the most important attributes they should have technically and personality-wise? I think you must be comfortable with where the buttons are, what they do, and how they affect your sound. You then have to train your ears to record a matching sound—and that takes time and practice. Once you have mastered that, the really important part starts. That is, you have to learn how to man- age your stage. And by that I mean, one must learn how to deal with the personalities. If there is a little bit of conflict between artist and director, you have to learn to just stop. Gauge the temperature and make the correct decision as to a plan of action. Knowing when to step in and push that talk-back but- ton, combined with saying the right thing—and knowing when to keep your fingers off that button. And almost always, there is no room for mistakes in this part of the job. It will either be the exact right amount of extra sauce or way too much salt—and can make or break an entire session! Indeed. You must learn Pro Tools extensively and make sure your mics are, first, the correct type and second, in the correct place. You would be surprised at how much six inches one way or the other can change the sound. Learn everything you can from everyone that is willing to share. Know as many aspects of the industry as possible. It will serve you well as time passes. This is a job where we live in a dark room for extensive hours, and I'd rather be nowhere else. It's playtime! How has this affected your personal life?