Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/713016
C A S Q U A R T E R L Y S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 41 You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up Boom op Ron Ayres and I were working on Season 1 of the Detroiters for Comedy Central. Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde bring their little son Otis (around 2 years old) to the set. During the martini shot, little Otis starts being rather vocal and it's ruining sound takes, so they decide to leave. While walking by my sound cart during a take, little Otis is yelling, trying to form the words "bye- bye"—just as Jason & Olivia are looking at me, miming the words "Sorry." Cutest thing ever. Little Otis is totally welcome on set anytime he wants to hang out, even if it means a little ADR. –Jamie Scarpuzza CAS Production Sound Mixer For many years, the Kennedy Center has honored at least five people, who have made significant lifetime contributions to the arts. The Kennedy Center Honors is recorded as a TV show during the first week of December for later broadcast during Christmas week. With rare exception, the president attends these ceremonies. It is not unusual at the end of a president's last term in office, that there is some special presentation in recognition of his last time attending the ceremonies as president. So it was at the end of President Reagan's second term. While I don't remember the nature of the presentation, President Reagan was so moved by it, he stood up in his balcony box and, in a clear stage voice, made a comment to the stage and audience. The stage and audience responded with appreciation and the program continued. The producers of that year's show were Nick Vanoff and George Stevens, Jr. and I was immediately asked if I had somehow recorded the president's remark so it could be used in the broadcast. Now, any mixer who's done a show where the president is in attendance, knows that the Secret Service is extremely sensitive about any microphones in close proximity to the president. The closest audience mikes were actu- ally two PZMs under the balcony—so they were of no help. The only mikes even pointed in that direction were two 416s off the corners of the stage, also of no help. So, as is often the case, discounting the sensitivity of the Secret Service, the producers viewed this as an audio problem. Just so happens, the following weekend, George Stevens, Jr. produced a second show, Christmas in Washington, also with the president in atten- dance. So I called George and suggested that, of all people, President Reagan knows what "looping" means and suggested he may just be up for looping his line at the second event. Being a real sport, the president gave us two takes, the second of which closely fit the picture. With appro- priate EFX to match the Kennedy Center Opera House, I dropped in the president's loop line in post and the audio problem was solved. By the way, the president's line was: "It beats getting an Oscar!" –Edward J. Greene CAS Production Sound Mixer When covering the Indy 500 race several years back, I was specifically reminded by our ABC Sports producer to be sure to record the famous "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines." I was on the track at the starting line talking with drivers, carrying a Nagra, when suddenly, the announce- ment came on without warning. I frantically turned on the recorder—but missed "Gentlemen." How do I explain this to the producer? Well, you just can't make this up. For some reason, I don't recall now, the race start was stopped on Lap One and all cars returned to the starting line, engines off, and an official "Gentlemen, Restart Your Engines" happened. I made sure I got that! Later, in the motel room, I edited the tape, took "Re" off the "Restart" and got both versions correct. No one ever knew, but me. So ABC was happy. I was saved. –Don Matthews CAS, Retired Production Sound Mixer, who is loving living in Colorado Springs, CO My name is Marlowe Taylor and I am a production sound mixer out of Cleveland, Ohio. I really couldn't believe it at first. Can you actually see the same actor two times in one year on back-to-back fea- tures!!!? Well, let me tell you … I had just finished mixing a feature, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger called 478 and the co-star, Glenn Morshower, was such a down-to-earth person and a funny, funny guy. At the movie wrap, we all hug. Then a few months later, some guy pulls up on set, out front of a restaurant, gets out, and BAM!!!, it's Glenn again! This time, on the set of a sci-fi feature called Curvature. He gave me a big full hug and said, "Marlowe, you're busy, brother." I never felt so good knowing that doing my job—of which I love every second—reflects on others with them remembering who you are by name! These are just some of the moments/reasons I love what I do and being a member among all my brothers and sisters of the CAS. It is what motivates me every day to keep striving to be the best—and that's why I smile while rolling sound! I'm now in prep for the feature Gotti. Maybe it will be three times the charm and I will see Glenn Morshower again! LOL! –Marlowe Taylor CAS Production Sound Mixer When covering the Indy 500 race several years back, I was specifically reminded by our ABC Sports producer to be sure to record the famous "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines." I was on the track at the starting line talking with drivers, carrying a Nagra, when suddenly, the announce- ment came on without warning. I frantically turned on the recorder—but missed "Gentlemen." How do I explain this to the producer? Well, you just can't make this up. For some reason, I don't recall now, the race start was stopped on Lap One and all cars returned to the starting line, engines off, and an official "Gentlemen, Restart Your Engines" happened. I made sure I got that! Later, in the motel room, I edited the tape, took "Re" off the "Restart" and got both versions correct. No one ever knew, but me. So ABC was happy. I was saved. –Don Matthews CAS, Retired Production Sound Mixer, who is loving living in Colorado Springs, CO My name is Marlowe Taylor and I am a production sound mixer out of Cleveland, Ohio. I really couldn't believe it at first. Can you actually see the same actor two times in one year on back-to-back fea- tures!!!? Well, let me tell you … I had just finished mixing a feature, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger called 478 and the co-star, Glenn Morshower, was such a down-to-earth person and a funny, funny guy. At the movie wrap, we all hug. Then a few months later, some guy pulls up on set, out front of a restaurant, gets out, and BAM!!!, it's Glenn again! This time, on the set of a sci-fi feature called Curvature. He gave me a big full hug and said, "Marlowe, you're busy, brother." I never felt so good knowing that doing my job—of which I love every second—reflects on others with them remembering who you are by name! These are just some of the moments/reasons I love what I do and being a member among all my brothers and sisters of the CAS. It is what motivates me every day to keep striving to be the best—and that's why I smile while rolling sound! I'm now in prep for the feature Gotti. Maybe it will be three times the charm and I will see Glenn Morshower again! LOL! –Marlowe Taylor CAS Production Sound Mixer