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Dutch

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Everything posted by Dutch

  1. That's some great advice Johnpaul215. Many of those old films I'm still in awe of and if I had a time machine I'd love to see how it was accomplished with the people/tech of those times.
  2. Sorry for not accepting your viewpoint and using the word ridiculous in my last post. I just see the sound department as such an important entity in the media creation process. You're probably right that the days of 4 or 5 mixers making $600 a day are history. But I do know that great PA's deserve a decent wage as they're like gold on a set. Technology can never replace a sound person who cares about the production and the quality of sound in the end product. We are the ears of the set and know things that nobody else does. We have the opportunity, if we choose, to make many things better on set with the things we hear. We hear the uptight crew members and can help smooth things over before they come to a boil. We hear the stress of the talent when a Director gets frustrated and barks at them. On boom I often use compassion or an encouraging word at these times and it seems to help keep them focused on their delivery. We have the power to fix things before they become real issues and I see that as part of my role too. These comments are only to emphasize that technology cannot replace the often unseen benefits we can bring to any production.
  3. I agree with AFMY as well but it's way more than just gear or even technical expertise. Nearly every gig I'm on I hear the same thing, "You're much nicer than the other sound guys we've worked with." I see it on this board too with certain members. Wish people a happy holiday and get no response, but say something negative about someones favorite piece of gear and you'll get plenty of grumpy replies. The attitudes often diminish your expertise and having a positive attitude during 60 hour work weeks goes a long way. So lighten up a little. One thing I learned from booming is you get way better results by being nice to cast and crew than by arguing. Great sound comes equally from working well with others as the gear itself. Machines or software can't replace the personal touch and human elements. To say that the Dugan addition to the 633 will lead to "Sound PA's" is ridiculous. Though it does help former boom op's like me do a better mix and advance my career as a department head. Thanks SD!
  4. SD rocks! Can't wait to try it out and hear other mixer's experiences with the software. Did a round table discussion recording over the weekend and wished I had the Dugan feature as it was challenging without. Thank you SD!
  5. Thanks Constantin, and FYI, I truly value your input on this forum as you're always willing to share your wisdom and help guys like me who eat a lot of macaroni and cheese for dinner (American poor mans food). Your boom op sounds amazing and I strive for that level anytime I'm in that role. The reason I'm adamant about using headphones is because they're also my eyes so to speak. The pristine part of the cone on a 416 booming at 32"-36" from chest level is less than a foot wide. Often with indies there is no rehearsal, camera is on an ez-rig, and my eyes are watching the DP, talent, and potential obstacles in my foot path. My ears guide my hands as much as my eyes do. Surely it's a bit easier when using a CMIT-5U but I won't risk that mic in inclement weather/high humidity situations. In this region some of my peers will work indie's for $400 a day with gear so you can imagine why there's some stress in some of my postings as I don't like to be a dog chasing scraps of meat. We only get a couple of union gigs a year in upstate and our tax credits haven't materialized into much as in other areas of the country so joining that fraternity isn't in the affordability cards right now. But I love this line of work, it's a passion, and I revere those who laid the bricks before me (god bless you Mr. Wexler/many others here and that's respect not ass kissing). Probably would've bailed a few years ago and will spare you the horror stories but a few of those films did really well (over a million paid views as well as theatrical releases) with kudos from DP's, Producers, Directors, and internationally known talent. Still just a journeyman at this craft though and really do appreciate what it's taken for many on here to master it. I owe quite a few beers to some of the major contributors on this forum as you've saved my butt on many occasions by sharing your expertise. Oh and yes I've had a few tonight so pardon the heartfelt response if it seems un-engineer like. Lol Thank you!
  6. Christian, I respect both you and Constantin but to make comments like that really works against the level of quality that hopefully we're all trying to achieve. Surely each genre has its own level of production quality. Theatrical released feature films are supposed to be the pinnacle of this profession. It's great that technology gives more and more aspiring artists a chance to express themselves. But the author said " My films are micro budget (the last one possibly the lowest budget film to ever get a theater release)." That's great, wow, maybe even impressive as it implies a level of quality people were willing to invest in to pay for a theatrical release. There are many great "indie" films that never get that opportunity. Since I make a living primarily in that genre, I see the disturbing trends of Producers who cut corners thinking that technology can take the place of experienced technicians. I've watched the trend of professional boom operators being replaced with "noodle armed" free labor from local film schools so they can add another "named actor" for a three line cameo. That tactic is just for the purpose of enhancing marketing but does little for the overall film. Sorry for the seeming rant as my intention isn't disrespect to anyone. My intention is respect! Respect for each individual crew position that it takes to make a quality film. Technology can't replace skilled people in this industry. So go back and read what Brian W wrote as it's all great advice! I'd gladly work with Brian knowing he works toward standards of excellence and he'd value my skills working toward that same goal.
  7. +1 for Brian W, anything less than his recommendations is ridiculous. Much like asking an experienced dolly operator to do his job without a monitor. Sure it can be done but come on be real! Speaking of dolly techs, anyone know how crazy Omar from L.A. is doing?
  8. Love these stories! Never a day goes by that I'm not in awe of the amazingly talented engineers on this forum. Thank you for setting the bar high and sharing the wisdom of your experiences.
  9. Time flies and children grow up fast. Don't stress too much or as Phillip said you will regret not enjoying your time off. They feel your stress too! Take lots of video and use your sound gear to capture those precious early years/sounds. Too often we value money/comfort over what's important, our kids. Keep your wife happy too or you will learn quickly that there is no gender equality after divorce when it comes to being a parent. Being home while paying for a nanny is a recipe for disaster! I've worked many bullshit jobs in between gigs and even did overnight office cleaning just so I could be there for my son/share the parenting during the day. There's no easy solution!
  10. Interesting article and a look back at the early technology of our profession. http://www.uakron.edu/im/news/lost-songs-of-the-holocaust-found-in-ua-archives
  11. "Show me the money!" A whole store of the same VHS tapes= antiquated technology or archaic thinking and no choices. From an art perspective it correlates with the current ideology of "me" instead of "we" and that money is all that matters. Funny though, and good movie too! But I've always been a fan of Cruise's acting work too so what do I know.
  12. Congratulations to both on your recognition for fantastic products. Those are the tools of the trade, and we stake our reputations on your products. Keep up the great work!
  13. Thanks for sharing your recent 633 experience. Nice tool and it's capabilities are quite impressive!
  14. Yes, surely you're right as the preamps from the 302 still sound nicer (to my ears) than the 633's even if not technically better by spec. Thanks for the specifics Phillip. I use all the same brand of home stereo speakers too (old Advents). My audiophile teachers probably fostered the "keep it similar" concept.
  15. Not sure why you'd want to mix preamp manufacturers? Isn't that introducing the potential for lightly "off color" sound even if it's still excellent? My backup 302 does the trick for this application.
  16. I love my job! Part of the enjoyment of this career is tackling the challenges we face everyday. Capturing sound at Niagara Falls is a good example. Having the Director give a "shout out" to the sound team at the film premier is icing on the cake.
  17. Funny you said that "aff", and so very true. Isn't that one of the unwritten rules and a large part of the job as production crew? From my first experience as a "walk on" Boom Op for a locally produced Christian film I always saw my role as supporting or promoting an actors/actresses best performance as well as capturing their sound. I like to make eye contact before I lower the boom into their proverbial space and sometimes going beyond that general sign of respect in an effort to ameliorate the production. For instance: on that same film we had a night scene with an Emmy award winning dark skinned actress. She was very nervous how she looked and called for makeup several times and our "Indie" Director was getting more and more frustrated each time which in turn made her more nervous. Something needed to give to break the building tension. As I was just feet away from her I looked her over very gently and said with a big smile "Lynn you look beautiful". Poof, the tension instantly disappeared from her face and she boldly stated that she was ready and banged the scene on the first take. The night she wrapped I watched her searching through the crowd until she spotted me on the other side of the room. Lynn made a special point to give me a big hug and thank me for making her feel comfortable. To make a long story short, there's a lot more to capturing great sound than just the technical aspects of the discipline. That film ended up being good enough to be purchased by Sony too!
  18. Scary, and no doubt we're heading in that direction.
  19. Thanks Jay! I wasn't aware that iconic roar was looped. Your info also sent me on an exploration of Mel Blanc, a man who I admired since childhood. In his interview on David Letterman he stated that it took 125 people nine months to create a six and a half minute cartoon (no wonder those Warner Brothers cartoons were the best). Really appreciate you sharing your experience/wisdoms!
  20. The film "The Jazz Singer" from 1927 is typically credited for ushering in the era of sound for film. I however, like to give credit to the iconic MGM lion from 1924. Does anyone know the name of the sound engineer in this picture as he's surely deserving of our remembrance?
  21. Just finished reading about the challenges Tony Johnson CAS and his team tackled on the three Hobbit films using Zaxcom technology. Amazing! A well deserved award and my hat's off to Zaxcom. Congratulations! (albeit a tad belated)
  22. It's nice to see the majority of this forum showing mutual respect for each other despite differences in opinion. For those who live here in the U.S., the only thing that needs to happen to make America great again is to get rid of the hate. This is a choice from within, not an action against another. United we will stand strong; divided we will surely fall.
  23. Gerard, I see you're from NYC so I expect things will continue on as usual for your area (http://nypost.com/2016/08/25/sheldon-silver-avoids-jail-for-at-least-another-year/ ). Although there might be a slight increase in police brutality against those who sell single cigarettes on the street corner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfXqYwyzQpM It's not my intention to be a smart-ass but I have nothing but prayers for people who spout hate as our illustrious leader so often exhibited on the campaign trail. As far as the corruption issue, I can't tell you how it will occur as my mind doesn't think like a dishonest persons does. I'm wired to be positive, compassionate, and enjoy helping others.
  24. Boggles any intelligent mind. But the election is only the surface of the real issues that nobody cares to address. A vote recount or Clinton victory won't cure the systemic corruption. Both political party's keep the masses focused on semi-irrelevant issues to mask the deeper, darker ones. While I will concede that Trump's win heralds an era of mind-boggling system abuse and corruption. Maybe, just maybe though, it will become so obvious that real, positive change can be augmented. But nothing will change until the "public servants" work for the people instead of self-interest.
  25. Wishing Mr. Wexler and all the fine engineers of JW Sound Group a very Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you, for all you do!
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