Thank you Jeff

[Conor]

This community space that Jeff created and maintained and all of it's contributors have been an invaluable learning resource to me in my career. Being on the other side of the world in deepest darkest Africa I would have never been able to be feel this connected to the global location sound community without it. My eternal gratitude to JW and sincere condolences to his family. 

[Fred Salles]

This is very sad, my condolences to the family and the global sound community. It is rare to have such a nice person, great and recognized professional, having such an impact on more than one generation of colleagues by sharing and inviting us all to share and creating and getting involve in such a remarquable internet contribution that is Jwsoundgroup. At a time when consultants and trainers are becoming a new breed of greedy profit seeker, the passing of such a soul like Jeff Wexler is depressing.

 

 

[BenThereDonThat]

Jeff has a long list of contributions to the quality of sound on film and television.  He has one that towers over the rest.  

 

Prior to 1978, virtually all production dialog was recorded with "interference"-type microphones.  Ex:  Sennheiser 415, 815.  These microphones reputedly made dialog more intelligible by artificially using a type of phase cancellation to reduce the background sounds.  Jeff's ears told him that this wasn't working.  The background sound from these microphones, while lower in level, is not coherent with the dialog that's being recorded.  It's "bad sound".  It's the same kind of "bad sound" that comes from horn-type speakers, which throw phasey, weird sounding energy into the reverberate field.  

 

In 1978, Jeff recorded the film "Being There", directed by Hal Ashby.  Jeff wanted to record this film differently, and shared the problem with Hal.  With this director's agreement, Jeff and his world-class boom operator Don Coufal began recording this film with Schoeps microphones - their first use in production sound anywhere.  They weren't very reliable, and the power supplies could be affected by humidity.  And the biggest challenge was that the dialog sounded different in dailies than anyone had heard before.  On the second day of dailies, and comments that the sound was "strange", Hal Ashby turned around in his seat, looked at Jeff, and said "are we OK"?  Jeff assured him they were.  

 

Jeff followed the tracks up the ladder to re-recording mixer Don Mitchell, who found the tracks the most intelligible and natural sounding he had ever heard.  Hal Ashby ensured Jeff had a "front card" credit on this film.  Never before had a production mixer received a front-card credt.  

 

Many production sound mixers followed his example rather quickly.  Jeff has a long legacy of embracing REAL quality advancements and rejected gimmicks.  We now see the film industry with huge changes and vastly changed production.  Hopefully Jeff's legacy will live on in the younger sound engineers he generously mentored over the years.   

[Philip Perkins]

JW was a great hero and exemplar for me--I aspired (in vain, usually) to be and work like him on the set.  His integrity, diplomatic skills, deep preparation, ear for much more than just dialog audio, exceptional understanding of all aspects of filmmaking and deep desire to push the craft and the art of cinema forward were inspirational to all who knew him.  This forum was his great, selfless gift to the world-wide sound community: Jeff made it possible for so many of us to learn from each other and discuss issues unique to location sound in a positive environment in which the newest newbie could ask questions of the most experienced professionals and hope to get clear, honest answers.  Jeff never made a dime on this forum, and I know that it was a serious headache for him at times, but he thought it was important for it to continue.  Thanks, man; you will be very missed in our world.

[Rick Reineke]

I am so so sorry to hear of Jeff's passing. The JWGroup has helped many of us with knowledge, companionship and amusement. I take a look at the forum almost every day and have been for the past 12+ years.

Condolences to the family. RIP Jeff.

[Mack]

RIP Jeff.  I’m saddened yet grateful for the years of friendship. We are truly MOS without you.   

[BenThereDonThat]

[kpmontano]

It’s been a while since I’ve been on this forum and I’m saddened to learn of Jeff’s passing.  Although I didn’t get the opportunity to meet in person, I learned so much from the community represented by this site and ramps.  RIP 

[Phillip C Dent]

I’m sad to hear of Jeff’s passing. I first met him on the set of The Family Stone. I was part of the EPK crew. I was impressed when he could hear the noise of the digi-beta camera that we were using on set.  From then on the epk camera had to stay far away from the boom mic.

 

I also chatted with him when I ran into him at Coffey Sound in L.A. when he was prepping for a show. Being the icon that he was, I thought it appropriate to address him as “Mr. Wexler”. He immediately offered his hand and said “Jeff”. He then showed me a newly designed stool for his boom guy.  He was a legend in the production sound industry and a nice guy. He will be missed.

[Bob K]

I add my thanks to Jeff for administering this forum for so long, and my condolences to his family.  Thank you.

And, I'll share my own long-standing counsel for good health: Eat healthy, nutritious food only.  It works.

[rocketamari]

condolences to you and your family, Vanessa. Jeff will be sorely missed.

[lazajamsonic]

Sending my condolences to Jeff’s family, and the broader filmmaking family he has contributed so much to. Grateful for the community he cultivated here, such a valuable resource to me earlier in my career. It’s an incredible legacy of work & knowledge, a rare welcoming scene behind the scenes for a group of people too often ‘siloed’ in their work.

RIP & thank you for everything, Jeff.

[Brent Lestage]

It’s so difficult to imagine a world of imagination —of sound and picture, of art and science and of storytelling without Jeff Wexler in it. May you rest in peace, Jeff, knowing all that you have contributed to this art, and to those who you have mentored and inspired. Your work lives on and we shall never forget you! My sincerest condolences to the Wexler Family. 🎬

[Spikesoundman]

It is so sad to hear of Jeffs passing. His knowledge of sound recording has always been an inspiration to me as he left nothing in his quest to be the best. He will be missed. 

[cmgoodin]

Just heard this news today.   Really sorry to hear of Jeff's passing.  Have known and worked with him for many decades. I had the honor of serving with Jeff on the IATSE Local 695 Executive Board for more than a decade.  And of course for his starting this forum as a place where all interested sound professionals could gather and exchange ideas.  He will be sorely missed.

[DHB]

Thank you Jeff Wexler.

[David Stevens]

Much love to JW. We all owe him a debt of gratitude. This forum has been a career builder for so many of us. JW...a gracious man. 

 

[Spikesoundman]

Well out of the vast camera people population comes the best and for somebody who was absolutely the greatest. He will always be remembered

[inspire]

This is such a beautiful and heartfelt tribute.
Thank you for sharing this with all of us — it truly honors Jeff in a very special way.

It also gently reminds me of a dear sound mixer friend of mine, Urmas Ilo, who is no longer with us. I still visit his resting place whenever I can.

Wishing strength and peace to the family. His legacy will live on.

[Mungo]

Late, but:

 

Thank you, Jeff! You were one of the greatest sound recordists of your time, worked for several movies you now call classics. And you created this platform, the only serious and true opportunity to gain and share knowledge on a professional basis across country borders. This forum has given us all a lot support throughout the years. And you were in it, chimed in, gave good advices, had an opinion. The sound crowd misses you and won't forget you.

[igomarsound]

I am also very late, but all my gratitude goes to Mr Jeff Wexler, This forum has been the best ressource for me since my beginnings in this industry. forever grateful for this opportunity.

 

may he rest in peace and may this community continue to help and share knowledges and experiences, honoring Mr Wexler's work and dedication.

 

thank you.

[BenThereDonThat]

I had the honor of attending Jeff's memorial service at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.  It was good to see what a great turnout for such an honorable man.

 

I enjoyed everyone's remembrances, but was especially moved by Brian McCarty, who I guess must have traveled to LA from Australia where he lives.  

 

From "The Natural", a film Jeff recorded:  "There goes Jeff Wexler, the best there ever was in the game".

 

Thanks Brian.