Production Sound Mixer Flashbacks

I’ve spent many years in the field as a production sound mixer. Consequently, I sure have gathered up a fair quantity of photos! Since they aren’t doing anyone any good just sitting on my computer, I decided to build a gallery for the website. You can even see that gallery here if you want. It sure was a nice walk down memory lane, so I decided to recall some of my favorite production sound mixer adventures for you here. I hope to do many more posts like this in the days, weeks and months to come.

A sound cart alone in the desert.

Arizona Clean Elections Commission

At the time of writing this, we were coming up on an important month–midterm elections, so it seemed apropos to start with this one from a shoot a few years ago for the Arizona Clean Elections Commission.

Here the sound cart sits alone waiting to be pushed up a rather significant incline for a few hours of shooting in the desert. That day we covered over 7 locations, all of which required a company move. This was not the best planning by any means, especially in a hot Arizona summer. Nevertheless it came out great because we had a great team!

Incidentally, you can view the finished spot right here in my portfolio of commercials and music videos or if you prefer, over here on YouTube directly.

Behind the scenes for AZ Clean Elections, opening shot.

The image to the right is a snapshot of the set-up on the opening shot. Click and have a look at the set up, then watch the magic of the finished piece above. (or if you missed it, right here on YouTube)

I still can’t believe we had to load-in, set-up, break down and load-out sets like this 7 times that day. When ya get great people together to to great things, however, all that work seems to just melt away. Sometimes literally, in 112 degree AZ summers, but we come back for the figurative, not the literal.

I am NOT getting in that pool with these good shoes on!

Summer Savings at Sanderson Ford

Speaking of hot Arizona summers–here’s a fun one. That’s me right there–wearing pants and long sleeves in the summer. It really is easier than spending 30 minutes slathering sunscreen all over for just a few hours in the sun. Yes, it is hot, however. I was especially jealous of my pal Tony. He decided to shoot the action scene from in the shallow end of the pool. The action is out-of-frame in this pic, so you’ll never know how good JR’s “canon ball for Summer Savings at Ford” really was!

On the docks at Ada Fishing Resort in Westlake, OR

On-Dock for The Watchman’s Canoe

Here we are on the docks of the Ada Fishing Resort. The resort is in Westlake, Oregon and sits on the beautiful Siltcoos Lake. We look rather calm and cool here in this shot, but the reality of it is: we were all nervous and scared. Look at all that gear on that wet dock!

The docks got wet every day in the afternoon as the wind and waves picked up. Because it happened every day and was wet consistently, a fair amount of algae insisted on living on the surface of the docks and got her water every afternoon to stay alive….and so much more slippery. Yikes!