A great mentor is only half of what makes a successful mentorship. A mentee needs to put just as much, if not more effort to make sure that the relationship is productive and time is used efficiently and respectfully. I've been fortunate to be on both sides, as both a mentor and a mentee. Through some of my own successes and failures, I've come up with some ideas … [Read more...]
Interview: James Morioka on mentorship
This month, with the theme being mentorship, I decided to interview my biggest mentor in film sound, James Morioka. James has worked on films such as 21 and 22 Jump Street, Fury, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Hotel Transylvania 2 and 3. DS: This month our theme is mentorship, but before we get started with that, can you tell us a little about how you got started in your career … [Read more...]
The Importance of Mentorship
I realize this is a very broad subject; and, consequently, there is an unlimited array of personal opinions about what exactly constitutes a Master and Apprentice relationship. Even the correct terminology for this relationship is an area for debate. Some prefer the classic terms Mentor and Protégé. And, others may find these terms intimidating or outdated, simply referring to … [Read more...]
A Look at Mentoring
The subject of mentoring is something that's been popping up more and more over the last few years. The context of the discussion centers around the way our industry has changed over the decades, leading to fewer opportunities for young sound designers to learn directly from seasoned professionals. In the recent past, if you wanted a mentor to help guide you in your career, you … [Read more...]
The 30-Day SFX Challenge
Sound effects libraries are the essential toolkit of every sound designer: they are convenient and practical. Furthermore, in a time where deadlines seem to get shorter and shorter, why would one bother to hike their way into field recording when we have all the tools we need within a click from our reach? As with every overindulgence, relying on sound effects libraries for too … [Read more...]
Making a Career Out of Audio
I was exceptionally lucky to have stumbled/lied my way into a dream job designing sound for video games twenty years ago, and am even more fortunate to have somehow made a career out of it. Sometimes people ask me how I’ve managed to stay afloat in this tumultuous industry having braved numerous crunches, layoffs, studio shutdowns, moral dilemmas, and crises of confidence. When … [Read more...]
Handheld Recorder Shootout: Roland R-07 and Sony M10
I like many, was saddened when it came to light that the Sony M10 handheld recorder was being discontinued. The incredibly portable machine has decent mics, batteries for days, and a formfactor that allows it to be carried almost anywhere. In the year or two since it's discontinuation, sound professionals have been waiting and wondering if there was a successor. When Roland … [Read more...]