Karin Gleason's #GACrewCall: Production Sound Mixer Beau Baker [20150813]

*I do not own this logo. It is owned by ABC's Grey's Anatomy.

*I am not a professional writer and do not work for ABC, Grey's Anatomy, or anyone involved with this amazing show. (one day-fingers crossed*)

First I would like to apologize for not thinking about doing this for the first Periscope #GACrewCall for the 1st Assistant Director Annette Sutera. Only decided to do this after I saw a tweet on Twitter asking if someone was writing a synopsis/wrapup of the periscope interview for those who couldn't see it live or within its 24 hr window. Or for those awesome fans who came to join in on the fun later then the others (Better late than not at all, right?- sometimes).

On last weeks periscope session (from memory) 1st Assistant Director Annette Sutera discussed how she came into the position after first working for IBM with her engineering degree and feeling that it wasn't a fit for her. She has worked on the show for almost its entirety. Her job focuses on scheduling crew and actors among countless other things. Again, my apologies, feel free to add anything else in the comments that she discussed so I can add it in later.

Beau Baker- Production Sound Mixer
*Content written below is based on what was said directly from the periscope session in a mix of my words and his

Beaux is the production sound mixer for the ABC drama series Grey's Anatomy. He has been working on the show for 11 seasons (since Season 2). His job is to record actors speaking when they're being filmed by the camera. The main goal is to try to record the clearest sound for post production because in post it is easy to add sound to a scene but difficult to cut or separate the sounds. On his team he has a Mixer and 2 Boom operators that handle the boom poles that record the dialogue in the shots. He has been working for about 30 years in the business and 16 years as a mixer. He has worked all over the U.S. and has worked on a couple films in Europe. He is VERY appreciative of his job on Grey's because he can stay local and spend time with his family. Joke: "Never do a job that has midnight or snow in the title" and Grey's doesn't have either.

How did you make being a sound mixer a career decision?
As a USC (University of Southern California) film student he wanted to be a writer/director like many. He was fortunate to visit different film sets and the world of sound became very interesting to him. He was fortunate to start working with a well known sound mixer in his 20s and work with him on jobs that he had. When he started his career he traveled on jobs but when he started a family his main focus was to find jobs close to home.

Challenges of his job?
Some of the greater challenges of his job are (1) that the microphones can't be seen in the screen shots. "Have to be invisible to record their sound." Therefore, he has to be very particular about where mics are placed and hidden. Also (2) microphones "have no brains" so they pick up sound or dialogue that he wants but they also can pick up sound he doesn't want such as cars, background noise, equipment sounds, etc. The microphones can't differentiate what sound the mixer wants and doesn't want from the shot. The microphones have directionality so they can put them directly facing an actor or machine but it can't pick and choose the bits of sound that is trying to be collected on its own.

What determines which Microphone will be used?

If actors are standing at a nurses station or patient table the sound is recorded by microphones held over the actors on boom poles and cue the mic as they speak. If it's a scene where actors are walking & talking they wear small transmitter microphones hidden in their clothes. The action in the scene determines what mic is used in the shot. The goal is to minimize the outside noise as much as possible (engines, ambulance and police sirens)

*Different types of microphones

How was it working on the musical episode of Grey's Anatomy (7.18-Song Beneath The Song)?

That particular episode had people singing. The performers pre recorded their songs and during filming the music was played for them during each shot. A play-back operator was hired to manage the pre-recorded music. The most challenging thing was timing the dialogue perfectly to the pre recorded music. Actors wore ear wigs (costing ~$1,000 each) to hear the songs/music that way music wasn't being recorded while he was recording the background sound and dialogue.

How is the dialogue recorded during the surgical scenes when the actors are wearing masks?
The challenge in the operating room (OR) scenes are that on set, real medical equipment that makes noise such as the heart monitor and suction can interfere with the sound of the dialogue that is being said during filming. Sometimes he will do what is called a "wild track" (also known as wild sound or wild lines) which is when he has the actors run through their lines with the right timing but not actually have the camera rolling so he can focus on recording the dialogue. However, if need be actors do have to do ADR (automated dialogue replacement) to go back a record those particular lines. Because they are wearing masks it isn't as an arduous of a task because since their mouths are covered with the masks it isn't so time consuming trying to match their words to the movements of their previous recorded mouths. However, ADR is avoided when possible so that actors aren't taking more of their time to go to a studio and re-record their lines when so much of their time is already used while filming on set.

What are some must have skills as a sound mixer?
Focus on what it is you do or want to do. If your interested in sound focus on learning the sound. Same goes if you want to work as camera crew, make-up, set design, etc. Listen and learn. Working in film is a trade profession so you want to work with someone as an apprentice. Learn by doing it and watching it being done. All in all, you have to be attentive ("paying attention") and cheerful. You have to work long hours in sometimes hot, wet, cold conditions;" keep yourself happy in your work and you'll go far."

Favorite episode he worked on? (7.07-That's Me Trying)

There is a scene in the episode where there is a mass casualty trauma scene drill. In the scene there is lots of rain in the background and dialogue of the doctors treating the mannequins. He states that it's his favorite episode because despite the strong, loud rain and issues of wetting the microphones he was able to record all the sound during the 3-4 day shoot without requiring looping (another term for ADR). He states it "Was a very prideful moment in my life."

What is the best thing about your job?

Beau states that having two guys working with him on a team has been the best. They've worked together for awhile so they sort of become one entity when it comes to working together to get the task done. The other great thing about sound is he is part of the movie but not part of the "box" (metaphor for the whole scene and all the workers that make it up). So he doesn't have to worry about what others worry about such as if the sets are right, or if the wardrobe matches or other things like that. He works outside and independently of those kind of things. He is "not part of the world that we see, [he] is part of the world that we hear."

Any advice for those trying to work in your same profession?

What you need to do is work hard at finding what you don't know and learning what you don't know. He states that the benefits of today are that there are many ways to record, a regular cell phone is being used in the periscope video that many people are watching now. You don't have to find a film camera and buy the film like was the problem years ago. He states that tech is becoming more affordable, so learn the basics of audio with the affordable technology that is out in the world, if you network you can probably follow around someone or a teacher that that can teach you some things that you need to know. It is a trade craft so "you have to dive in the water and learn how to swim with it."

At the end of the interview he makes a point to thank Executive producer Rob Corn for hiring him. Creator Shonda Rhimes and the writers for writing amazing stuff and the cast for saying the amazing words that we listen to.

Feel free to follow Karin Gleason on twitter at @karinggleason for updates on future #GACrewCall sessions on Periscope. You can also follow Beau Baker at @beaumix or follow along to my random rants at @TheAmandaAponte! Feel free to leave comments below.

Grey's Anatomy: The Carousel Never Stops Turning...

*Image Source

Last night fans of Grey's Anatomy said their goodbyes to character Derek Shepherd on the episode "She's Leaving Home." However, the surprise of the episode was that only a small portion of the two hour long episode was dedicated to McDreamy's funeral. After watching the episode it's easy to see that creator Shonda Rhimes did an amazing thing with that 2 hour long episode that no fan could have imagined. Last nights episode was filled with insurmountable imagery and poetic introspection.

"She's Leaving Home" begins with Meredith telling a group of her friends and colleagues that "Derek is dead" and then passes out on the floor. Soon after it goes to character Dr. Owen Hunt telling Derek's sister of his death. Once Meredith wakes up she goes home and grabs her kids with flashbacks of herself as a child with her mom doing the same thing. What makes the episode great is its way of passing through a year of life with characters in different points of their lives while simultaneously having flashbacks of Ellis Grey (Meredith's mother), Meredith's dead husband, and her friends.

The episode is a compilation of its best sentences, a series of flashbacks, words that make the audience take an introspective look on life, do a little self-analysis just like Meredith's character is doing while remembering them all herself.

For example:

*Image Source

"It sucks being a grown up, but the carousel never stops turning. You can't get off." -Ellis Grey


This quote is one of the most popular from Grey's Anatomy. This is the quote that anyone can apply to life. Any grown up knows it is no walk in the park being a grown up, it's filled with life changing choices and never ending responsibility. You never want to grow up because being a child is such a simpler time. However, no matter how tough your life is illness, death, anything really life keeps going, it never stops. That is why you can't sulk, don't sit in sorrow, move on as quick as possible.

*Gif Source



"He is very dreamy, but he is not the sun. You are." -Christina Yang

When Christina says this to Meredith it is about possibly following Derek to another state, and Christina wants Meredith to know that she is just as important or more than him. This can appeal to anyone in that sometimes in life you have to sacrifice things for a relationship whether it be for a spouse, significant other, and/or parent but sometimes you have to do some things for yourself. Your life is your universe, be the sun that the solar system revolves around. You are important and don't forget that. 

These are just a couple of quotes that make you self reflect on your life. The great thing about Grey's Anatomy is that the show is always like that. Audiences can find quotes through its 11 year run to re-evaluate your life. Walt Disney is quoted saying that "movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood." With that said last nights episode was the epitome of what Walt Disney stated, a great episode with a great fictional writing that can influences ones life for the better.

The Era Where Our Beloved TV Characters Are No Longer Safe

Television has been around for decades. Its a piece of entertainment that probably won't be lost for a long time. Sure of late the number of viewers according to Nielson ratings has declined but that's only because there are so many different avenues to watch television now that its hard to collect accurate numbers. But still, writers and producers are doing their best to come up with the best story lines for their shows, a way to keep viewers coming and not moving on to the next show. Some think the best way to keep viewers coming is to introduce a MAJOR shock factor.

*Image Source

Sure every story has a conflict which is what keeps the story-line going, however what wins shows Emmys and all the other lustrous awards is that major shock factor, the conflict that no number of foreshadowing scenes could have foreseen.

 

Image Source: ABC/Kelsey McNeal 

Last night a major character on a decade long show met its demise (Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd from Grey's Anatomy). A fate that audiences were not happy about. However, it isn't news that it is becoming ever more popular to kill off a major character, granted audiences may be VERY upset and writers may even lose a portion of their audience but as long as it helps boost the story in the right direction fans will stick around and come back. That is what writers hope for at least.

*Image Source

The decision to kill off a character has many reasons. Sometimes the creators have a disagreement with the prospective actor and choose to release him from the show, the actor themselves feel that their character has done all it can in the show and personally want to leave, or the creators want a way to push the plot forward and feel the best way to do that is to kill of a character. The decision to do this has helped many shows which is probably why it is becoming more and more common.

Shows like The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones have created an internet uproar with the amount of character favorites that met their fate. However, no matter how sad fans get they still come back for more week after week.

Think back to when you were taking English and were studying plots. Some of the best stories were the ones where the climax scene was one you didn't even expect, it caught you completely off guard. Emotionally it hit you hard, but that is probably why the story remains so precise in your mind.

When watching a show try to remember that it is just that, a story. A fictional portrayal of a group of characters and their lives. As long as the story makes TV sense and the plot flows in the best way there is no reason a death in a show should keep you from watching. If it does, maybe you are not grasping the art of literature and television storylines like you should.

Farewell to NBC's Parenthood

*Photo belongs to NBC.com

Tonight NBC aired its final episode of Parenthood. It was the end of a show with an abundance of heart that surpassed the odds and expectations with lasting 6 years. This show didn't have steamy sex scenes like ABC's Scandal, neither did it have an endless supply of comedy scenes like ABC's Modern Family, and don't even think about wondering if it was the go to for those big explosions and kick ass fighting numbers; this show was a true depiction of life, entertainment in the form of realism [realism: the quality of representing a person, thing, or situation accurately or in a way that is true to life]. Creator Jason Katims put together a solid show with a solid cast and with help from a well rounded writing crew portrayed the lives of the Braverman clan like if it were the family living down the street.

The show was centered around a married couple Zeek and Camille Braverman, their grown four children Adam, Sarah, Crosby, and Julia, and their children. Compared to the many options we have on television now-a-days its hard to make a case for someone to watch this show instead of others, but once you watch an episode it is crystal clear why so many viewers (not just me) came back week after week, and year after year to get a look into the lives of the Bravermans. This show was a huge inside look into life and how even though it may be difficult it is the little moments that keep us going each and every day. It was that show that reminded the audience that despite the conflict going on in our lives it will undoubtedly get better. Even the "cup half empty" kind of people had no choice but to take a dive into the other side of that phrase.

There was a familial connection for EVERYONE in this show. You had Camille and Zeek who have been married for YEARS despite the high divorce rates, surpassed marital pitfalls and war (Zeek was a Vietnam vet) and yet still manages to stay together. There is Adam and his wife Kristina with their three kids, battling illnesses and trying to raise a special needs child. Single mom Sarah being the rebellious child leaving home and raising her two kids alone, Crosby being the carefree baby boy until reality soon comes knocking on his door and has to realize the importance of putting on the responsibility hat. Last but not least the baby girl Julia who was the overachiever the other Bravermans secretly envied. Every family had their own situation that the audience could connect to. Spouses trying to make ends meet during this spiraling economy, raising special needs children, raising rebellious teenagers, just raising a child trying to come into their own really, cheating, illness and the list can go on and on.

There are moments in this show that I could list to you that could give you a more in depth reasoning to why me and many others are such a fan but being that the finale just aired, with just a quick Google search you can see them all with cute video clips and tears inducing pathos. Why throw out another one of those articles?

I just want to write about my connection to this show. Out of all the shows I watched (and I watch A LOT of different TV shows) I always  came back to this one. I started watching this show since the beginning, straying a bit due to personal issues but got back to it shortly after. The show first aired when I was 19 years old and then and now I appealed most to Sarah Bravermans little family. See my mother was a single mom of three and even though I knew my father and spoke to him at least every few months or so I didn't have a present father. I knew the struggle seeing my mother live paycheck to paycheck. I maybe wasn't as rebellious as Amber but I in some way was her. Struggling to find out how to live a full life with a full family with a fraction of it gone. At least with Amber she eventually had her grandfather to give her those profound pep talks and kicks in the butt she needed but unfortunately I didn't even have that growing up which goes to my other point. The acting in this show was great and a big reason to why I always came back but grandpa Zeek was the guy who made me never look away from the TV screen. The way Craig T. Nelson played that character was just so real it made me feel like when he had his talks with his kids was actually speaking to me. Every time he would fall ill it was like a stab in the heart, someone trying to take away something so dear to me.

 SPOILER!!! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE SERIES FINALE DO NOT READ ANOTHER WORD!!!


Now getting to the finale, those who have seen the finale know that Zeek died in the final episode and even though I ugly cried for a minute or two I sort of knew it was coming. However, I didn't do major crying for too long when I saw the episode go on and show the lives of his children, grand children, and great grandchildren live on. That is frankly what life is all about I think. The little experiences that help shape your life and make you into who you are and that is what was shown so brightly in the finale. The whole family playing baseball was a great homage to Zeek with his love for baseball. To the cast and crew even though you will probably never read this I have to say AMAZING work! Definitely easy to see why it was the BEST show on television for its own personal reasons.

Please check out NBC's Parenthood for yourself on Netflix.com and/or Hulu.com @nbcparenthood

Remembering Robin Williams...

*Photo:  Source-Fox8-Cleveland

On August 11, 2014 one of my favorite childhood actors surprisingly passed away from an alleged suicide. It has been reported that he hung himself and that he battled with depression for years before his death, but details of his death are not what this post is about. It's about the memories of one of the most talented actors I have known in my lifetime.

Robin Williams was a known actor well before my birth; according to IMDB.com he started making a name for himself back in 1977. However, I did not become aware of his work until 1993 when he played Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire in the film Mrs. Doubtfire. Being 1 of 3 kids in a divorced household the movie hit close to home. Although the film had a dramatic topic it was able to mesh the drama with a huge dose of comedy because of how Williams was able to portray the character. Since that movie Robin Williams was on my radar. As a HUGE fan of Disney films, when I figured out Robin Williams was the voice of the Genie in Aladdin he went from top 5 of my favorite male actors to the top. As his career went on Robin Williams was able to take a dramatic role and make it into his own. There was just something about the way he acted out a scene it made you feel like he was right next to you, talking to you in person and not through a television screen.

Robin Williams not only brought magic on the big screen. He was well known for his humanitarian work. For example, Williams was an active participant of the USO traveling to Afghanistan and Kuwait bringing comedy to the troops that were risking their lives for our country. He was a great supporter of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital meeting sick kids and signing autographs one-on-one like his character in the film Patch Adams. Williams had an impact in the lives of adults with his comedy shows and subject matter and brought smiles, laughter, and inspiration for our youth.

Robin Williams left behind 3 kids and a world of fans that will never forget the impact that he had on their lives, mine included. As difficult as it is to know that he is gone, it is uplifting to know that he left behind a list of films that greatly depict how huge his heart was and how inspirational he was to the world.

"Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys! Make your lives extraordinary!" -Dead Poets Society

"Real loss is only possible when you love something more than you love yourself."
 -Good Will Hunting

"You'll have bad times, but it'll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren't paying attention to." -Good Will Hunting

"There are all sorts of different families, Katie. Some families have one mommy, some families have one daddy or two families. And some children live with their uncle or aunt. Some live with their grandparents, and some children live with foster parents. And some live in separate homes, in separate neighborhoods, in different areas of the country and they may not see each other for days, or weeks, months, even years at a time. But if there's love, dear... those are the ties that bind. And you'll have a family in your heart, forever. All my love to you poppet. You're going to be all right."
-Mrs. Doubtfire

"Please, don't worry so much. Because in the end, none of use have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting."
-Jack

"The human spirit is more powerful than any drug and that is what needs to be nourished: with work, play, friendship, family. These are the things that matter. -Awakenings

"You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe; between all living beings, everywhere, even the stars." -August Rush

Held Hostage By the Television Monster!

Television is everywhere and anywhere! Television can be watched from your home television, computer, phone, tablet, iPod, etc. It is so easy to get lost in a show whether it be scripted, the news, or reality. Television is a multimillion dollar company; networks are trying to find the next best show to air that can make them a big buck! How do you make sure that you are the "it" network with the best show? You air as many good shows you think audiences will watch.

Television today is HUGE!! What once was thought to be mediocre work, now have Oscar winning actors auditioning for TV shows and made for TV movies. Also the amount of TV shows being pitched and purchased are limitless..

The realization of the number of shows in the world come to light when the Emmys come around and you hear shows nominated that you never even heard of. How are you supposed to watch all these shows being aired? My passion since I was young was television. My mom was a single parent so I spent a lot of my time home alone with siblings because we weren't allowed to play outside without a parent present, which is where my passion was birthed.

I sit home and start a show, watch it and enjoy but then there is another good show and then another that piques my interest. What once was just one show is now endless which is why it's "the monster." As a mom and a wife I never forget my duties at home like spending time with the little one, making sure all his needs are met and my family always has a meal on the table but on my off time I squeeze in as many episodes of whatever I can, it is that escape that I need, a hobby, getting lost in a 15 min-45 min work of art. Television for me is art, writers creating believable characters and entertaining viewers by either giving them a good laugh or helping shaping their life with life lessons, directors showing scenes with good angles that can bring the words on the script to life, set designers creating the best environment to shoot a realistic episode, in actuality everyone on set creating their work of art for the canvas, the television screen.

I find television an art form, yet call it a monster? Yes, because as I mentioned television shows are in abundance and it's hard to stop sometimes. When you finally catch up on one show their is another show around the corner worthy of a watch, and shows are not like movies, they are endless. The stories go on for years (seasons), almost like your voluntarily being held hostage. Sure it is a choice but sometimes one can't help it. Being held hostage by the television monster may be voluntary and can be controlled by just not watching but with all this good television now-a-days it is very hard not to get caught up in it!

The CW's Arrow

Photo: Source-Check Out Season 3 Coming Soon
 

Yesterday was the day I started  binge watching Arrow on Netflix. For the past year I've known about this show but have been putting it off, and I was very wrong to do so. If you haven't watched this show here are some reasons on why you should start:

The action is the obvious choice on watching the show. There isn't an episode in season one that doesn't consist of an entertaining fighting sequence. The intricacies of the different bow-and-arrows are a big help to keep action sequences interesting; the arrow that is used as a recorder, explosive, liquid injector, etc. Those are what is expected with a show called "arrow" but there are also nice parkour, and sword fighting scenes.
The story of course is based on the DC comic book but what makes audiences come back each week to watch the show is the writing. See, the story starts with the main character Oliver Queen returning from a deserted island after being shipwrecked but no one knows exactly what happened to him on that island that made him come to be Arrow. Each episode goes with the characters in present tense, but what keeps each episode even more captivating is the frequent flashbacks of Oliver on the island, uncovering the Arrow's purpose on finding justice for the people of Starling City.

The writer's have written great characters for this show which make up the main reason this show is so popular. Oliver Queen/Arrow was casted well, Stephen Amell (Private Practice, Hung) brings a believable intensity to the character that keeps viewers wanting to see what Arrow and Oliver Queen will do next. Katie Cassidy (Gossip Girl, Melrose Place) who plays Laurel Lance brings the obvious love interest that viewers root for but she isn't the Mary Jane of Spiderman that constantly needs saving, she knows how to kick butt and defend herself as best as she can thanks to her cop father Quentin Lance played by Paul Blackthorne (24, Lipstick Jungle). John Diggle is Arrow's trusted partner that keeps him sane and keeps his focus on the objective played by David Ramsey (Blue Bloods, Dexter). Felicity Smock is the cliché tech that helps Arrow and Diggle, but she brings the comedy in the show with her sarcasm, word vomit, and witty puns who is played by Emily Bett Richards.

There are many things that keep me following this story but the few above are for sure the most important. All of this was taken just from season 1, who knows what is in store for season 2. Well I am sure many since I just started the show, now to watch season 2 and see if there is anything more to keep me coming back.
Follow CW's Arrow on Twitter for any upcoming news @CW_arrow