|
Why not bookmark this AMPS Newsletter and read at your leisure!
|
|
AMPS Newsletter April 2014
|
|
|
Welcome to the AMPS Newsletter
|
|
"Welcome to the third issue of the AMPS Newsletter - I hope that you're enjoying the new format. Thanks to Alan Sallabank for the item about his work - I know that Tony our editor is always keen to hear any news from the members. He would also welcome any feedback about items featuring in the Newsletter."
Peter Hodges AMPS Chairman
|
|
Who's doing what, where and more interestingly… how?
|
On November 15th 1977 Richard Manton was present at the gassing of a President of the USA and Shah of Iran. It happened in the garden at the White House.
Richard takes up the story - I was there as the Sound Recordist of a BBC film crew working with Desmond Wilcox on one of his series of “Americans”. The focus of this film was “The First Lady”. She was Rosalynn Carter, wife of President Jimmy.
"For the first time, but sadly not the last, I began to feel the effects of CS riot gas. An old hand near me whispered, “Don’t rub your eyes kid", as I struggled to concentrate on my task."
We really, really want to hear the stories of how you overcame your problems on set,location or in the studio. Please email them to newsletter@amps.net |
|
Reminicenses and Reflections of Sound Editor Colin Miller
|
|
Earlier in 2013, AMPS member Colin Miller decided to commit his career experiences and memories as a Sound Editor to paper. The result is a descriptive journey about Colin's progression through the film and TV industry.
The below extract is from Colin's time in 1985 working on 'A View To A Kill'.
"The particular challenge this time was a sequence involving a full size airship. We arrived at Cardington Airfield on a near perfect day, bright sun, cool and very little wind. We needed effects from interior and exterior and our first problem was one of communication on the exteriors. We couldn’t use intercoms as they would be picked up on the recording, so we improvised a system of arm waving to indicate speed, change of direction, engine revs, up and past, up and over etc. At times I must have looked like a demented traffic cop with all the arm waving, but hey, it worked!
The time came to do the interior recording. How very exciting on entering into the gondola for the first time. We took off and climbed to about five hundred feet and paused in mid air. What a strange feeling that was. I then ran through with the pilots what we wanted to do and off we went, accelerating, slowing, turning, revving up, changing engine pitch etc. We managed, with dear old Bob’s (Bob Allen) help, to get some great sounds. For the technically minded, I understand the airship was driven by two Porsche engines through a Westland gearbox."
If you have Flash installed on your browser -
(Please use password 'colin')
|
|
As reported in last month's Newsletter, Chris Roberts and Ivan Sharrock were awarded AMPS Fellowships at the February's AGM. Ivan was not present, but Peter Hodges recently caught up with him to pass on the honour and certificate.
|
|
 |
|
|
Bionic Ears: Let's Hear it for Cochlear Implants
|
|
Cochlear implants have transformed the lives of children born without hearing. But at around £40,000 each, it's a different story for adults trying to get them on the NHS
Sitting at the kitchen table rolling a ball of Play-Doh, Oliver Campbell is a picture of childhood contentment. At just under two years old he is experimenting with words and is happily peppering his creative endeavours with them. But inside Oliver's head something extraordinary is happening. Currents from tiny electrodes, curled inside the snail-shaped cochlea of his inner ear, are stimulating his auditory nerve, allowing him to hear the thud of the Play-Doh and the creak of the chair and to assimilate the words of encouragement from his grandmother next to him. Take them away and Oliver's world would be thrown into confusion.
|
|
Another Successful AMPS Cable Clinic
|
|
Twelve participants have successfully completed the second AMPS Cable Clinic that was run by Jim and Mark McBride. Each person now has a certificate and an AMPS accreditation in cable making.
The participants who completed this years AMPS cable clinic are: Milos Momcilovic, Keith Nixon, Jack Woods, Josh Ward, Hugh Sherlock, Stephen Pritchard, Caroline Singh, Sarah James, Owen Peters, Darko Mocilnikar, Mike Stephenson and Will Towers. They all now have an AMPS accreditation that they can put on their C.V.
Each student has left the course with an extensive knowledge of cables and connectors, soldering skills and a full tool kit.
AMPS hopes to run this successful clinic again in the near future. Watch this space.
|
|
Did you know that the Directory pages on the AMPS website are some of the most frequently visited?
Make sure that your profile is up to date - you never know where your next work enquiry will come from!
|
|
 |
|
|
BBC Academy 'Sound Matters'
|
|
Clips of the BBC Academy “Sound Matters” conference in London are now online. They feature UK Screen members, David Old from Encore, Ben Hooper from Prime Focus and Graham Kirkman from Halo discussing the creative advantages of loudness mixing. There are also clips from the sessions about audibility, the BBC/DPP introduction of EBU R128, loudness in live situations and top tips for location recording. There are two clips about how R128 works, including a really concise explanation aimed at producers given by the chair of the EBU Loudness group, Florian Camerer.
AMPS is planning a cinema/TV Loudness event in central London on 16 April at Halo Post Production. An invite will soon be emailed to all members!
|
|
An Evolutionary Tale - from Alan Sallabank
|
|
An awful lot has happened at Sallabank Towers since the last "whois" publication.
In late 2012, I mixed "Best Possible Taste - The Kenny Everett Story", sound editors Chris Roberts, Jay Price and Phil Freudenfeld, and "Spy" Series 2, with Sue Malpass and Chris Roberts editing, and in January 2013 I mixed "Mayday" with Jussi Honka doing Dialogues and Rod Berling on FX.
Shortly after finishing "Mayday" however, my Father passed away after a short illness, at the age of 81.
A week after his funeral, I found myself jobless as well. Since then I have set up my own company - 8dB Sound Limited and set up my own Pro Tools 11HD 5.1 studio at home. I know that some of my peers in AMPS won't approve, but in this day and age it was either that or stacking shelves at Waitrose.
|
|
Can we help with your Professional Development?
|
|
We're keen to hear from you with ideas for seminars and training sessions which would contribute towards Continuing Professional Development.
We're very aware that keeping up with techniques and updates can be a full time job in itself, so if there's any way that AMPS can contribute towards maintaining and developing your industry knowledge and skills, please get in touch.
|
|
BAFTA TV Nominations - strong showing from
AMPS Members!
|
|
Congratulations to all the BAFTA 2014 nominees
SOUND:FACTUAL
David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D
Freddie Claire, Graham Kirkman, John Rogerson
Britten's Endgame
Patrick Boland, Mike Hatch, Rowan Jennings, Paul Paragon AMPS
Hebrides – Islands on the Edge
Ben Peace, Kate Hopkins AMPS, Tim Owens
David Bowie – Five Years
Rowan Jennings, Karl Mainzer, Adam Scourfield
Africa (Kalahari)
Kate Hopkins AMPS, Tim Owens, Graham Wild
SOUND: FICTION
Dancing on the Edge
Adrian Bell AMPS, Lee Crichlow, Robert Farr AMPS, Ian Wilkinson AMPS
The Escape Artist
Chris Ashworth AMPS, Graham Headicar, Stuart Hilliker AMPS, Duncan Price
Luther
Howard Bargroff AMPS, Pete Gates, Mike Grimes, Emma Pegram
Peaky Blinders
Stuart Hilliker AMPS, Brian Milliken AMPS, Matthew Skelding, Lee Walpole
|
Dolby Award for Best Sound - 9 April
A Showcase Evening of the NFTS 2014 Sound Design Graduates
Ray Dolby Theatre, London
AMPS Cinema/TV Loudness Event - 16 April
Halo Post Production, London
Invite will be emailed to members very soon!
… and finally, on the first Tuesday of every month
Make sure that you attend the AMPS Social at the De Lane Lea bar in Dean Street - be social with your AMPS members! Next event Tuesday 1 April.
|
|
|
AMPS, 28 Knox Street, London, W1H 1FS
www.amps.net / +44 (0)20 7723 6727
|
|
|
|
