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Why not bookmark this AMPS Newsletter and read at your leisure!
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Welcome to the AMPS Newsletter
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Apologies for the late distribution of the May issue of the AMPS Newsletter. This month we're celebrating AMPS Members' BAFTA success, we're chewing over the Jamaica Inn debacle and have access to a 1995 interview with Gerry Humphreys… and more besides.
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Who's done what, where and more interestingly… how?
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An interview with industry legend Gerry Humphreys
We've been extremely fortunate to be given access to a BECTU History Project transcript from an interview with sound recordist, dubbing mixer and managing director of Twickenham Film Studios, Gerry Humphreys. The interviewer was Alan Lawson and recorded on the 21st August 1995.
"One of the night locations was in a corporation dust yard which is next door to what was Riverside Studios where they used to and I think still do, where they bring the dust carts to dump into the barges to take the refuse downstream, down river. We were shooting a week of nights there and there was a famous production manager, famous because he was so mean, called ES Laurie, long since died. And we came to the famous 12 o’clock at night when you should stop and have your hot meal and in those days with the unions, you stopped at 12 o’clock and had your hot meal. But 12 o’clock came and then quarter past, and the stewards were saying, ‘Excuse me Mr Laurie…’ and he said, ‘I am sorry I could not get caterers…’ and he came out with this huge bag of Extra Strong Peppermints. This was our hot meal!"
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AMPS Members' BAFTA Success
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The Association of Motion Picture Sound is proud to congratulate three of its members on their success at the annual BAFTA Television Craft Awards.
Robert Farr, Adrian Bell, and Ian Wilkinson, with their colleague Lee Crichlow, were presented with the BAFTA Award for Television Craft - Sound Fiction 2014 for their work on Stephen Poliakoff's "Dancing On The Edge".
The series follows a black jazz band becoming entangled in the aristocratic world of 1930s London as they seek fame and fortune.
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Other AMPS members nominated in the same category were Stuart Hilliker and Brian Milliken for "Peaky Blinders", Chris Ashworth and Stuart Hilliker for "The Escape Artist", and Howard Bargroff for "Luther".
AMPS members nominated in the Television Sound Craft - Factual category were Paul Paragon for "Britten's Endgame", and Kate Hopkins for "Hebrides – Islands on the Edge" and "Africa (Kalahari)”.
The AMPS Chairman, Peter Hodges, said "On behalf of the Council and members of AMPS I would like to congratulate Adrian, Lee, Robert and Ian on their BAFTA Television Craft Award for Sound on 'Dancing on the Edge'. We all know how important an excellent sound track is to any production and how much it adds to the audience enjoyment. I'm sure that all the nominations were of a very high standard and I would also like to congratulate all those who were nominated this year.”
Photo credit: BAFTA/Richard Kendal
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Jamaica Inn Audibility Problems
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Much has recently been written in the national and industry media over the incoherent mumblings experienced during the transmission of the BBC's recent adaptation of Jamaica Inn.
The BBC initially claimed 'issues with sound levels' on the master tape which were 'adjusted' for episodes two and three. When this didn't alleviate the problem and after being deluged with more than 1,000 complaints from viewers that they were unable to follow spoken dialogue, BBC producers finally pointed the finger of blame at actors for failing to properly enunciate their lines.
Ian Sands, AMPS member and vice-chairman of the sound branch for the London production division of broadcasting union BECTU sums things up, "Low level mumbled lines are not a technical issue, they are an artistic issue. Many directors, and it may not be the case here, are very reluctant to tackle actors about their performance. That is their job, but too often they will leave it to other colleagues to point out the challenges of ineligibility. If the director accepts it, that's where the buck stops.
The final sound balance for transmission is ‘signed off’ by the director and any adjustments and balance are done to the directors requirements, whether they happen to be right or not."
AMPS is extremely concerned with the situation and is proposing to further investigate.
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Dolby and AVID Recognise Excellence in Sound with
NFTS Student Awards
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Dolby Laboratories, one of the world’s leading sound innovation companies, has announced the winner of a new Dolby award for sound with the NFTS to recognise excellence in sound mixing, sound editing and sound design in a student short film.
Following a screening of selected NFTS 2014 graduation films at the Ray Dolby Theatre, Soho, London, Dolby Sound Consultant James Shannon presented NFTS Sound Design graduate Rob Hardcastle with the Dolby Award for Best Sound for his work on the short fiction film Room 55.
He will now have the opportunity to present his first feature film at the Ray Dolby Theatre where many established filmmakers showcase their movies.
Rob Hardcastle said: "I'm delighted to have won the Dolby award and am very much looking forward to using the Ray Dolby Theatre to screen my first feature."
Dolby creates audio, video and voice technologies that transform entertainment and communications in the cinema, in mobile devices, at home and at work.
Also announced at the event was the winner of the new Avid Award for Excellence in Sound Design presented by Simon Caton, Avid Territory Account Manager, Audio. Avid is a long-time supporter of the NFTS whose proven and trusted video, audio, media management and storage solutions are used in the creation of the most prestigious and award-winning feature films, music recordings, and television shows, as well as live concerts and news broadcasts.
Jonas Jensen said: “Winning the Avid award is such a privilege. The opportunity to immediately set up a professional workflow where I can continue to work on projects, using the 2 years at NFTS as the foundation to build and develop my skill-set. I am very grateful.”
The NFTS and Dolby are Sustaining Members of AMPS and Rob Hardcastle is a member.
Pictured above are (L-R) NFTS Director Nik Powell, NFTS Head of Sound Chris Pow, James Shannon, Dolby Sound Consultant, Rob Hardcastle winner of the Dolby Award for Best Sound, Jonas Jensen winner of the Avid Award for Excellence in Sound design, guy Hake NFTS Sound design Tutor and Simon Caton, AVID Territory Account Manager, Audio.
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20 Questions… well 23 actually!
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AMPS Member and Re-recording Mixer Dave Humphries shares some of his likes and opinions with us.
"What single piece of advice would you offer to someone beginning a career in this industry?
Say 'yes' with a smile… and then worry about how you are going to achieve it, later!"
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New Website for UK Screen
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The new UK Screen website is now live! Do have a look at the new site at www.ukscreenassociation.co.uk - They are still adding content and would love members to send in their press releases, case studies and job adverts. |
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Industry and Education Looking Good at Elstree
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Over the last six months Elstree Studios has been used for a variety of major feature films including Paddington starring Hugh Bonneville and Julie Walters, The World’s End starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Man Up starring Simon Pegg and Pudsey the Dog: The Movie starring David Walliams as the voice of Pudsey.
"Working at Elstree Studios was a real honour for me” says Simon Pegg. “Growing up as a fan of Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark, I was very aware of Elstree as the place where my favourite films we made. As I matured into a fan of cinema, I discovered the illustrious list of classic films that were created at this legendary studio complex. Getting to make my own film there was a truly significant even for me. Knowing I was working on the same sound stages that had housed the Millennium Falcon or the Well of the Souls was a genuine thrill. Elstree is and ever will be an essential part of the British Film Industry's DNA".
Elstree’s new University Technical College, which focuses on training young people aged 14 - 19 for the film, TV and theatre industries, only opened in September last year. Moving into year 2, Elstree UTC will have over 500 students. Most recently, 34 of the founding cohort at EUTC have been cast to feature in a film by Simon Pegg and Terry Jones. In addition the new EUTC is receiving lots of industry support with film and TV experts giving guest lectures at the school.
The school focuses on vocational courses for young people aged 14-19. The school has obvious close ties with Elstree Studios and Roger Morris, Managing Director of Elstree Studios is also a Governor on the new EUTC board. Roger Morris said “It’s vital that we train the new generation of film, TV and theatre technicians if we are to maintain number one position as a country for creative production.”
Above image from The World's End.
"Working at Elstree Studios was a real honour for me” says Simon Pegg. “Growing up as a fan of Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark, I was very aware of Elstree as the place where my favourite films we made. As I matured into a fan of cinema, I discovered the illustrious list of classic films that were created at this legendary studio complex. Getting to make my own film there was a truly significant even for me. Knowing I was working on the same sound stages that had housed the Millennium Falcon or the Well of the Souls was a genuine thrill. Elstree is and ever will be an essential part of the British Film Industry's DNA".
Elstree’s new UTC, which focuses on training young people aged 14 - 19 for the film, TV and theatre industries, only opened in September last year. Moving into year 2, Elstree UTC will have over 500 students. Most recently, 34 of the founding cohort at EUTC have been cast to feature in a film by Simon Pegg and Terry Jones. In addition the new EUTC is receiving lots of industry support with film and TV experts giving guest lectures at the school.
The school focuses on vocational courses for young people aged 14-19. The school has obvious close ties with Elstree Studios and Roger Morris, Managing Director of Elstree Studios is also a Governor on the new EUTC board. Roger Morris said “It’s vital that we train the new generation of film, TV and theatre technicians if we are to maintain number one position as a country for creative production.”
- See more at: http://www.ukscreenassociation.co.uk/news/article/4696#sthash.WbGeAyGN.dpuf
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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!
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Hilary Blackham 1945-2014
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A goodly representation of AMPS members attended the Chiltern Woodland Burial Park on Thursday 6th March to pay their respects to Hilary Blackham, widow of former Chairman and AMPS Fellow, Tim.
When Tim died in 2007, also from cancer, Council wished to keep Hilary involved with the Association in some way.
On being awarded Honorary Membership, which enabled her to continue attending the Pinewood Joint Guilds Screenings, she more than amply repaid us by running raffles at these and our AGM, raising funds for the AMPS supported charity. Many of the prizes Hilary supplied from her own pocket. (Story: Tim and Hilary’s daughter, Alice came along to help and on one occasion, seeing someone fumbling for change and showing a definite Tim sense of humour, chirped: “We don’t take pocket fluff!”)
The Woodland Hall was overflowing with mourners from Hilary’s wide ranging various connections and the simple service relayed to those of us who stood outside on the sunny terrace.
Later, at the graveside, we learned that Tim’s ashes were also interred with Hilary’s casket in a quiet spot of this delightful woodland park.
We are incredibly grateful that Meg Theakston (a long time friend of Hilary) has successfully taken over running the raffles held at Pinewood Screenings. The current recipient charity is Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
There’s an appropriate poem by Pam Ayres:
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Royal Mail Release Great British Film Stamp Sets
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Celebrating our home-grown film industry, the Royal Mail are issuing stamps featuring six classic feature films that have enjoyed success in the post-war era and four documentaries produced in the 1930s by the GPO Film Unit.
Films featured are Matter of Life and Death (1946), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Chariots of Fire (1981), Secrets & Lies (1996) and Bend It Like Beckham (2002). Whilst documentaries are Night Mail, Love on the Wing, A Colour Box and Spare Time.
Both sets are available to buy individually and as a combination on 13 May from the Royal Mail Shop.
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Can we help with your Professional Development?
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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.
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IPS Choral Recording Workshop - 31 May 2014
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The IPS Choral Recording Workshop is a single day of choral and similar recording techniques. We have based the workshop in St Paul's Church, Wimbledon, south-west London in order to provide a real world location with a bit of 'acoustic'. The trainers will be Mike Hatch and Hugh Robjohns.
The day will consist of both knowledge sessions and practical sessions and there will be a small choir to record in the morning, a larger choir in the afternoon plus the piano.
It is planned that all attendees on the course will eventually receive a set of the recorded files, in order to be able to 'make your own' mix after the event. Places are limited as we want as many people attending to be able to spend time in the sweet spot, so book asap to avoid disappointment.
This is a 'full service' event, and so morning and afternoon refreshments and a delicious soup and posh sandwich lunch are provided for you at the venue.
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An Evening with David Arnold
Wednesday 7 May - 7.00pm (drinks) for 7.30pm
Halo Post, 25 Noel St, London, W1F 8GX
AMPS Members only
SohoCreate Festival
4-6 June
… 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 6 May.
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AMPS, 28 Knox Street, London, W1H 1FS
www.amps.net / +44 (0)20 7723 6727
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