Departments

From the Editors

Let’s hear it for summer!

Understandably, each day feels like the next, all the more reason to dive into the summer issue of Production Sound & Video.

José Antonio Garcia tells us about the challenges and rewards of working with Director Spike Lee on Da 5 Bloods. Shawn Holden writes about the groundbreaking series, The Mandalorian.

Steve Nelson offers us “Increasing Production Efficiency While Working Through a Pandemic” and Co-editor James Delhauer describes how our Video Engineers are preparing to return to work.

Bryan Cahill updates us on Boom Operators using the exoskeleton in “Hands Held High.” Jennifer Winslow continues “News & Announcements,” and I bring you “The Road Back.”

We welcome Scott Marshall as a new contributor covering our awards, starting with the Emmy nominations for sound!

Kick back, and enjoy the read.

Fraternally,
Richard Lightstone & James Delhauer

From the President

NOW

NOW Business might be asking us for unprecedented concessions.

NOW Congress appears less concerned with workers’ challenges.

NOW We’re confronted with a false choice between safety and financial survival.

Good friends,

Never has the need for our participation as Union members been more essential to our community and ourselves than NOW.

Our Union is central to our ability to control our work life; It provides much more than serving us in a moment of personal or professional crisis.

Our Union gives power and legitimacy to our collective action: it is much more than a pass to work.

And yet, many of us don’t experience our Union as the congregation of Labor that it actually is.

As we journey together through this avalanche of health, financial, and social crises, we need each other more than ever. This mutuality, this concept of community, this fellowship, is a fundamental tool for our survival.

Passive membership inevitably leads to confusion and deep disappointment, but direct engagement as members and stakeholders keeps us informed and influential. Which of these you choose really affects the outcome of legislation and policy.

Your personal time is most valuable to your family and yourself and sometimes you tell yourself that you have no budget to devote time to our Union. I would respond with: They are very connected and together they form a network of mutual support.

One of the glories of Local 695 is its true embodiment of the democratic process. Now is the time to consider coming forward to learn and lead.

Our Local has an election coming up at the end of this year. Nominations are in November and the election follows in December.

I urge you to consider “stepping into the room” and either have someone nominate you for the Board of Directors or support a colleague that you trust and respect to represent you. Being elected by your peers to the Board is an honor. It is also a voluntary, unpaid opportunity to contribute some “sweat equity.”

Currently, all your present Board members and Officers are hardworking family people with the same pressures and obligations as you and I, yet they have found the time to contribute.

Beyond running for the Board of Directors, there are the many committees and activities the Local provides to serve the members.

Come take a turn, get involved. Information on how to participate is available on our website, or you can contact our representative staff or myself for direct assistance.

Showing up is how we overcome these forceful challenges

Let’s not forget this most basic truth: It’s your Union, own it!

As always, I am deeply grateful for the privilege and opportunity to serve.

My love and respect to all of you.

Mark Ulano CAS AMPS
President
IATSE Local 695

From the Business Representative

Safety and Networking

I hope this message finds you and your families healthy and safe. The return to work we’ve been waiting for looks like it will be a gradual one, but we do expect to be seeing more productions starting back up over the coming months. As of this writing, Local 695’s Craft-Specific Safety Guidelines are available for members to download from our website. For the broader set of industry-wide safety protocols, the IATSE, along with all of the other unions and guilds, have developed a set of comprehensive safety guidelines called “The Safe Way Forward” and presented it to the AMPTP for review. Developed in consultation with doctors and safety experts, we believe this represents the most expeditious way for our industry to get back to work while making it as safe as possible for cast and crew. It is our hope that by the time you read this, the producers will have adopted it as the standard that all productions follow.

Physical distancing is proving to be an essential measure taken in every production environment, and that explains the accelerated use of networking technology for both audio and video. Immediately after the March production shutdown took hold, Local 695 and Sound Mixer James Hunt began development of a training program called “Networking Crash Course: Essentials of Audio & Video IP.” Building on the extensive history of Local 695 members setting up audio and video networks for live broadcasting and sports production, this training was designed to teach more of our Video Engineers, Video Assist Technicians, and Sound Mixers the fundamentals of network management. These workflows can send network-enabled audio and video to remote locations, which can be used by directors, writers, producers, and other crew, allowing them to view video monitors at safe distances from the set. In fact, the demand for this course was so high that we ran nine separate training sessions within just two months. Meeting the needs of a COVID-safe work environment, our members are embracing networking technology and developing innovative solutions to meet the needs of production with amply distanced Video Assist monitoring, as well as remote recording and playback whenever requested.

Video Assist has a long history of providing support for production. Back in 1960, Jerry Lewis positioned twenty-four video monitors around the set of The Bellboy, allowing him to keep an eye on what the camera was seeing while he was performing. Jerry coined the phrase “Video Assist” and we still use it to this day. A few years later, he added a two-inch videotape machine and made Video Assist even more useful by giving him record and playback for every shot. Video Assist and the added features it now offers has grown a great deal, especially now with the need to keep crews safe with physical distancing. With the requirement for more monitors and remote viewing, Video Assist is now “assisting” nearly every department on the set.

Stand together and stay strong.

In Solidarity,
Scott Bernard
Business Representative

Sound Awards 2020

56th CAS Awards We Congratulate All the Winners!

Motion Pictures – Live Action
Ford v Ferrari

Production Mixer – Steven A. Morrow CAS
Re-recording Mixer – Paul Massey CAS
Re-recording Mixer – David Giammarco CAS
Scoring Mixer – Tyson Lozensky
ADR Mixer – David Betancourt
Foley Mixer – Richard Duarte
Production Sound Team: Craig Dollinger, Bryan Mendoza, Richard Bullock Jr.

Motion Pictures – Animated
Toy Story 4

*Outstanding Sound Mixing Motion Pictures – Animation Toy Story 4 David Boucher, Vince Caro CAS, Doc Kane CAS, Scott Curtis*

Original Dialogue Mixer – Doc Kane CAS
Original Dialogue Mixer – Vince Caro CAS
Re-recording Mixer – Michael Semanick CAS
Re-recording Mixer – Nathan Nance
Scoring Mixer – David Boucher
Foley Mixer – Scott Curtis

Motion Pictures – Documentary
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

Production Mixer – David J. Turner CAS
Re-recording Mixer – Tom Myers CAS
Scoring Mixer – Dan Blanck CAS
ADR Mixer – Frank Rinella

Television Series – One Hour
Game of Thrones
“The Bells”

Production Mixer – Ronan Hill CAS
Production Mixer – Simon Kerr
Production Mixer – Daniel Crowley
Re-recording Mixer – Onnalee Blank CAS
Re-recording Mixer – Mathew Waters CAS
Foley Mixer – Brett Voss CAS
Production Sound Team: Guillaume Beauron, Andrew McArthur, Paul McGuire, Andrew McNeill, Sean O’Toole, Jonathan Riddell, Joe Furness

Television Series – Half-Hour I Tie
Barry “ronny/lily”

Outstanding Sound Mixing Television Series – Half-Hour Barry: “ronny/lily” (Tie) Jason “Frenchie” Gaya, Aaron Hasson, John Sanacore CAS, Elmo Ponsdomenech CAS, Benjamin A. Patrick CAS

Production Mixer – Benjamin A. Patrick CAS
Re-recording Mixer – Elmo Ponsdomenech CAS
Re-recording Mixer – Jason “Frenchie” Gaya
ADR Mixer – Aaron Hasson
Foley Mixer – John Sanacore CAS
Production Sound Team: Jacques Pienaar, Corey Woods, Kraig Kishi, Scott Harber, Christopher Walmer, Erik Altstadt, Srdjan Popovic, Dan Lipe

Fleabag Episode #2.6

Production Mixer – Christian Bourne
Re-recording Mixer – David Drake
ADR Mixer – James Gregory
Production Sound Team: Tom Pallant, Guido Lerner, Josh Ward

Television Movies or Limited Series
Chernobyl “1:23:45”

Gary Rizzo, award winner Phillip Clements and presenter Italia Ricci pose at the CAS Awards at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, January 25, 2020. (photo: Tyler Curtis/ABImages)

Production Mixer – Vincent Piponnier
Re-recording Mixer – Stuart Hilliker
ADR Mixer – Gibran Farrah
Foley Mixer – Philip Clements
television non-fiction, variety, music series or specials
David Bowie: Finding Fame
Production Mixer – Sean O’Neil
Re-recording Mixer – Greg Gettens
Production Sound Team: Nicolas Fejoz, Margaux Peyre

Career Achievement Award

Tom Fleischman CAS

Award winner Tom Fleischman poses at the CAS Awards at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, January 25, 2020. (photo: Tyler Curtis/ABImages)

Filmmaker Award

James Mangold

Service Award

Peter Damski CAS

Honoree Pete Damsky poses at the CAS Awards at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, January 25, 2020. (photo: Tyler Curtis/ABImages)

Peter R. Damski CAS, Service Recognition Award recipient

Outstanding Product – Production

Sound Devices, LLC
Scorpio

Outstanding Product – Post Production

Izotope, Inc.
Dialogue Match

Student Recognition Award

Bo Pang
Chapman University – Orange, CA

Academy Awards

Best Sound Mixing
1917

*L to R: Stuart Wilson AMPS, Mark Taylor. Photo by Nick Agro/©A.M.P.A.S.*

Stuart Wilson AMPS, Mark Taylor
Production Sound Team: Hugh Sherlock, Thomas Fennell, David Giles, Tom Wilkin, Michael Fearon, Rob Piller, Thomas Dornan, Emma Chilton, Tim White, Peter Davis, Keith Morrison, Hosea Ntaborwa

BAFTAS

Sound
1917

Oliver Tarney AMPS, Rachael Tate, Mark Taylor,
Stuart Wilson AMPS
Production Sound Team: Hugh Sherlock, Thomas Fennell, David Giles, Tom Wilkin, Michael Fearon, Rob Piller, Thomas Dornan, Emma Chilton, Tim White, Peter Davis, Keith Morrison, Hosea Ntaborwa

AMPS

7th AMPS Awards: Excellence in Sound for a Feature Film
1917

Stuart Wilson AMPS, Hugh Sherlock, Rachael Tate, Oliver Tarney AMPS, Mark Taylor
Production Sound Team: Hugh Sherlock, Thomas Fennell, David Giles, Tom Wilkin, Michael Fearon, Rob Piller, Thomas Dornan, Emma Chilton, Tim White, Peter Davis, Keith Morrison, Hosea Ntaborwa

Names in Bold are Local 695 members

News & Announcements

Covid-19 News

The news of the COVID-19 pandemic swept the industry in mid-March, shutting down production completely, until further notice. The loss of work has affected all of us, from the Sound Department to Craft Services. This has also been felt by local businesses that support and service productions, such as dry-cleaners that work with Costume Departments, gas stations that supply camera trucks, and many other vendors that all are so important to our industry.

As a result of Gov. Newsom and Mayor Garcetti’s “Safer at Home” order, our Local’s office was closed. Business agents and staff have been working from home, but have jumped into action to offer guidance and assistance in answering the flood of phone calls.

The newly formed 695 FAM Committee offered grocery and prescription pickups for retired members and those in high risk categories. IATSE CARES created a drive-through grocery pickup, which served many of our members. The Motion Picture Fund offered assistance to members in need, and the Actor’s Fund helped SAG members during this unprecedented time.

The Local 695 Board of Directors has been holding meetings through Zoom, as well as communicating weekly to keep abreast of the changes that are bound to be introduced post COVID-19.

695 Service Pin Ceremony

Congratulations to the 164 Local 695 members who reached their ten, twenty, thirty- and forty-year milestones this year! To see the full list of names, please log on to the 695 website.

Communication Skills on Production

Communications Skills training In the Local 695 Boardroom (left to right): Perry Freeze, Alexander Hutchinson, Steven Harrod, Sara Glaser, and Michael Todd Reckson, learn new skills

Local 695 continues to conduct training for our members with a recent addition to our education program called “Communication Skills on Production.” This class was created when instructor Blas Kisic came to us with the idea that effective communication is an important but often overlooked component to our overall success when working on production. From there, Blas expanded the concept into a class that would touch on areas such as effectively relaying the needs of the Sound, Video and Projection teams to the producer, interfacing with other departments on set, such as Camera, Grip, Set Lighting, and Costume, and emphasizing the need to communicate appropriately with performers regarding wireless mic usage. The class incorporates lecture and discussion as well as role-playing exercises to help demonstrate some of the concepts behind improved communications in the film and television production environment.

This class is conducted periodically and in small groups, allowing for lots of questions and discussion. Normally we run it in the Local 695 Boardroom but with State and City stay-at-home orders still in place, Blas has done a fantastic job redesigning the presentation of this class so it could be presented as a Zoom teleconference.

In case you’ve missed this training, we’ll keep running more of these classes in the future so watch your email for announcements about this and other upcoming classes from the Local.

At the Zoom Teleconference edition of Communication Skills training, Business Representative Scott Bernard spoke to the class: Top row: Ken Pries, Ian Zabuluyev, Paul Losada, Blas Kisic. Middle row: Noel Espinosa, Harald Emmert, Tony Smyles, Austin Peck.

Women’s March LA 2020

January brought thousands of women, the LGBTQIA community, allies, and friends together for this impassioned march through downtown LA. Our IATSE family was well represented by many different locals and craftspeople. Participants marched from Pershing Square to Grand Park/LA Civic Center, keeping with the tradition that started on Inauguration Day 2017. Let’s keep up the good fight for equality and democracy for all!

The Hollywood Commission Survey

Assessing the needs and experiences of workers across the entertainment industry.

Last winter, The Hollywood Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality, chaired by Anita Hill, announced the launch of “The Hollywood Survey.” This internet survey was designed to gage the ethical climate and culture of the entertainment industry. The survey was aimed at people working in all aspects of the film industry, including film crews, actors, directors, writers, stunt people, and more, from past and present. The mission of this anonymous survey was to gather critical data on subjects of workplace harassment. The data will be used by The Hollywood Commission to develop programs that will address harassment and discrimination of all kinds. We look forward to the positive changes implemented by information gained through this survey.

Young Workers Committee

Congratulations to Sara and Nathan Whitcombe (YWC Chair) on the arrival of baby Wyatt! We invite any YWC members to share their newborn baby pics with us here. For more info, contact Jennifer Winslow, Chair of 695 Family and Member Support Committee @695FAM2local695.com

Local 695 Retirees Outreach Covid-19 Help

Many thanks to Linda Skinner, Office Manager/Membership Specialist, and Heidi Nakamura, Assistant Business Representative, for reaching out to our 695 Silver and Gold Retirees, in this time of need. They spent many hours on the phone with our most cherished members, finding out what they needed, be it groceries, prescription pickup, or just a friendly ear to listen to their concerns. During this outreach, we discovered some of our retirees had passed away. Please take a moment as we honor these members.

Retirees Special In Memoriam

Gene Ashbrook
Y-8
March 10, 1929 – Feb. 23, 2014

Allen Black
Proj.
April 30, 1938 – Dec. 30, 2018

Robert Dubuque
Proj.
May 27, 1942 – July 10, 2018

Juri Kauk
Y-4
Jan. 24, 1923 – May 5, 2013

Norman Pringle
Y-7
Dec. 9, 1923 – March 17, 2012

Clem Sheaffer
Y-8
July 11, 1920 – Nov. 1, 2019

Jeff Strailey
Maintenance Engineer
April 15, 1955 – Nov. 8, 2018

In Memoriam

Howard “Bud” Hogarth
Y-7A
Aug. 4, 1931 – Dec. 2, 2019

Steven Grothe
Y-1
June 11, 1968 – March 18, 2020

Steven Prichett
Proj.
Feb. 28, 1954 – May 4, 2020

Matthew D. Yerke
A2 & Sports Broadcast
Sept. 26, 1975 – May 5, 2020

Vic Carpenter
Y-1
Oct. 26, 1926 – May 5, 2020

Our Contributors

John Bauman CAS

John Bauman CAS began his production sound career nearly thirty years ago. His mixing work has been recognized by the Television Academy and Cinema Audio Society. His most recent credits include Hollywood, Ratched, and The Boys in the Band.

Steve Morantz CAS

Starting as a PA in the mid-’90s on commercials, I had the opportunity to work in each department and I was fascinated with sound. I signed up for an “Intro to Sound” classes through UCLA Extension that Jim Tanenbaum was teaching. In 2001, I was on the feature 13, starring Holly Hunter and it turned union. In February 2006, I got a call for the HBO series Entourage that they were looking for a mixer. I said to myself, “What do I have to lose.” I’ve been nominated for three Emmys and two CAS Awards. Life is good.

Ben Patrick CAS

Ben Patrick CAS is a Production Sound Mixer in Los Angeles working primarily scripted film and television projects. His work includes TV series The Office, Silicon Valley, Barry, and films Crazy Stupid Love, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Jay Patterson CAS

Jay Patterson’s career in sound started in 1967 as a professional child voice for radio drama. He started mixing for film in 1986. He’s been Production Mixer on more than forty Movies of the Week, winning the Cinema Audio Society Award in 1997 for the ABC Movie of the Week Into Thin Air: Death on Everest, shot entirely on the Pitzdal Glacier in the Austrian Alps. A five-term Vice President of IATSE Local 695, he is currently a Trustee of the Local.

Mathew Price CAS

Mathew is a NYC-based Production Sound Mixer for more than thirty-five years (but who’s counting?). He believes there are two kinds of mixers: high school science nerds and frustrated musicians; he’s the latter. Some of his credits include The Sopranos, Living in Oblivion, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Jennifer Winslow

Jennifer has been a member of Local 695 since 1990 and is currently serving as an Executive Board member and Trustee. A Utility Sound Technician and Boom Operator, some of her feature credits include Problem Child, Lone Star, and Be Cool. Her work in TV includes Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Chicago Hope, and Dear White People.

Photos courtesy of the respective contributors.

From the Editors

In the spring edition of Production Sound & Video, we offer a look at five episodic shows: Barry, mixed by Benjamin A. Patrick for HBO, Steve Morantz describes his work on Netflix’s Dead to Me, John Bauman writes about his experiences on Hollywood, also for Netflix, and Mathew Price delves into the logistics of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, streaming on Amazon. Lastly, Jay Patterson tells us about his work on Showtime’s Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.

As we go to press, our industry is at a standstill as we spend our days in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last several years, we’ve been working and enjoying all of the streaming programs that have given many of us gainful employment.

Who knew how important this form of entertainment would prove to the world during these times?

We hope you are all doing well and staying healthy and neither you, your family, or friends have been stricken with the coronavirus.

We will be back in production soon enough. Stay strong and supportive of everyone in your family and friends. We’ll be hearing “Roll Sound!” very soon.

In the meantime, enjoy this issue.

Wishing you all the very best.

Fraternally,
Richard Lightstone & James Delhauer

From the President

Dear Colleagues,

Along with the regular operations of our Local, the Board of Directors, and staff, contributing members have been extremely busy taking the following important steps necessary in light of COVID-19.

We are developing guidelines and policy for our unique workflows in this virus-driven reality. We have been working on this since the coronavirus began impacting our community and we have established a very focused Post COVID-19 Practices Committee, chaired by Local 695 Trustee and longtime Board member, Jay Patterson.

We’ve invited members from Narrative, Video Assist, Sports, Documentary, 24-frame VA, Projectionists, ENG, as well as manufacturers and consultants with specialized training, to contribute ideas on areas of concern. We are doing this in conjunction with our parent union (IATSE), sister union Locals, and the employers’ representatives (AMPTP). We are also including international contributions in the scope of our research.

Management has stated the need for mutual respect and cooperation in a spirit of enlightened self-interest. We’re hopeful that this will continue and we will remain fully engaged in this dialog. As IATSE members, we have rights under the law that cannot be waived, and the IATSE is standing behind us.

Each project, entertainment format, and individual craft has unique aspects and requires a fully committed collaboration between production and us, their expert crews, to coordinate best practices. This partnering needs to begin in pre-production, as together; we define hygienic workflows that reflect the actual nature of the particular environment our members will encounter.

Our team is producing important results and has moved far along in developing this WHITE PAPER. We are distilling the best of currently available information.

Naturally this is a “living” document, evolving as we constantly learn more. We continue to welcome your ideas and contributions. Please call the Local.

I believe in the strength of our common purpose, and in the strength of unified action taken by you, the membership of our Local 695 and our sister communities.

Let us pull together in controlling our fears and act on the facts. We are working to restore our industry; it is up to all of us to lend support; and we will succeed.

From the Board of Directors and myself, thank you again for the privilege of serving IATSE Local 695. Please stay safe.

With deepest affection and fraternally yours,

Mark Ulano CAS AMPS
President
IATSE Local 695

From the Business Representative

A Day Longer, a Day Stronger

Perhaps we didn’t see it coming, but now that this pandemic is with us, I think that Local 695 members are taking it on like a film or TV crew might face a production challenge. Figuring out what needs to be done and making it happen.

I’ve been speaking with a lot of our members, and many throughout the industry. They are asking two questions; When do we get back to work? And, what is it going to look like when it does?

Safety is the key, and the answer to those questions requires the creativity and participation of everyone involved in film and television production, including crew, actors, writers, and producers. Everything will need to change. The process of figuring out those changes is bringing together leaders from each organization. At the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee, we’ve been bringing together all of the unions and guilds across the country with all the major production studios. To keep everyone on track, an epidemiologist from UCLA has been brought in to review all safety recommendations and ensure that no one is cutting corners or taking undue risk.

To provide Local 695-specific input to this process, we formed a working group consisting of roughly forty-five members from all of the crafts we represent, and all of the production areas where we work, including live broadcast, sports, narrative, reality, sitcoms, and projection, to focus on their unique disciplines, to develop recommendations for protocols and workflows that will enable us to get our work done without compromise to safety or to the integrity of our crafts.

The eventual goal for the combined committee is to develop a single set of guidelines that will apply to productions shooting throughout the US and Canada, allowing us to return to work in a safe and productive workplace. Production companies have always relied on Local 695 and the IA to find innovative ways to do our work, which is not entirely new to us. We’re accustomed to change and always willing to adapt every day to meet the needs of production. Big changes lie ahead, but we can do it.

Anxious as we are to get back to work safely and quickly, we also need to take care of ourselves right now. The Local has been working with many of our members to help them get their severance pay and to provide guidance in signing up for unemployment insurance. We also have been working with our membership to help guide them through programs such as the MPTF, offering both financial and emotional assistance to our members.

The MPI’s new COVID Hardship Assistance Program allows our members to apply to withdraw up to $20,000 or twenty percent (whichever comes first) of your 2018 IAP balance. Although normally taxable, there is no ten percent early withdrawal penalty—that would be on retirement accounts, and you can avoid the tax altogether if you are able to return those funds to your retirement account within three years of withdrawal. If you want to take advantage of this program, you must apply at www.mpiphp.org on or before July 31, 2020.

MPI is also providing our membership with a waiver of health premiums, telemedicine with no co-payments, and no-cost COVID-19 testing. If you have questions about these or any of the other available assistance programs, please be sure to reach out to us at the office.

The one thing we can be sure of is by the time this goes to print, much of what we know now, will have changed. But what will remain unchanged is the commitment of our membership and your union to protect our families at home and our union family as well. We stand together, and together we will bring back the magic!

In Solidarity,
Scott Bernard
Business Representative

News & Announcements

COMMUNITY

Day at the Lanes MPTF Fundraiser

Jennifer Winslow, Jordan Kadovitz, Noel Espinosa, and Heidi Nakamura enjoy MPTF Day at the Lanes

On a beautiful Saturday in October, IATSE had a great time at PINZ Bowling Alley. Colleagues, friends, and families gathered to celebrate another year honoring the Motion Picture Television Fund (MPTF). The day was filled with fun, family, and charitable giving to help benefit the MPTF, which provides much-needed assistance to Local 695 members at times when it is needed the most. Balloons, banners, and booths helped to convert the parking lot into a country fair-like setting. There were brightly decorated tables and photo booths, catering trucks, mini cupcakes, and even frozen cereal puffs that emitted smoke! A wonderful lunch was served to the almost three hundred members, families, and friends in attendance.

Thomas Popp and family have fun bowling at PINZ

The bowling alley was open for free play for four hours of pin smashing fun … and Local 695 took full advantage of it. Gutter balls aside, there were some excellent strikes, spares, and splits, 695 Boom Operator Noel Espinosa had a great game. The arcade was jumping with game play, including air hockey, foosball, along with new and classic video games. Numerous raffle tables were full of highly sought prizes, including Dodger tickets, a Bose sound system, an Apple iPad and tickets to events like the Magic Castle Sunday Brunch and Burbank Winter Wine Walk. Local 695 member Jordan Kadovitz won some of the top prizes. The event raised more than $180,000 for the Fund. Much thanks to Heidi Nakamura, our Assistant Business Representative, for sitting on the committee, and to all of the committee members who helped to organize such an excellent event. For more information on the MPTF, call the Local.

Autism Support

Local 839 Animation Guild Lunch and Learn Panel

Many thanks to Local 839 for inviting Local 695 to be a part of this groundbreaking panel discussion held on October 23. The topic was autism awareness and education. The discussion was organized and moderated by 839’s Family Member Support Committee, chaired by Kristin Donner, and members Megan Kreiner, and Sandra Equihua. This was a knowledgeable and informative panel.The discussion started with a definition and brief history of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) known also as Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, and HFA (High Functioning Autism).

Autism is estimated to affect one in every sixty-eight children in the United States; one in every forty-two boys and one in every 189 girls. No two individuals with autism are the same. There is a wide spectrum of symptoms that range from mild to severe. Autism occurs in children of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Autism may be accompanied by language impairment and/or intellectual disability. Research suggests that the causes of autism are complex and include genetic, biological, and environmental risk factors. Increased prevalence in autism has been influenced by greater awareness, improved expertise in diagnosis, and an expanded definition. However, a true increase in the number of children with autism cannot be ruled out.

Symptoms of autism can often be detected at eighteen months or earlier, and some of the early warning signs may even be recognizable within the first year of life. When parents first suspect their child is developing differently, they should discuss their concerns with their pediatrician and ask for an autism screening, or referral to a qualified autism counselor or professional. Early identification and intensive early intervention can result in significant positive outcomes for many children with ASD.

Individuals with autism can make gains throughout their lives with the support of evidence-based educational and therapeutic programs tailored to meet their challenges and strengths. Eighty-four percent of individuals with autism in California are under the age of twenty-two. There is a significant need for services to help young people successfully transition to adulthood with the greatest levels of independence possible. Carrie N. Dilley, PhD, a Psychologist, spoke about the importance of a comprehensive, formal diagnostic exam to assess the child or adult. She touched on the importance of seeking out a skilled professional to administer a series of tests, often called a Psycho-Educational Evaluation.

Professional Behaviorist Juan Corral MS BCBA spoke next on the educational and practical steps parents need to take to help their child succeed in the public or charter school setting. He talked about the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process and parent empowerment, learning the best way to get help, understanding their child’s rights. Sometimes this is best realized through the hiring of an educational advocate, often a wise investment.

Panelist Marjan Kermani, Esq. of the Lanterman Special Education Legal Clinic, talked about laws and legal responsibilities of public and charter schools since the implementation of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education), two federal laws that provide for students with special needs. Occasionally, a lawyer is needed to move forward with due-process proceedings against a school district to gain disability services.

Kristin Kucia, from Exceptional Minds Academy, spoke about their cutting-edge technical school for young adults on the Spectrum, in a computer-based educational setting. They work with and teach ASD teens and adults the craft of animation, visual effects, and other computer-based technical work. Their goal is one hundred percent graduation and placement in the motion picture industry. Many adults do very well in visual effects, often because working with computers in a controlled setting can be soothing and lead to a successful career. Repetitive behaviors (a trait of ASD) are an asset in this type of work. Computer and technical work can also be beneficial for ASD workers with social skill deficits.This school and similar training studios can prepare individuals to enter into the motion picture and television workforce.

In conclusion, it was agreed that children and adults (of any age) with autism can succeed in our world and specifically our industry. Working together, we can help put together the pieces of the autism puzzle and help create a more inclusive and equitable world.

Well done, 839!

For more information, visit
www.thehelpgroup.org
For information on joining the new 695 Family Member Support Committee, get in touch with the Local.

Young Workers Committee

The toy drive is a huge success! Local 695’s YWC, the Hollywood IATSE Young Workers Coordinating Committee, and the Los Angeles Federation of Labor participated in the 2019 Annual Toy Drive for working families in Los Angeles. Boxes were overflowing with donations! Thank you to all who participated. IATSE Local 695 cares about our community.

NEW MEMBERS

Local 695 Welcomes its New Members

Jose Alcantar   Y-4
Alex Auvenshine   Y-1
Nicholas Kelly   Y-1
Ryan McGuigan   Y-1
Aron Siegel   Y-1
Radoslav Stefanov   Y-1
Todd Reckson   Y-1
Victoria Carrillo   Y-7A
Dejan Milovanovic   Y-4
Dalmar Montgomery   Y-1
Sean Fluster   Y-4
Stephen Loiacano   A1
Casey Wright   Proj.
Sylvan Grimm   Y-1
Stephen Harrod   Y-8
Luis Hernandez   Y-4
Scott Marshall   Y-7A
Alexandra Dent   Y-1

EDUCATION

Utility Masterclass

Panelists answer questions about the position of Utility Sound Technician

On Sunday, October 20, the 695 family participated in an educational seminar organized by LA Sound Mixers (LASM) and generously sponsored by K-Tek. A large contingent of students and professionals met at Local 80 to participate in the second year of this amazing Masterclass. The morning started out with six hands-on flash classes, ranging in topics from 2nd Boom Skills and Wiring Techniques to Transportation/Tailgate Safety. After these small group classes wrapped up, a panel of top experts convened to discuss their careers and share wisdom about the 695 position of Utility Sound Technician. The panel, moderated by Carrie Sheldon CAS, included Heather Fink, Patrushka Mierzwa, Thomas Popp, Jennifer Winslow, and Kelly Ambrow. Many prospective members were in attendance to understand that the job of Utility has become indispensable on all productions. Local 695 and LASM are working together to bring educated new talent into the union workforce.

In Memoriam

Christopher Banninger
Y-1
Dec. 26, 1955 – Oct. 30, 2019

Ernie Chacon
Proj.
Sept. 4, 1930 – Nov. 27, 2019

Don Coufal
Y-4
Sept. 24, 1949 – Nov. 19, 2019

J. Scott Hammar
Y-7
June 17, 1969 – Dec. 14, 2019

Robert M. Rosales
Y-1
March 18, 1966 – Dec. 8, 2019

Jeff Strailey
KTLA Maintenance Engineer
April 4, 1955 – Nov. 8, 2019

Our Contributors

James Delhauer

James Delhauer was born in Southern California and never made it very far from home. Since 2014, he has worked as a television engineer specializing in Pronology’s mRes platform. He joined Local 695 because he desperately needed friends.

Simon Hayes AMPS CAS

Simon Hayes mixed his first feature film at twenty-seven years old in 1997. Since then, he has mixed more than fifty-five features in a career that has spanned twenty-two years.
He is a great believer of early collaboration between sound production and post. Simon is passionate about the creative process and enjoys teaching and passing on his experience to film students whenever possible between movies.

Steve Morrow CAS

Steven Morrow started his career in Seattle, Washington, at eighteen and moved to Los Angeles a year later to pursue his dream of Sound Mixing. He joined Local 695 in 1998 and has now been mixing for over twenty-two years.

Mark Ulano CAS AMPS

Mark Ulano is an Oscar-winning Production Sound Mixer (Titanic) and multiple Oscar and BAFTA nominee (Iron Man, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2, Inglorious Basterds, Super 8, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight) and a veteran teacher, author, and international lecturer/speaker. He is currently the President of IATSE Sound Local 695, Past President of the Cinema Audio Society, member of the Sound branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Stuart Wilson

Stuart Wilson is a Production Mixer working in film. His adventures in sound have found him mixing with secret agents, wizards, and Jedi knights. Most recently, he was dodging the bullets in Sam Mendes’ war film 1917.