Riding Again...

Okay, this isn't a photo of me, but it's how I feel on the inside again, because after a little over two weeks off, I am finally riding again.

I was sick for a week, then the California rains came for the entire next week (I'm not hardcore enough to choose to ride in the rain).

Though waiting for the rains to end was a bummer, the payoff of our way-ahead-of-schedule rainfall for the year has left us with gorgeously green mountains, where they had been a deserty dull brown the past couple of years.


I know what you're thinking: "That looks like Austria, circa 1965, and maybe a screen-grab from 'The Sound of Music.'" ..................... Yes, okay maybe, but I couldn't find any good pics of So-Cal mountains that have a greenish hue to get my point across.

All that to say, I'm glad to be riding again and the scenery is even more amazing than usual. Knowing California, the green will fade to brown again as the rains become a distant memory. That will just make it all the more sweet again when the rains come again.

2 Golden Reel Wins!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend this year's MPSE Golden Reel Awards, and much thanks to God it wasn't one of those "you must be present to win" type things.

"The Batman" and "Superman: Doomsday" came away winners Saturday. And oddly enough, they both tied with other shows in their categories. Here's a section of the Hollywood Reporter article:

"The Batman" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" tied in the category for TV animation, "Starcraft" was honored for computer entertainment, and "Return to House on Haunted Hill" and "Superman Doomsday" tied for direct to video.

It's an honor to finally win one of these, as they are voted on by other sound editors. For more on MPSE, go HERE.

Oscar Sound 2-fer

The Bourne Ultimatum pulled off a double Academy Award win in the sound categories tonight, "Best Sound Editing" and "Best Sound Mixing". It's a great movie, great sound effects, and great mixing. Check it out.

The last films to win in both categories: King Kong (2006), and before that, Master and Commander (2004).

MPSE Golden Reel Awards Nominations

The sound team I'm a part of at WB Animation has been nominated thrice for the MPSE Golden Reels this year. I have eight previous Golden Reel noms, but no wins, so it'd be very cool to finally leave with a win this time.

"Superman: Doomsday" is in the "Best Sound Editing – Direct to Video" category, and "The Batman" and "Loonatics Unleashed" are in another category, "Best Sound Editing in Television: Animated".

Wish us luck next Saturday!

Ding - Dong, The Strike is Dead!

After something like $20 million a day, and something like $3 billion (yes, that's a "B") total revenues lost, the quarter-long strike is finally over.

The trickle-down effect has been substantial, and the recovery won't be immediate, but the film/TV industry here in LA seems to be breathing air with an element of hope in it again.

The unfortunate reality is that much of production slated for now, was pushed through earlier last fall (pre-strike), or canned indefinitely. The shows that are still alive on paper, will take a few weeks to rev back up to production speed again, and then there's post-production, and so on etc, before it can be aired. The very unfortunate reality, is that we will feel the effects of this 3 month strike for at least another season.

So speaking of "reality", let's hope you enjoy your reality TV shows, because for the next several weeks, they are still what's for dinner in prime-time!

Proof That Smart People Like Cartoons & Stuff

Boy, was I surprised to rate at this reading level! I think it means that smart people like cartoons, drums and motorcycles. What else could it be?

WB's Academy Awards Animation Collection

This is one I worked on last summer. It's a collection of Oscar winners and nominees for animation since the early days. It's being released February 12th.

One great thing about it, is that it represents different worlds of classic animation, by including all the libraries under the WB umbrella. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies are here, but Popeye, Tom & Jerry, Droopy and Superman are among the winners and nominees as well. This is considered the best of the best.

Check it out.
The Academy Awards Collection