AN INTERVIEW WITH BRAD MEYER
SOUND EFFECTS EDITOR, BOOM BOX POST
We get questions all the time about breaking into the industry. Some of the best insights come from our editors themselves and their interesting stories. Sound editor Brad Meyer joined the team back in October of 2015 with a background in film, sound and music. His work for Boom Box Post has since garnered nominations for both a MPSE Golden Reel and a Daytime Emmy Award. Here's a chance to get to know Brad and how his particular background lead to our doorstep.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CHOOSE POST-PRODUCTION SOUND AS A CAREER?
When I was a freshman year in high school, I saw an episode of Last Call with Carson Daly in which he interviewed Supervising Sound Editor Richard King right after finishing work on Inception. This was the fist time I heard a sound designer talk about their work. It was very eye opening, inspiring me toward my career path. As it turns out, sound design isn't just a cool job, but a great fit for me personally. I have horrible ADD and my mind always needs to be focusing on something. When editing or mixing you are constantly making decisions and it keeps your mind very busy.
WHERE DID YOU STUDY POST SOUND?
I went to school at Columbia College in Chicago, majoring in film with a concentration on sound for visual media.
WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL YOU PICKED UP IN SCHOOL THAT YOU USE EVERY DAY AT BOOM BOX POST?
Having a program where I got to work on a lot of actual projects with students as clients helped to build my confidence. Learning to trust myself is a skill I picked up in school that I continue to develop in my work at Boom Box Post. You need to be able to say "This sounds good, let's keep moving" or you could spend days on a 30 second chunk of media.
OUTSIDE OF YOUR ACTUAL SOUND DESIGN WORK, WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR BOOM BOX POST?
The people. Everyone here is super chill. I also love that Boom Box Post focuses on animation, which is less about problem solving and more of a blank slate than live action. Boom Box has given us the freedom to really take advantage of that empty canvas. There's a trust we have built where we are allowed to really go for it creatively. Jeff and Kate will give us a handful of notes to jump off with and the rest is up to us.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SKILL YOU'VE PICKED UP SINCE WORKING AT BOOM BOX POST?
Speed. I'm getting faster every day, which definitely helps. It's all about faster decision making. Less trial and error.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?
Sleep! I've started to get into camping more often and I love to cook.
WHAT IS THE LAST MOVIE WHICH IMPRESSED YOU WITH SOUND?
I was blown away by Mad Max: Fury Road. I saw it in a screening where the supervising sound editor Mark Mangini talked about the experience, which was really fantastic. I also loved the foley work in Hateful Eight.
WHAT TYPE OF QUIRKY SOUNDS DO YOU LIKE?
We do a lot of non-English vocal recordings here at Boom Box Post that we treat as sound effects. I place at least one Boom Box original in every episode of television I work on. Some, like Kate's bloody murder scream or the other editors doing human versions of animal sounds are easy to utilize. Others are more challenging. For those, I'll get creative, such as making beeps or telemetry from them.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMATED MOVIE OR TELEVISION SERIES AS A CHILD?
I still love the Brave Little Toaster. It's just a great story.
IF EVERY TIME YOU WALKED INTO A ROOM A SOUND EFFECT PLAYED, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I think I'd have to say a classic trumpet fanfare. Or a bunch of Party horns!
IF BOOM BOX POST WERE A SEA CREATURE, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
An eel, because boom box makes me feel electrified!