BAM STUDIOS’ engineering team provided sound design and audio mix for Media Process Group’s nearly two hour feature doc, “Maya Angelou: Still I Rise,” which evoked two standing ovations for the film and its creators at its recent Sundance screening.
MPG was notified by Sundance in early November that “Maya” had been accepted for the festival, whose deadline was Jan. 12 for entry submission. “And there went our holidays,” says MPG’s Bob Hercules, co-director with Rita Coburn Whack.
“Maya” had not been completed when MPG received the acceptance letter, since their first public screening was down the road, on PBS’ “American Masters” in September, 2016, and a Sundance screening was a long shot.
In December, sound designer/ADR/engineers Philip Von During, Alejandra Leon, Matt Sauro, Brian Reed and Sean Sbarbori got to work to on the project, utilizing four sound rooms. Their work included mixing the score composed by LA-based Stephan James Taylor.
“They worked phenomenally hard, it was crazy and hats off to all of them,” says Hercules. Colorist Pete Janotta also sacrificed his holiday to work on the doc. Editors were LA-based David Simpson, who has cut many of director Steve James’ award-winning docs, and Lillian Benson.
2016 CIMMFEST, Chicago’s answer to SXSW, heralds spring with the announcement that festival tickets, starting at $79, are for sale for the April 13-17 event, centered in Wicker Park, Bucktown and Logan Square neighborhoods.
Kartemquin founder/artistic director Gordon Quinn, celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary, will receive CIMMfest’s 4th annual Baadassss award honoring lifetime achievement in movies and music.
Other highlights: Two new film categories: Best Soundtrack and Best Original Score. Expected concerts by Grammy-winner Taj Mahal; “Godfather of Goth” Peter Murphy: Chicago-based Hypnotic Brass Ensemble; hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa; and Gingger Shankar’s multimedia mashup of an animated film and live performance. Stay tuned, much more to come.
CHANGING TIMES. Original Six Media added Bill Gould as executive producer and director of business development. He moves over from The Team Companies where he also was business development director. Production company Original Six, founded in 2013 by Chad Stum, is located at 213 W. Institute Place.
The Escape Pod landed Mark Andeer as chief marketing officer. Andeer was the marketing/ad executive behind such successful viral campaigns as Kmart’s “Ship My Pants” and OfficeMax’ “Elf Yourself.
THE LAST DAY to enter the 52nd Chicago International Film Festival Television Awards (formerly the Hugo Awards) is March 11.
The competition offers 78 categories under general headings of Individual TV Programs, TV Series, TV Commercials, Online/Viral Commercials, Commercial Campaigns and Special Achievement.
The April 20 awards cere,pmu at the Loews Chicago hotel, also pays tribute to distinguished individuals and companies that have make a memorable mark on the industry.
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