Where are you currently employed and what’s your current project?
I am now working on Blended, a comedy directed by Frank Coraci that stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. It’s a Warner Bros. movie that we are currently mixing at Sony. I’m working with fellow Guild members: picture editor Tom Costain, sound supervisor Elmo Weber and re-recording mixers Tateum Kohut & Greg Orloff.
Describe Your Job.
I am a dialogue editor, which means I edit production dialogue. My job is to make the sound that has been recorded on the set clean and smooth, and then deliver it to the re-recording mixer. Every line of dialogue is carefully cleaned of any kind of noise, like background sounds and clunks, as well as any unwanted overlapping dialogue. I also fix inconsistencies with performances or accents. If I have done my job well, the dialogue plays seamlessly and is clean so that it can be effectively mixed — whether in a quiet dialogue scene or a big sounding action sequence. It’s a very detail-oriented job. Sometimes I supervise ADR. After meeting with the director and the picture editor, I program and shoot ADR with actors doing lines of dialogue that need to be added or replaced because of noise or performance.
How did you first become interested in this line of work?
I worked as a live music mixer back in Sweden. where I am originally from. I then became interested in film and went to film school in Stockholm with sound, both production and post-production, as my specialty.
Who gave you your first break?
After I moved to Los Angeles in 1992, I worked in production sound and also did some picture assisting until I got my break at ACME Soundworks with Jerry Ross and George Berndt in 1993.
What was your first union job?
I became a union member (Local 695) while doing production sound on a TV show called Great Scott! starring Tobey Maguire. My first union job was as a dialogue editor on Roger Avary’s Killing Zoe with Eric Stoltz and Julie Delpy.
Which of your credits or projects have made you the most proud and why?
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was a lot of hard work with tedious editing that only a dialogue editor and mixer would notice, but I was really happy with the result. On Made of Honor, we did a lot of fun stuff with group ADR.
What was the biggest challenge in your job (or on a particular project) and how did you overcome/solve it?
Every movie has its own challenges, but a few stand out. On last year’s Total Recall, I took over as a supervising ADR editor at a crucial time and we pulled through with a fantastic crew — Kimberly Harris, Robert Troy and Matt Hanson. The three Transformers movies were as challenging as any project will ever be, with crazy changes and long hours. We all clocked close to 100 hours a week toward the end.
What made this franchise different was that besides working on the domestic version, I was also very hands-on with all the films’ foreign versions. I saw that all languages had the right sound for their mixes. We had all the dub stages at Sony doing double shifts at one point, and I would go from Spanish to French to Japanese to German to Italian and more...watching the same movie in all the different languages. It was all made possible thanks to a great team and a system set in place to make it work.
What was the most fun you’ve had at work?
On Mr. and Mrs. Smith, we had a great crew and great collaboration with the picture crew, led by editor Michael Tronick. There were lots of laughs working on Made of Honor and Spider-Man 2 and the best thing about working on Transformers 1, 2 and 3 was tag-teaming with the late and great sound editor, Mike Hopkins.
Jobwise, what do you hope to be doing five years from now?
Working on fun, challenging projects with nice people.
What are your outside activities, hobbies, passions?
Spending time with my family, traveling, reading and watching my kids play sports — I’m a baseball and volleyball mom.
Favorite movie(s)? Why?
I love movies that have a good story. I watch pretty much anything except horror films. The list is long: Rebel Without a Cause, The Godfather, The Shawshank Redemption, Some Like It Hot, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Amadeus, Witness, Happy Feet, Monty Python’s Life of Brian and a bunch of foreign films.
Favorite TV program(s)? Why?
I don’t watch much TV, but I will watch sports and I love Downton Abbey and The Voice.
Do you have an industry mentor?
The work of Walter Murch inspired me to move here. Since then, I have met many people through the years who have influenced me in different ways on both a personal and a professional level.
What advice would you offer to someone interested in pursuing your line of work?
Be persistent, take responsibility and prepare yourself so that when you have your chance people will notice you.
Was there ever a circumstance when you had to rely on the Guild for help or assistance?
No, but I appreciate that the Guild is available should I ever need it.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your fellow Guild members, some words of encouragement?
Keep up the good work!
- Compiled by Edward Landler
Editor’s Note: To recommend a member (including yourself) to be featured on the home page of the Editors Guild website, contact edlandler@roadrunner.com.