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Often, the documentaries we're asked to work on cover global events or exotic foreign locations, so it's a rare occurrence when we're given the opportunity to work on a film that's centered in our own backyard. It's rarer still when the themes presented in said film have such a universal appeal. San Bruno Mountain has been a fixture of many San Franciscan's daily commute for decades, it's large, but like any regular fixture of the landscape, easily ignored. Its imposingly serene presence gives little hint to the fierce political and social debates that have been raging since the 1950's regarding the mountain's future. Steven and Ann Dunsky of Cottage Films tell the story of a long-term feud between conservationists and developers, one that has been raging for over 50 years and spearheaded the modern grassroots conservation efforts. The film premieres at Pixar on March 12, 2010. San Francisco Symphony's Keeping Score debuts on PBS this fall. The first season (mixed by Berkesound) on Beethoven, Stravinsky and Copland have been seen by over 4.5 million viewers in the United States, with additional airings across Europe and Asia. Due to overwhelming demand, the Symphony once again turned to INCA Productions to produce another trio of Keeping Score films. Berlioz, Shostakovich and Ives are the featured composers for the new series, once again hosted by Michael Tilson Thomas. In keeping with the previous programs, the series traces the lives and influences of each composer in such diverse locations as Russia, Paris, and New England. MTT delves into each composer's social status, personal life, and societal background to help bring a greater understanding of the circumstances leading to each composer's masterpiece. Mark Escott was once again asked to mix the David Kennard and Joan Saffa produced series, this time in 5.1 surround. These programs will air nationally beginning October 15, 2009. For more information, please visit www.keepingscore.org. Mark Escott finished audio post on "Music Makes a City," a documentary detailing the early years of the Louisville Orchestra. In 1948, the small, struggling, semi-professional orchestra in Louisville, Kentucky began a novel project to commission new works from contemporary composers around the world. The efforts of a few visionary civic leaders, a dedicated conductor and orchestra, and the contemporary composers of the time, made modern musical history. The film is directed by Owsley Brown, III and Jerome Hiler. To learn more about the project, visit their website here. Mark Escott recently wrapped audio-post on InCA Productions' newest documentary, "Recreating America: Creativity and Learning." The film is produced by David and Elizabeth Kennard of InCA productions and was directed and edited by Michael O'Connell. The project was started back in October 2004 when David and Lizzie Kennard started consulting with OETA (Oklahoma Public Television) and the Kirkpatrick Foundation, with a view to developing a major state-wide and national media project on Creativity. Planned to be developed and produced over ten years, the goal is nothing less than creating a new sense of mission and purpose for the state of Oklahoma.Visit InCA's website to learn more. Stephen Berke sound designed and mixed the trailer for the upcoming film "Heathens and Thieves." The movie, produced by Peter Scott and directed by Megan Peterson and John Douglas Sinclair, is currently in production. Marc Cebrian of Rough House Editorial edited and onlined the final trailer. You can see the trailer here. Mark Escott recorded new assistant conductor Donato Cabrera's narration for the San Francisco Symphony's 2009 Concerts for Kids series. Stephen Berke also recorded jazz vocalist Clairdee for a rendition of "San Francisco" for the project. For more information about Clairdee, visit her website. Hiromi Makepeace of Viz Pictures came to Berke Sound to design and mix trailers for the 20th Century Boys series. The three 5.1 surround sound trailers played along with other teasers at the grand opening of the new Viz Cinema in the NEW PEOPLE center in Japantown, and will also play before future movies there. Visit Viz Pictures for more details. Mark Escott recently mixed "The Botany of Desire," a documentary by Michael Schwarz of Kikim Media. The film, narrated by Frances McDormand, is inspired by the best-selling book of the same name by Michael Pollan, which explores the relationship between plants and their human cultivators. Tune in to PBS this fall to see how human needs and desires shaped the evolutionary journey of Apples, Tulips, Potatoes and Marijuana. To view a trailer and read more about the project, visit www.kikim.com. Viz Pictures once again approached Mark Escott to design and mix a series of trailers, as well as a behind the scenes featurette, for the film "L, Change the World" the latest in the "Deathnote" series. The trailers and featurette will play in theaters to promote a nationwide event, which is on April 29th and 30th. Stephen Berke also got involved, offlining a series of trailers for upcoming Viz Pictures' films, as well as animating an "Opening Countdown" segment for the trailers. Mark Escott finished everything off by sound designing and mixing the open and trailers. Mark also recently recorded the audio commentary for the film, featuring a discussion between uber fans "Deathnerd" and Patrick Mascias. A yarn store seems an unlikely setting for a story about love, thievery, and a couple of ghosts! Stephen Berke recorded the book-on-tape for "Miss Eiderdown's Stocking" written by Kate Godrey of Boxer Press Audio. The sessions were produced by Godfrey, Pat Jackson and Dan Gleich. The tale, narrated by Andrea Snow, will be offered as a free download during the holiday season. Follow Miss Eiderdown and other Boxer Press news at boxerpress.typepad.com. What do airbag systems in cars, inkjet print heads, DLP projectors, and iPhones have in common? MEMS or Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems are critical to these and many other parts of today's high-tech world. Mt. View based Silicon Run's new film "MEMS: Making Micro Machines" investigates the creation and function of the fascinating micro-mechanical world. Stephen Berke sound designed and mixed the forty minute, Ruth Caranza produced film, which will be available on DVD as an educational resource. Mark Escott recently mixed Pam Walton's latest film, "Raging Grannies." The Grannies are a group of action-minded senior ladies originally formed in opposition to the Iraq war. They have since widened their focus to bring attention to civil rights and equality issues. Filmmaker Pam Walton spent two years following the grannies at their various rehearsals and protests before finishing the film. It premiered to great response at San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival in March. For more information on both the film and the Grannies themselves, click here. Peter B. Lewis of Audisee Inc. came to Berke Sound to design and mix the audio component of the Red Passion Theater experience, presented by Coca-Cola, at the Beijing Olympics. The 7.1 surround sound ultra-widescreen presentation features lush, dynamic effects and highly impactful surround music. The show was particularly challenging due to the unique design of the screen and theater which required five channels of audio across the front in addition to the usual surround and subwoofer channels. Mark Escott mixed the upcoming Nova special, "Hunting the Hidden Dimension", a new documentary co-produced by Kikim Media and Quest Productions. Produced and Directed by Michael Schwarz and Bill Jersey, the film explores the mysteries of fractal geometry, the study of irregular repeating shapes ubiquitous in nature. Fractal geometry has been applied to a wide range of applications including wireless communications, cancer research, and climate studies. Hunting the Hidden Dimension airs nationally on PBS October 28th. Mark Escott mixed trailers and 'behind the scenes' features for Viz Pictures' "Death Note" and "Death Note - The Last Name", two extremely popular Japanese films now being shown in the US. The trailers are playing in theaters nationwide, and the 'behind the scenes' features are playing as part of an Amazon release as well as an NCM Theater event. Mark Escott recently mixed the documentary "Pirkle Jones, Seven Decades Photographed." Directed and produced by Jane Levy Reed, the film chronicles the major works of the extraordinary photographer Pirkle Jones. It premiered at SFMOMA and is now showing on the festival circuit. Post was recently completed on "Death of the Iceman," a documentary written and directed by Noel Dockstader of the Far West Film Company and now airing on The National Geographic Channel. The Iceman was discovered in the Otztal region of the Alps along the Austro-Italian border in 1991. At first, the corpse was assumed to be one of many hikers lost in the area in recent decades. Further examination of the body and the tools found nearby revealed that "Otzi", as he was dubbed, was a naturally preserved mummy from the copper age. The film examines the three leading theories as to how and why the Iceman died. Stephen Berke did extensive sound design for the many re-enactment scenes while Mark Escott and Ryan Dorp edited and cleaned dialog and b-roll. The films were mixed in both stereo and 5.1 surround. Visit The National Geographic Channel for more information. Mark Escott recently mixed Open Eye Pictures' upcoming release "Under Our Skin," a film that seeks to shed light on a topic often swept under the rug in America, Lyme disease. The film investigates what is and isn't being done to curb the spread and damage of Lyme and tells the story of several individuals currently dealing with varying stages of the disease. The film's premiere will be April 26th at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. For more information on the film, directed and produced by Andy Abrahams Wilson, visit underourskin.com. We're happy to announce the arrival of our super high-speed Internet connection. Now you can download from us much faster than ever before. With no geographical boundaries and no traffic delays, physical delivery is a thing of the past. Spend less time watching the progress bar and more time being creative. Berke Sound's Mark Escott also mixed a trailer for the upcoming Smush Media production "Mine: Taken by Katrina", produced and directed by Geralyn Pezanoski. As people evacuated New Orleans ahead of Hurricane Katrina, thousands were forced to leave their pets behind. In the aftermath, many lost pets were sent to out of state shelters and adopted by new families. As Katrina's victims slowly began to rebuild their lives, many were concerned about the fate of their beloved pets. Many didn't realize their pets had been given to new homes. "Mine" follows survivors of Katrina who must struggle with their pet's new owners to regain a piece of the life that was swept away by the storm. We are proud to announce that “Remaking American Medicine,” the four-part PBS series, produced by Frank Christopher of Crosskeys Media and mixed by Mark Escott, has been chosen as the best television program of 2006 by the Association of Health Care Journalists. The Association honors and recognizes the finest health reporting in nine categories covering print, broadcast and online media. The documentary series, hosted by Peabody Award and Emmy Award winner John Hockenberry, focuses on the need to improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans. Mark Escott recorded Hockenberry's narration and mixed audio for the four films. For more information on the programs, visit here. "The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan," says Sue Ellen Cooper, the Red Hat Queen Mother. Fred Cohen's new documentary explores the origins and evolution of the quickly growing group that is the Red Hat Society. Robert Berke Sound's Mark Escott mixed the feature-length version that includes interviews with several Red Hatters, as well as the founder, Ms. Cooper. As of the beginning of 2007, many broadcast and cable networks have changed the way they measure program loudness. The new standards are based upon the average dialogue level within a mix. Each network has its own set of specifications, and the variety of requirements can be dizzying. We have therefore purchased a Dolby LM100 Loudness Meter, the only device capable of measuring average dialogue loudness. This tool, along with our knowledge of the many different delivery specs that networks require, allows us to help you ensure that your mix will be accepted upon delivery. Robert Berke Sound's Mark Escott recently finished mixing the theatrical version of Lantern Films' "Row Hard No Excuses." The film, which follows the only Americans to compete in the grueling 2001 Atlantic Rowing Challenge, premiered in the feature documentary category at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival (www.slamdance.com) in Park City, UT. In addition, the film has been shown at multiple film festivals, garnering several awards. For more information on the project, visit lanternfilms.com. Building on the success of 2004's critically acclaimed documentary: "Keeping Score: MTT on Music - Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony", Marin based InCA productions has recently completed three new documentaries to continue the series. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) investigates three remarkable composers and their individual creative journeys: Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Eroica", Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring", and Aaron Copland and the American Sound. MTT visits Vienna, Prague, St. Petersburg, Paris and New York to tell the stories of the composers' lives. Mark Escott completed sound design and final mix, while Robert Berke cleaned and edited dialog on the David Kennard produced films, which are directed by Joan Saffa. For more information, including broadcast information, visit InCA's website here or the official Keeping Score website here Mark Escott mixed "Living with Fibromyalgia", a documentary produced by Trillusion Media. The film features interviews with fibromyalgia patients and their doctors, and aims to bring some clarity to an often confusing and misdiagnosed disease. For more information or to order a copy on DVD, click here. Mark Escott has completed sound design and audio mix for "What's Up in the Universe", a film by producer/director Susan Friedman. The documentary, which discusses inter-planetary relationships and the nature of the universe as a whole, is an integral part of a multimedia educational campaign aimed at inspiring young people to explore the possibilities of science and astronomy. It features spectacular visual effects, for which Escott built rich complementary soundscapes. For more information on the film, which airs May 3rd (Space Day), 2007 visit whatsupintheuniverse.org. Our own Stephen Berke recently completed an original short film titled "Lemons" which is currently making its way through the festival circuit. Berke directed, photographed, edited, and mixed the five-minute short produced by San Francisco based Theoretical Films. The short was scored using production music from the APM library. The film is currently touring in festivals nationally including the Queens International Film Festival in New York and FirstGlance Hollywood. Recently, the film took top honors, winning the comedy grand prize at the Radio Alice 3 Minute Film festival held in association with Pixar. More information can be found at the Theoretical films website at www.thefilms.org. Stephen Berke mixed the audio for a series of web spots promoting "Into the Fire", a documentary about the heroism and hardships faced by America's firefighters. The film, presented by Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, is directed by Academy Award winner Bill Couturie and airs nationally on The History Channel on October 13th at 8pm/7pm Central and October 22nd at 4pm/3pm Central. The promotional spots will be available on The History Channel's website and the Fireman's Fund website. Escott recently recorded audio commentary for a Japanese film entitled "Train Man: Densha Otoko". Based on the Japanese best-selling book of the same title by Hitori Nakano. The movie follows the exploits of a geeky protagonist as he attempts to break out of his shell and connect with his true love. The commentary is provided by Patrick Macias, Tomohiro Machiyama and Jay Tack, authors of various books about Japanese pop culture. "Train Man" (www.trainman-movie.com) is set to be released in the US on DVD by VIZ Pictures in January 2007. |
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