The visit to Todd-AO was easily one of the highlights of the week. While touring the major studios is always a pleasure, it's rare to get a real look behind the scenes of the movie making process itself. Emmy award winning re-recording mixer Marc Fishman ("John Adams") and recordist Robert Althoff were excellent hosts, giving us freedom to sit (and marvel) at the mixing console, answering our many technical and non-technical questions, and treating us to three fine examples of Todd-AO's high caliber work.
The first sample we watched was from "The Bourne Ultimatum," which won Academy Awards for Sound and Sound Editing. I wouldn't have minded watching the entire film in that amazing facility, but Marc made an excellent representative choice that showed off both the work of the mixing team and the capabilities of the room - Bourne's chase and fight sequence in Morocco. Though I have yet to revisit that scene in my living room, I am somewhat hesitant knowing that it will probably never live up to what I experienced at Todd-AO.
Next, Marc presented a scene from a film that he mixed, "Never Back Down." This time he was able to separate the audio elements and show us the major components that contribute to the overall mix - dialogue, background sound effects, score, source music, and Foley sound effects. Listening to Marc I was struck, perhaps for for the first time in a really tangible way, that making movies is a tremendous undertaking. Knowing that there are many other components leading to the creation of a major motion picture, I couldn't help wondering how a film gets made at all. Its completion is truly a testament to the organizational skills, determination and talent of those involved.
Finally, we were treated to a scene from "Eagle Eye." Marc apologized for showing us so many loud films, and assured us that not everything they do is so loud. Though the samples he shared were certainly forceful, listening to them was never uncomfortable or fatiguing, an indication not only of the technical quality of the material but also of the talent and skill in creating a mix that draws in, captures, and leaves the audience wanting more.
-Cameron Yee
I really need to collect my thoughts on this more later, but I want to say that those of you who werent able to make it to this demo missed a TON! The folks at Todd-AO were among the most remarkably open, informative and fun that I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with, and their theater is to die for! Watching the reels of Bourne and Eagle Eye was just icing on the cake, as the demo and tour of their projection area really wowed me, and I hope you guys will enjoy the pictures from there soon enough!
-Sam Posten
For the rest of our visit we visited the projection room where Robert continued to answer questions and explain Todd-AO's operations. Marc also managed to get us a few goodies from DTS - t-shirts and Blu-Ray demo discs.
Coming at the end of a jam-packed week, the visit to Todd-AO was an excellent and worthwhile change of pace. With the smaller group, the less intense traffic on the way there, and the relaxed hospitality shown by Marc and Robert, it made for one of the most memorable experiences on the trip.
-Cameron Yee
