As a follow-up to last month’s (SHOOT, 2/23) remembrance of the late Walter (“Wally”) Tannenbaum–penned by Matt Miller, president/CEO of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP)–some fond recollections from director George Gage were relayed to us. In that Tannenbaum loved to share his stories about the business, it’s apropos that Gage get the chance to relate his tales about Tannenbaum, the colorful head of production at Ted Bates “back in the day.”
“During my commercial directing career, Walter quickly became my favorite client,” wrote Gage in a faxed memoir. “But more than that, he quickly became one of my favorite friends.”
Gage recalled an Orient Express-takeoff commercial for Panasonic that he directed for Tannenbaum. “Once on the set….Walter and I realized that a period piece parlor car should have smoke,” shared Gage. “But neither of us had budgeted a smoke machine. Simultaneously we hit on an idea. We had the assistant director John Zane light up a huge stogie and in between takes walk up and down the train puffing and exhaling as much smoke as humanly possible. We got our effect. John got green.”
The kinship between the director and Tannenbaum extended to long-form fare as well. “When I shot my first feature film, Skateboard, Walter was there,” noted Gage. “During the climactic scene, I looked down from the crane and right in the middle of the action I saw Walter with my then three-year-old son on his shoulders. After I yelled ‘cut,’ I heard Walter tell the producer, ‘I know he’ll never cut me out of this scene.'”
However, cutting remarks that were at the same time good natured and said in good humor were also part of the Tannenbaum repertoire. “I always loved to take the agency out for great lunches,” shared Gage. “Walter wasn’t impressed. He’d always say, ‘You can’t put a steak on a sample reel.’ He always had a way with words,” continued Gage. “I’ll always remember his apt description of me: ‘More luck than brains.'”
Gage’s observations dovetail well with those of Miller, which appeared in SHOOT in February. Miller wrote that “this is an industry of great people. The people we meet every day in this industry set apart those who simply have ‘colleagues,’ from those who work together to achieve miraculous feats that spawn real friendships. It may not be rocket science, but the ingenuity, creativity and perfectionism it takes to make great ads takes a certain chromosome, or maybe just a certain strain of passion. I’m sure we each have our own ‘Walter’–someone who didn’t just mentor us, but inspired us. Someone whose keen eye could spot those who weren’t cut out for this business versus those who were intrigued enough to pursue it. These people make for a great story.
Part of the collective lore of our industry comes from the stories that are handed down and shared. Remember to share yours and stop a moment in your busy day to listen to others’.
You’ll see that you’re part of a unique tribe, a ‘Band of Brothers,’ if you will.”
Nominees Unveiled For Cinema Audio Society’s 61st Annual Awards
The Cinema Audio Society has unveiled its nominees in seven categories for the 61st Annual CAS Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing 2024.
The 61st CAS Awards will be held on Saturday, February 22, at the Beverly Hilton.
Nominated in the live action motion picture category were the audio teams behind A Complete Unknown, Deadpool & Wolverine, Dune: Part Two, Gladiator II and Wicked.
Animated motion picture nominees were the sound ensembles behind Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, The Wild Robot and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
As previously announced, multi-award-winning sound mixer Tod A. Maitland CAS (A Complete Unknown, West Side Story, Joker), will be honored with the CAS Career Achievement Award. In addition, visionary filmmaker Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two, Blade Runner 2049, Arrival) will receive the Cinema Audio Society’s Filmmaker Award.
The CAS Award nominees highlight the outstanding contributions of sound mixers, recognizing excellence in the specialized craft of sound mixing for both film and television. Each year, accomplished CAS members—who possess extensive expertise in the art and science of sound—carefully review hundreds of projects to ensure the nominees truly reflect excellence in sound mixing in Motion Picture and Television entertainment.
“2024 was a year of remarkable achievements in the sound community, with exceptional talent on display across every category,” said CAS president Peter Kurland. “The innovation and artistry of these sound mixers continue to elevate the craft, and the upcoming awards will be a celebration of the outstanding contributions made this year. Congratulations to... Read More