Cinema Audio Society President, David E. Fluhr, CAS, announced that the organization will honor Re-recording Mixer, Andy Nelson with the Cinema Audio Society’s highest accolade, the CAS Career Achievement Award, to be presented at the 50th CAS Awards on February 22nd, 2014 in the Crystal Ballroom of the historic Millennium-Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles.
“I am thrilled to announce Andy Nelson as this year’s Cinema Audio Society Career Achievement honoree. Andy is a long time colleague, and I have had the pleasure of watching Andy skyrocket to the top of our craft over these last few years,” said Fluhr. “Andy’s easy going demeanor, natural mixing and storytelling talents, along with his ability to guide large productions with ease and confidence, have led the CAS Board of Directors to bestow this honor. We are looking forward to an exciting evening on February 22, 2014, as the CAS celebrates our 50th year.”
Growing up in London and pursuing his love of film, Andy started work as a projectionist at the local cinema at the age of 16. He was already putting music to his 8mm films at home, a sure sign of things to come. Starting his apprenticeship in a local documentary film company, he was eventually accepted into the BBC Film Department and by the late 70’s was in the mixing seat.
The next stop was an independent studio in Soho, London where Andy handled many music projects, his other great passion, and was introduced to the world of features when working with the late Ken Russell. In 1983 he moved to Shepperton Studios working again with Ken, Nic Roeg and Stanley Kubrick to name a few.
In 1987 Andy was offered the position of Director of Sound at Film House in Toronto and that year won a Genie Award and garnered his first Oscar nomination for ‘Gorillas in the Mist’. It wasn’t long before he was lucky enough to be offered a position with Todd A-O Studios. Working in Stage A, the legendary sound room in Hollywood, allowed him the opportunity to mix for Steven Spielberg, Brian de Palma, Adrian Lyne, Warren Beatty, Alan Parker and many, many more.
In 1999, Andy moved across town to Fox Studios where he has worked for 14 years and also serves as Senior Vice President Sound Operations.
Nelson has previously received 18 nominations for the CAS Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film and won the award in 2013 for Les Mis๏ฟฝrables and in 1999 for Saving Private Ryan.
In addition to his CAS wins, Nelson has been nominated 18 times for the Oscar๏ฟฝ with wins for Les Mis๏ฟฝrables and Saving Private Ryan and has been recognized by BAFTA with 14 nominations with wins for Les Mis๏ฟฝrables, Moulin Rouge!, Saving Private Ryan, L.A. Confidential and Braveheart.
In a career that spans 35 years, Nelson has been the Re-recording Mixer on more than 140 feature films, including Lincoln, Rise of the Guardians, War Horse, Super 8, Avatar, Star Trek, Blood Diamond, War of the Worlds, The Las Samurai, Seabiscuit, Catch Me If You Can, Shrek, The Insider, The Thin Red Line, The X-Files, Evita, Schlinder’s List and Gorillas in the Mist.
As the 32nd recipient of the Cinema Audio Society’s highest honor, Mr. Nelson joins an illustrious group of past honorees that includes: Ray Dolby, CAS; Robert Altman, Jack Solomon, CAS; John Bonner, CAS; Bill Varney, CAS; Don Rogers, CAS; Walter Murch, CAS; Jim Webb, CAS; Richard Portman, CAS; Tomlinson Holman, CAS; Mike Minkler, CAS; Ed Greene, CAS; Dennis Sands, CAS; Dennis L. Maitland, Sr., CAS; Randy Thom, CAS; Jeffrey S. Wexler, CAS; Scott Millan, CAS and Chris Newman, CAS.
The Cinema Audio Society, a philanthropic, non-profit organization, was formed in 1964 for the purpose of sharing information with Sound Professionals in the Motion Picture and Television Industry.
