Wednesday, August 14, 2013

In memoriam Michael Chobot

Michael Chobot

I've been nominated for an Emmy for sound design in news and documentary, and it is a bittersweet honor. I headed the sound design team that included two extremely talented sound people, Matt Gundy and Michael Chobot, with whom I share the nomination. Last week, Michael passed away after a two year struggle with leukemia. 

I met Mike at DuArt a few years ago when he booked a studio to mix a short film.   My first impression was that he was enthusiastic. I couldn't tell if he knew what he was doing, but I got a good vibe from the brief discussion we had to set up the session. A young guy, I think he was 25, he did a sound design and mix on the graveyard shift all by himself. When I left work he was setting up with the director. 

The next morning I came in to find everybody wrapping up. The director looked happy and relaxed, which you don't see every day. At the time I was looking for a mixer and I called Mike a few days later to ask if he wanted to work at DuArt mixing a cartoon series for TV. I'd only spent about twenty minutes with him total, but I just knew he would be great at it. He became a wonderful addition to what could sometimes be a stressful environment; good natured, capable, talented and able to figure anything out under pressure.

Mike was fun to be around.  He was enthusiastic and engaged about whatever project he approached. He mixed his first episode of the cartoon series and got zero notes back from the client, meaning that he nailed it the first time out. He was athletic, he ran an ultra-marathon. He composed and recorded a classical wedding theme that was choreographed to live fireworks. For his brother's wedding, I think.

Shortly after Mike was diagnosed I briefly met a couple of his family members. I was amazed by the love and support I felt from them. It felt healthy and good. In the past two years I was fortunate to speak with him from time to time as he was setting up his own studio. It's pretty unusual to have a conversation with a person with a serious illness and come away feeling positive. He had a great perspective on things, he could look at a terrible situation - like being blinded by a battery of toxic therapies - and be fascinated by the response his body was having to it. All in all, an amazing guy.

For the Emmy nominated Duckumentary, Mike edited the backgrounds and the duck vocalizations. I told him that the various sequences, which were set all over the world, had to be geographically correct. During our final FX review just before the mix, the director requested that duck calls be added to a moment where a flock takes off from the water. There was a beat, then Mike responded over the speaker phone that, based on his research, this particular breed of ducks does not call when traveling in a flock. Another beat, then the director smiled and withdrew her request. Mike was very smart and polite enough to communicate with just the right tone. 

I feel very fortunate to have known Mike and to have been able to work with him for a time. My deepest sympathies to his incredible family.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Catskill gig this Friday!

Come celebrate the late summer! Alison and I are playing at Doubles 2 in Catskill, happy hour!  Drink specials, and a groovy vibe are to be had with no pesky cover charge to encumber the audience.  We'll do a couple of sets and probably some new things.

Borgia & Davy
Songs and Arias
Friday, August 16, 6pm
Doubles 2
188 Water Street, Catskill, NY

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Summer e-newsletter, Emmy® nomination edition

It's been a busy and creative summer over at chez Borgia. We've survived the recent heat wave and things are thankfully better now. In terms of music and sound, here are the highlights:

I have been nominated for an Emmy® for outstanding sound design for PBS Nature's An Original Duckumentary. I headed the fantastic sound design team of Michael Chobot and Matt Gundy. Together we crafted all of the effects and ambiences to accompany a film that explores the panoply of ducks around the world. We did the work last year, it was mixed by Ed Campbell at WNET 13 in NYC. It's a great honor to have worked with this crew, the director Anne Prum and the folks at PBS. It's wonderful to receive this nomination.

Alison Davy - to whom I have the good fortune to be married - has joined me in a new singing duo called Jumbo Bungalow. We've been performing in the Hudson Valley to great response - playing the Catskill Wine and Cheese Festival, The Kingston Festival of the Arts and doing regular happy hour appearances at Doubles 2 in Catskill, NY. We do a tossed salad of my songs, classical pieces and contemporary cover tunes. I play the ukulele and sing, Alison dishes out soprano excellence along with fine accompaniment on autoharp and harmonica.

A choral round isn't something I ever thought I'd write, but it happened anyway. My original round, Everything Bagel, was added to the 2013 spring and summer repertoire of the Turtle Bay Music School Community Choir. It has been a real treat to hear my work performed by this skilled and spirited ensemble.

Director Peter Sluszka asked me to do the 5.1 mix for his wonderful and disturbing short, Buttonhole. Check it out here.

The Sonic Scoop website asked me to review the ADAM F5 studio speakers. It’s good to get back into some writing after a little break. Plus, it’s good clean fun to have an opportunity to listen to some new gear!

I'll be mixing live sound for a young peoples' production of Into The Woods at Weathervane Playhouse in my old Ohio stomping grounds. I'm looking forward to meeting new people and seeing the kids bring their best to this great show by Stephen Sondheim.
The freelance life is rockin'! I'm lining up my schedule for the fall and look forward to some very exciting projects. I’ve got studios running in the Bronx and upstate in the Village Of Catskill. For those in need of great sound for film, video, web or music, drop me a line and we'll work it out.

Carmen Borgia Music and Sound
• Sound • Sound Design •
• Mixing for Film & TV • Music •


www.carmenborgia.com
IMDB
Credits

Central Ohio gig!!!

I'm playing at the Sparta Restaurant Cafe in Newark, Ohio this Thursday, August 8th, 6pm.

I met the owner, Chris Ramsey, last year when we went in for breakfast.  The food was great and he made us a little plate of beignets, Louisiana pastries, they were excellent.  We discussed the origins of the word "beignet" as well as the many facets of fried dough.  He is a very interesting guy, so, I'm pleased to be playing there on Thursday at 6pm.  I'll play some of my songs and some covers, this will be a solo show.  A friend or two may visit and play some songs.

We'll pass the hat to help me keep strings on the guitars.

Here is an article on Chris from earlier this year.