SoundStorm (company)

Last updated
SoundStorm
FormerlyWallaworks, Gordon Ecker Productions
TypePrivate
Industry post-production, Sound effects, Sound editing and Remastering
FounderGordon Ecker
Headquarters639 S. Glenwood Place,
Burbank
,
USA
Area served
USA
Key people
 Rob Nokes, Bruce Stambler, John Leveque
Owner Sounddogs.com, Inc.
Website www.soundstorm.com

SoundStorm was an independent audio post-production and sound editorial company based in Burbank, California. It provided post-production sound design, sound editing and ADR in Hollywood. The editors recorded their sound effect library from 1984 to 2004, worked on more than eighty feature films, and earned a number of awards and nominations from the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, British Academy Film Awards and Golden Reel Awards. In 2004, the company was dissolved and sold its assets; Soundogs.com Inc. acquired the trademark and complete archive of the SoundStorm sound effects library.

Contents

History

SoundStorm was founded in 1984 by Gordon Ecker as Walla Works Productions, a sound editorial house and post-production facility in Los Angeles for feature films and television projects. It was owned and operated by practicing sound professionals. In the 1990s the company moved to Burbank from Hollywood after several corporate transitions and name changes. Ecker who was the CEO, retired in 1998 and sold the company to six of the firm's original employees; Bruce Stambler, John Leveque, Gary Blufer, John Fanaris, Becky Sullivan, and Richard Yawn. [1] Four of the six owners were sound editors. [2] The company developed relationships with off-site editorial and mixing facilities to handle re-recording duties on SoundStorm projects. In 2002, it employed about sixty sound professionals, including ten supervising sound editors. The company also recruited Alan Robert Murray who supervised the sound on twenty-eight Clint Eastwood films.

The SoundStorm team worked on more than eighty feature films and television projects. It has contributed to the success of notable films as Under Siege (1992), The Fugitive (1993), Clear and Present Danger (1994), Batman Forever (1995), The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), L.A. Confidential (1997) and The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Besides the action-adventure work, SoundStorm provided sound editorial for independent dramas like Frailty (2001), comedies like Blast from the Past (1999), and prestigious pictures like Pleasantville (1998)

The leading supervising sound editors John Leveque and Bruce Stambler paired together on several projects and achieved a number of awards for sound designing and editing. Stambler was nominated for five in a row for the Academy Award and won with Ghost and the Darkness (1995) for Best Sound Effects Editing. [3] [4] [5] He also won a BAFTA for The Fugitive (1993), an Emmy Award for Miami Vice (1984) and a Golden Reel Award shared with Leveque for Under Siege (1992). John Leveque received Oscar nominations four years in a row and won two BAFTAs for L.A. Confidential (1997) and The Fugitive (1993) He was also nominated for five Golden Reel Awards.

In 2003, SoundStorm digitized its sound effects library, opened a new sound transfer room featuring Pro Tools HD systems and digital workstations replacing 35mm platforms with a view to coping with the rival firms. [6] [7] In 2004, SoundStorm opened Cloud 9, a sound mixer feature equipped with two dbx Quantum II compressors, two dbx 160SL dual/mono stereo compressor/limiters and a dbx 786 mic pre unit. [8]

Acquisition

Rob Nokes at SoundStorm Sound Effects Library Storage Rob Nokes at SoundStorm Sound Effects Library Storage.jpg
Rob Nokes at SoundStorm Sound Effects Library Storage

SoundStorm was one of the most recognized independent sound editorial companies in Hollywood when it filed for bankruptcy and sold its assets in 2004. Bruce Stambler, one of its co-founders, left SoundStorm for Soundelux in August 2004 with eight members of his creative team and three studio projects. [9] Stambler was CEO of SoundStorm and lead supervising sound editor at the firm before relocating to Soundelux.

In 2004, John Leveque also left SoundStorm for Soundelux and started working for Soundelux' London office. [10] Soundelux has also brought on Sound Supervisor/ADR supervisor Becky Sullivan.

In 2004 Rob Nokes of Sounddogs.com Inc. acquired the trademark and complete archive of the SoundStorm sound effects library when the company decided to dissolve its sell its assets and partnerships with other sound facilities. [11] [12]

Aftermath

In 2008, Stambler and Leveque left Soundelux and opened a sound editorial and mixing facility called Studio 8 Sound in Los Angeles with offices also in New York.

Staff

Former staffs

Filmography

Awards and recognitions

YearAwardCategoryTypeTitleHonorees
2002 Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingNominated xXx Bruce Stambler, Richard E. Yawn, Mike Chock,
Harry Cohen, Ken Fischer, Elliott Koretz
Steve Mann, Steve Nelson, Michael Payne
Kim Secrist, Tim Walston, Michael Dressel
2002 Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingNominated Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Alan Robert Murray, Steve Boeddeker, Bub Asman,
Thomas Small, Ronald Eng, Doug Jackson
Michael Jonascu, Chuck Michael, David Grimaldi
2001 Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingNominated Freedom Song John Leveque, Shawn Sykora, Steve Mann, Anthony Milch
2001 Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingNominated Three Kings John Leveque, Richard E. Yawn, Gary Blufer,
Bruce Fortune, Shawn Sykora, Anthony Milch,
Terry Rodman, Michael Dressel, Bob Beher
2001 Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingNominated The Fast and the Furious Bruce Stambler, Becky Sullivan, Jay Nierenberg,
Michael Dressel, Steve Mann, Glenn Hoskinson
Tim Walston, Charles Deenen, Scott Curtis
2001 Academy Award Best Sound EditingNominated Space Cowboys Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman
1997 BAFTA Award Best Sound Won L.A. Confidential John Leveque, Terry Rodman, Roland N. Thai,
Kirk Francis, Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer
1997 Independent Spirit Awards Nominated Eve's Bayou
1996 Academy Award Best Sound Editing Won The Ghost and the Darkness Bruce Stambler [25]
1995 Academy Award Best Sound EditingNominated Batman Forever John Leveque, Bruce Stambler [26]
1995 Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingNominated Clear and Present Danger Bruce Stambler, John Leveque, Lance Brown,
Jay Nierenberg, Glenn Hoskinson, Frank Howard,
Steve Mann, Jeffrey L. Sandler, David E. Stone,
Donald L. Warner, Pamela Bentkowski Jr.
1994 Academy Award Best Sound EditingNominatedJohn Leveque, Bruce Stambler
1994 Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingNominated Posse Bruce Stambler, Richard E. Yawn, Lance Brown
Anthony Milch, Jay Nierenberg, Shawn Sykora
1994 Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingNominated The Fugitive Bruce Stambler, John Leveque, Jay Nierenberg
Lance Brown, Hector C. Gika, Glenn Hoskinson
Shawn Sykora, Marshall Winn, Steve Schwalbe
1993 BAFTA Award Best SoundWonJohn Leveque, Bruce Stambler, Becky Sullivan Scott Smith,
Donald Mitchell, Michael Herbick, Frank Montaño
Academy Award Best Sound EditingNominatedJohn Leveque, Bruce Stambler [27]
1992 Academy Award Best Sound EditingNominated Under Siege John Leveque, Bruce Stambler
Golden Reel Award Best Sound EditingWonJohn Leveque, Bruce Stambler, Becky Sullivan,
Richard E. Yawn, Jay Nierenberg, Hector C. Gika,
Donald Warner Jr., Glenn Hoskinson, Bruce Fortune
1986 Emmy Award Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series Nominated Misfits of Science Bruce Stambler, Kyle Wright, Bruce Bell,
Barney Cabral, Phil Haberman, Mark Hollingsworth
Donlee Jorgensen, Jimmy Ling, Bernard F. Pincus
1985 Emmy Award Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series Won Miami Vice Bruce Stambler, Charles E. Moran, Bruce Bell,
Victor Lackey, Ian MacGregor-Scott, Carl Mahakian
John Oettinger, Bernard Pincus, Warren Smith

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References

  1. ↑ "SoundStorm: Sound For The New Millenium". Film and Video. February 1999. Retrieved December 22, 2015.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ↑ Droney, Maureen (January 1, 2002). "Facility Spotlight: SoundStorm, Last of the Red Hot Independents". Mix . Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Bruce Stambler Academy Awards Acceptance Speeches". Oscars, org. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Bruce Stambler Takes Award for Best Sound Editing". The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter. 18 (2). April 1997. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Sound-effects editor Bruce Stambler reflects on his Oscar". Film Sound Design. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Storming Up New Business - Mixonline". HeinOnline . January 10, 2003. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Award-Winning SoundStorm Opens New Transfer Room in Burbank". www.audioworld.com. June 20, 2003. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Soundstorm Cloud 9 Brings In dbx Gear - Mixonline". Mix Online. June 7, 2004. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Post Magazine - OSCAR-WINNING SUPERVISING SOUND EDITOR BRUCE STAMBLER JOINS SOUNDELUX". www.postmagazine.com. August 16, 2004. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Post Magazine - SOUNDELUX SIGNS JOHN LEVEQUE". www.postmagazine.com. February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Hollywood Sound Effects Library Dispute Settled. - Free Online Library" . Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Sounddogs.com - FROM PETS TO JETS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN". September 1, 2005. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Meister SoundStorm CEO". Variety . July 16, 1999. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Sounds of L.A. Propel Collateral". Mix . September 1, 2004. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  15. ↑ Farinella, David John (September 1, 2002). "Audio For Films". Post Magazine. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  16. ↑ Droney, Maureen (January 7, 2002). "The Sum of All Fears". MIX Magazine. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  17. ↑ "The Fast and the Furious". Mix Magazine. January 1, 2001. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Tim Walston Special: It Might Be Loud: Sound Design for "The Fast and the Furious" (2001)" . Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  19. ↑ "24 - Full Production Credits". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  20. ↑ "THE SQUIRREL WILL SAVE THE WORLD: CARTOON MEETS". Mix . August 1, 2000. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  21. ↑ "8mm (1999) - Cast, Crews Director and Awards". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Sound Design for "Batman & Robin"" . Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  23. ↑ Grove, Christopher (April 18, 1997). "THE ROARING SEASON". Variety . Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  24. ↑ "THE BAT IS BACK: Sound Creation for "Batman Forever"" . Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  25. ↑ Sergi, Gianluca (2004). The Dolby Era: Film Sound in Contemporary Hollywood. Manchester University Press. pp. 130–135. ISBN   9780719070679 . Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  26. ↑ Kenny, Tom (2000). Sound for picture : film sound through the 1990s (2nd ed.). Vallejo, CA: MixBooks. pp. 85–87, 259. ISBN   9780872887244.
  27. ↑ McGee, Marty (15 September 2010). Encyclopedia of Motion Picture Sound. McFarland. p. 235. ISBN   9780786449163 . Retrieved December 22, 2015.
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