LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Coppola Cop-out?
 JAN-FEB 2008 edition of Editors Guild Magazine |
Thank you for featuring Walter Murch in the JAN-FEB 08 edition of Editors Guild Magazine. As a Foley artist, I am a huge fan of his. However, I was sad to find out that Francis Ford Coppola decided to hire several Romanian crew members for his post-production sound. The Romanian Foley artist that he used doesn’t even have one other Foley credit to his name. After finding this out, I couldn’t bear looking at Coppola’s face on the cover, and recycled my magazine.
Right now, it is difficult to find union jobs in Los Angeles as a Foley artist. The last union company for which I worked laid off its Foley crews because it would be cheaper for them to farm out the Foley to an independent post house. So, when powerful, financially independent producer-directors such as Coppola decide to take opportunities away from us, it is maddening. One would think that someone as creative and financially stable as Coppola would understand the significance of paying a trained, experienced Foley artist instead of saving a few hundred dollars a week to hire one less qualified.
Foley is one of the last surviving “old school” arts that’s
always been in danger of being replaced by digital devices that unsuccessfully
attempt to mimic Foley or by the layperson who claims he can “walk.”
There are some remaining creative people––directors, sound
supervisors––who still value the specialized skills of experienced
Foley artists. Please consider featuring these people on the cover in
the future.
Shelley Roden, Foley Artist
Los Angeles
No Moore!
Dear Michael Moore, I find it sickening to hear you say that the WGA agreement
is: “…a historic moment for labor in this country,” when
you use non-union editors to edit your films. I guess that you only support
the labor movement that helps put more money in your own pocket. GM, Exxon/Mobil,
Michael Moore...all the same. Are editors not worthy of medical benefits for
their children? What a hypocrite you are! You should be ashamed of yourself.
Anonymous, Picture Editor
Los Angeles
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