My alarm goes off…
…at 5 am so I can get some triathlon training in before the kids get up. Depending on my schedule that’ll involve cycling to the pool for an hour swim, or cycling on my stationary trainer on the balcony and watching Netflix. Even on the weekends, I’ll get up early to squeeze in several hours of running or biking before whipping up some pancakes for my kids (Quinten and Kendrick). My wife Clare thinks I’m totally bonkers, but she’s gotten used to it (and she likes pancakes too).
I’m responsible for…
…making sure the kids get to school on time with all their clothes on. Oh, you mean at Splice right?
My job title is Audio Operations Manager, which is effectively making sure the rest of Team Audio have the resources they need to get their work done to the high standards we have at Splice. It might mean working with producers to ensure the operators are in the right studios for their jobs or working with engineering team to troubleshoot software/hardware issues.
As a Senior Dubbing Mixer, I love the variety of work we have at Splice. One day I’ll be working on a gritty documentary about brain surgery (Brain Surgeons: Between Life & Death for Blast Films/Channel 4) and the next I’ll be recording Tom Hardy remotely at his home (All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur for 72 Films/Amazon). The high calibre and polish of our finishing post are all made possible with the great work put in by the rest of the Audio team and fellow Splicers.
I got my job…
After being fed up working at Subway (though I still love a good footlong) a friend suggested I should try for a job as runner at a post house down in London. I was living in Liverpool at the time and had no experience of postproduction whatsoever. I got the train down to London, went to the interview and got hired on the spot. I remember being so ecstatic and excited on the train ride back that I completely missed my station and had to fork out for another train ticket to get home.
I moved down to London and crashed on my friend’s couch and started working my butt off in Soho. Pretty quickly I moved up to edit assistant, then audio assistant, before becoming a junior dubbing mixer. After several years mixing in Soho I fancied a change and went freelance so I could explore other facilities and spend more time with the family. Splice was one such place where I did a few freelance gigs, and I thought it was such a great place to work. One day the MDs invited me for a coffee and offered me a full-time position. And the rest is history.
My typical day…
It involves wearing a mask when I need to go to the bathroom. It’s got to be done.
When the pandemic kicked in and things started closing up I was determined not to let it beat me down. I live on the Isle of Dogs which is pretty close to our East London facilities, so getting into work by bike or running along the canal is pretty straightforward.
For a time it was pretty lonely rocking up to work with only a skeleton crew present, so it’s great to see Splice slowly coming back to life and adapting to the new normal. Although I’m not particularly outgoing, I like being part of the team and working with other people, especially the clients.
The current situation has taught me...
…to appreciate what you’ve got in life - family, my health, and a job I love.
I know that sounds cheesy, but I’m from California (once upon a time), and I love cheese. Helping my wife and kids get through lockdown with home-schooling and keeping them active was a real challenge, but we got it done and it’s great to see the kids back at school and my wife to have her “freedom” back. Working in post can be tough sometimes, but the pandemic has put a lot of perspective on what it means to be a part of something that you believe in, and also appreciate what you’ve got.
My most memorable work moment…
I’ve lost count of the buzz I get when working closely with a client on their final mix. Or maybe that one time with Tom Hardy...
The best part of my job…
Is being creative with technology, trying out new ways of working and bouncing ideas off people. Also annoying Online Editors by making picture suggestions.
After work…
I ride or run home to do story time with the kids, get some more training in, then chillax with Mrs C. She’s an awesome cook and baker, so I usually get home to a hearty and healthy dinner. Except on Wednesday’s when it’s “Subway Night” - we both worked at Subway together when we were dating at university, and we love a good mid-week cheat meal!
My Plan B…
If I wasn't loving life in London, I'd move my family back over to California. However, after watching that recent presidential debate, I think I’d rather run off to Yorkshire and do something outdoorsy.
Joe is an Audio Operations Manager, he started at Splice in July 2013.