Letter from the President

Members of the Motion Picture Sound Editors,

Digital silence is to us what an empty canvas is to a painter, a blank page is to a writer, or an empty staff is to a composer. Staring into that silence is a daunting yet exciting moment, and from the first time that we cut in sounds, or hit record on a foley session, or craft a new library of never-heard-before sounds for a project, a story begins to unfold. From the sounds of the softest meadow to the loudest rocket to the pulse of an alien communication - you bring stories to life through sound.

We’re all practitioners of this “invisible art” of sound. With exceptions, sound isn’t seen or touched. and as a result, our craft is often overlooked. But we know sound is both physical and metaphysical, and we love playing between the realms of sound’s physical properties and the emotional impact it can have on an audience.

That is not to say that people can’t, won’t, or don’t value sound, but if they are not aware of what we do, how can we expect them to appreciate it?

THAT is the challenge. And that is the focus of the MPSE. To bring recognition to the art of sound through visibility, education, and most importantly, our inspiration.

Let’s get people excited about what they hear as much as they’re excited about what they see.

Sincerely,

David Barber MPSE
President, Motion Picture Sound Editors
Supervising Sound Editor/Re-recording Mixer at Juniper Post