We were lucky to catch up with Ian Hunter recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ian, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
When I’m in a room where no body looks like me I remember that the reason is because there is no body like me. What I bring to the table is special and unique. I’ve never stumbled into a room by accident. If im meant to be there it’s because I offer something that others don’t. And I try to never forget that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
For those who don’t know, I am a professional sound mixer for film, television, comercial, and new media. My company Beehive Audio has worked with clients such as Guinness, Ford, Spotify, Schoolastic, and BBC Story Works just to name a few. We’ve had the opportunity to work with actors such as John Leguizamo, Robert Smigel, and Luis Guzmán. Our goal is to create, record, and produce sound for video that sinks into peoples eardrums and transports them to a land before time; touching their curiosity, wonder and emotions. Taping into people’s most primal sense which is most closely associated with sensory emotions, we are able to create a sense of fear, drama, action, or peace using the precision and science that modern technology allows. Whether it be a feature film, comercial, video, or short; we handle the part of cinema that isn’t scene but felt. Helping connect the human experience to the experience of humans. We started from humble beginnings with just a mixer and a microphone and have doubled our revenue every year since we began. Acquiring better and stronger equipment, the names and films get bigger but the core techniques stay the same. As long as you give audio its due respect, great sound can be achieved with just disciple and dedication to the craft. It’s about controlling half of the senses we have at our disposal as film makers to tell a story and transport them to a different world.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
3 skills that have been the most integral to my success are accounting, punctuality, and people skills. These skills are essential for the success of any creative professional and can be acquired through practice and dedication. Also YouTube tutorials.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth in the past 12 months has been my hair. My finger nails are a close second but I try to cut them regularly. As for my skill sets, my ears have been trained with regular practice and exposure and can now discern frequencies and filters that I use to not be able to hear or notice before. Sound is one of those disciplines that you must have dedicated exposure in order to train your ears and brain to have a more refined audio palate and I’ve noticed over time, my hearing has gotten worse but my listening has gotten better.
Contact Info:
- Website: Beehiveaudio.com
- Instagram: @beehiveaudio
