We were lucky to catch up with Jacob Eliett recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jacob, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I have always been an optimistic person and enthusiastic about the future. It has not only shaped my desire to create but has also empowered me to move forward on my path.
My optimism is forged in our talented community, which combines a variety of disciplines so we can all create something phenomenal together.
There are so many reasons to be optimistic about working in the industry. The experiences and bonds we share on set are just some of the things that keep me going.
Because projects have so many moving parts, optimism is a key element in the development of any media. The teamwork that goes into a production can be nothing short of awe-inspiring, and for me, optimism and inspiration go hand in hand.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a passionate, hard-working, and innovative Production Sound Mixer, devoted to the entertainment industry. My six years of experience have shown me that media is one of the most collaborative art forms in the world.
I have been recording sound since high school when I worked with the Michigan Philharmonic Orchestra. Later, after graduating with my master’s, I was lucky enough to be involved in the pre-production of a narrative short as the Composer.
The Director needed a Production Sound Mixer and asked if I would like to try mixing since I was already going to be on set to gain inspiration for the score. It was then I was given my first opportunity.
Despite being a little unsure of myself I took comfort in his faith in me. From the first day, I was hooked and wanted to record sound as much as possible.
Since then, I have worked on numerous projects with talents like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Moby, William Shatner, Tom Skerritt, and Paula Abdul. As well as brands like Samsung, Apple, eBay, A.K. Johnston Group, The Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG Worldwide), Lifetime TV, and HGTV.
These experiences led me to my goal of becoming an IATSE local 695 Y-1 Production Sound Mixer.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I have a zest for recording sound to film & credit my music background for giving me a great ear. I find that all my experiences from early music and vocal lessons to years of ear training classes in college, have helped me a great deal when it comes to the skill of critical listening. I also played in several orchestras, where my ears became more in tune with the sounds around me. So, when I am listening, I treat all sound and music the same way in my head and always strive to capture the cleanest dialogue. In fact, I recently had an issue with one of my lavalier microphones. When I tried to have it repaired locally in LA, they told me nothing was wrong, but I could hear a difference. So, I sent it to the factory and DPA said the ‘frequency was out of spec.
My personality is upbeat and friendly, which is an important quality to have when you are working on a set with so many different people.
My strong convictions and love for the work have given me the strength to ignore the negative opinions of others who may have tried to dissuade me from fulfilling my dreams, but I always say there is competition in every field and you need to trust in yourself and your passion.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking to connect, meet, and collaborate with creatives, so we can tell the best story.
Does your next project contain dialogue or voice-over? If so, it needs to be recorded. Let’s chat about how I can assist your team, impact the audience, and bring the vision to life.
As a specialist in on-set recording for film, television, and media, I’m passionate about capturing clean and crisp dialogue so less time and money is spent in post-production.
I’m a full-time freelancer based in LA and a union member of IATSE Local 695. I also love to travel for work and have international experience.
Please feel free to reach out through my email [email protected] or @locationsoundmixer on Instagram.
Let’s collaborate and make something phenomenal together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jacobeliett.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/locationsoundmixer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocationSoundMixer
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-eliett/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProSoundMixer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@boomforsound
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jacob-eliett
- Other: IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8468999/
