School of Cinematic Arts students strive to make their projects at the industry-standard level, and that dedication shows. SCA is known for its ranks of writers, directors, producers, video game designers and editors, but one of its best kept secrets is the caliber of sound editors who graduate from the School every year.

On February 17th, the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) hosted the Golden Reel Awards in downtown Los Angeles to recognize outstanding works by student and professional filmmakers in the field of sound design. Of the eight student films up for the Verna Fields Award in Sound Editing for Student Filmmakers, SCA held three nominations. Two days prior, the SCA Sound Department hosted an event to screen each student film nominated for the award.

Midge Costin, Associate Professor and the Kay Rose Endowed Chair in the Art of Sound and Dialogue Editing, felt great pride in seeing so many SCA student films nominated at the Awards. “I know I speak for the whole sound faculty when I say how proud we are of our SCA students receiving nominations for the top honors in the field of sound editing worldwide!” said Costin. “It's very exciting!”

Founded in 1953, the MPSE is a non-profit organization dedicated to not only recognizing outstanding work in sound editing by student filmmakers and industry professionals alike, but to also give a wealth of knowledge to aspiring sound editors and provide scholarships and mentorship to promote the importance and art of motion picture sound. This February’s event marks its 60th year of hosting the Golden Reel Awards.

Of the SCA student films nominated, Elie’s Overcoat was entirely sound-designed by students Diego

Perez and Jorge Ramirez-Martinez within the CTPR 546 Production III - Fiction course, while Exedia Nation and Fragments were thesis films with crews that mirrored professional feature film crews. All three teams were responsible for production sound on set, sound- designed and edited dialogue, FX, Foley, ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) and every minute detail of sound design on par with the professionals.

Demonstrating SCA’s mission in training its students with real-world expertise, Costin explained that these students precisely exemplified SCA’s goal in promoting the art and technical aspects of sound design in filmmaking. “There is great creative, collaborative, organizational, and technical skills on display here,” added Costin. “What more could we ask for as faculty?!”

For more information, visit http://www.mpse.org