We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kerry Stephens. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kerry below.
Kerry, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I always wanted to work in film, but started in college as an IT major in hopes of finding a well paying job. However, I quickly learned that I didn’t enjoy IT work very much, and took a gamble on switching my major to my passion. This is one of the best decisions I ever made.
Film school was helpful in getting started making contacts in the industry, but not too helpful in regards to practical application. During my schooling, I spent as much time as I could volunteering to do sound on indie projects, and working as a production assistant on commercials and films. I was very quickly able to gain knowledge from experience on set. Eventually I was able to join the union and work under an experienced mixer on large scale film sets, which allowed me to grow even further. Although having technical knowledge is important for working in audio, nothing compares to the actual on set experience.
Kerry, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi, my name is Kerry and I’m a film sound mixer. This means that I work on films, documentaries, and commercials recording sound. This is a very interesting and dynamic freelance job, which changes dramatically from day to day. For example, I might be driving to another city to record pre-game interviews for the NFL one day, and then spending the next three months working on a sound team as the boom operator for a full length motion picture. I’ve had so many amazing mentors who have taught me so much, and I’m very glad to have such a supportive film community in the Midwest.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I picked this field to work in because I wanted to work in something that I was passionate about. Every day, even on the bad days, I acknowledge that my job rocks and I that I genuinely love doing what I do. I used to have a goal in mind of where I would end up, but I don’t anymore as my career has lead to so many opportunities and experiences that I never could have dreamed of. For example, this year I was able to work in over ten different states seeing some of the nation’s most beautiful areas. My mission for the future is composed of two things—1. To always keep a sense of gratitude and appreciation for my work and the beautiful things I get to experience because of it. 2. To support and elevate those interested in my work so that they too can achieve success
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
My job is one that typically requires ownership of your own sound gear. A sound mixer usually is expected to bring their own gear, unless you are working in a production house or are working under a different sound mixer as their boom op or utility. I started by buying used gear that, despite not being industry standard, was professional enough to seem standard when used by a skilled operator. I used my starter kit on shoots for Netflix and A&E. Eventually as I worked more, I was able to purchase a kit that was more standard with what is expected from most clients. However, I still sometimes have to rent gear from other mixers and purchase more gear, as every job is different. This makes finding your footing as a mixer quite difficult for anyone starting out. My advice to anyone who wants to go into sound is to try to find established mixers with kits to rent from until you can purchase your own gear, and to always have money saved both for future gear purchases and for taxes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kerrystephensaudio?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-s-187683b2