audioEngine's Giammarco Mixes Blood Into Wine

Legendary musician and Tool front man Maynard James Keenan is striving to establish himself as a legend in an entirely new industry: as a desert vintner. When True Story Films - the premier production company in Phoenix, AZ - set out to capture Keenan's latest adventure in the recently released documentary Blood Into Wine, Directors Ryan Page and Christopher Pomerenke called upon audioEngine Sound Designer/Mixer and Partner Bob Giammarco to handle the sound duties. Giammarco had previously collaborated with True Story on the 2009 thriller Deadfall Trail, and the two were eager to team up on their latest release.

The documentary is a comprehensive look at Maynard's operation, Caduceus winery, set on a beautiful Arizona mountainside. True Story follows the technically complex wine-making process from planting to cultivation to harvest to manufacture to the first successful taste test, interspersing interviews with vineyard workers and others throughout. The documentary is decidedly light-hearted: comedians Bob Odenkirk and Patton Oswalt make appearances, and Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of Cartoon Network's Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! perform mock interviews demeaning Keenan's product.

"The most challenging portion of designing and mixing the doc was dubbing in songs from Maynard's various libraries of songs, as they had to perfectly synch with existing dialogue to underscore key points in the film," noted Giammarco. Additionally, Giammarco dubbed in actors who sounded off-mic and repaired other troublesome areas that frequently occur in on-the-fly documentaries. Just as he'd done with Deadfall Trail, Giammarco handled all the ADR and Foley sessions, completing the entire project in just over one week.

"The audio post process on Blood Into Wine was unbelievably smooth, due mostly to the positive attitude of Ryan (Page) and Chris (Pomerenke)," furthered Giammarco. "They were very laid back and gave us a ton of room to do what we needed to do, waiting for the final product instead of obsessing over every cut. At the same time, they're not cavalier about their work and they made it clear that they were looking for top-quality sound.

"We have tremendous respect for Bob's work," noted DP and True Story Co-Owner Cary Truelick. "We originally brought him in to mix the trailer but it was so spot on that we asked him to do the entire project. He is a really versatile talent with an appreciation for the nuances of different styles and genres of projects. This film was completely different from Deadfall Trail and he still nailed it."

The film debuted in select theatres Feb. 19. audioEngine will remix it soon for wider distribution.

Credits:

Client: Twinkle Cash Productions
Documentary Title: Blood into Wine
Premiere: 2/19/2010

Prod Co: True Story Films
Co-Director(s): Ryan Page, Christopher Pomerenke
DP: Cary Truelick
EP(s): Tom Billings, Amber and Scott Cantrell, J. Kyle and Kelly Eaton, Matt Fiegel and Jenny Kang, Steady Eddie Gutknecht, Chris Hanell, Jan and Vernon McDaniel, Kris Ellis and Mary O'Brien, Deena Ross, Jeff Saar, John Saar, Laurie and Jason Schoonover, Monica Seide, Logan Turley, Troy Whisenhunt
Producer(s): Chris "Topper McDaniel", Ryan Page, Jason Stall, Christopher Pomerenke

Editorial Co: copper|post
Editor/Colorist/: Rob Beadle
Assistant Editor(s): Nissania Trujillo, Ben Scharffbillig, Ron Sussman
Director of Post Production: Robert Beadle
Producer: Bill Garmen

Post/Effects Co: copper|post
VFX Artist: Lenny Solis
Motion and Graphic Design: Niki Petta
3D Artist: Gabriel Naylor
Digital Artist: Lisa Poje
Post DIT: Ryan Sarr

Sound Design Co: audioEngine|west
Sound Designer: Bob Giammarco

Audio Post Co: audioEngine|west
Mixer: Bob Giammarco
Mix Assistant: Adam Murray

Shoot Location: Arizona

About audioEngine:

Since opening its flagship facility in New York City in 2001, followed by audioEngine West in Phoenix in 2004, audioEngine has earned its reputation as a leader in the audio postproduction market. The magic formula for this success - the ability to deliver a full range of superlative creative services to the advertising, broadcast, and film industries. Featuring eight show place mixing rooms, and an all-star roster of award-winning mixers, sound designers, and composers, audioEngine prides itself on delivering topnotch creative audio in a relaxed and efficient client-centric atmosphere. The flagship facility at 817 Broadway in New York City spans two floors totaling a generous 12,000 square feet of studio space and six studios. Capabilities include mixing for all Dolby formats, complete radio production, custom music, and sound design. audioEngine is led by partners Bob Giammarco, Tom Goldblatt, Rex Recker, and Brian Wick. The roster of mixer/sound designers features Rob DiFondi, Kelly Harnett, Carl Mandelbaum, Hillary Kew Martell, Eric Hoffman, Weston Fonger and composer Jason Camiolo.