Sound designer Marshall Grupp steps up to answer Five Questions.
1. What are you working on today?

I have been a Sound Designer for almost 30 years and during the last 6 months the work has been very exciting and diverse: from some great commercials for Guinness, Nike, Absolut and Snickers, to funny shorts for MTV and two feature films. In an age sensitive industry it is great to know that I am still relevant.

2. What have you found is the best tool or innovation that has come out in the last year?

I have never been a “techy” type person. When I attended U.S.C. Cinema School my least favorite course was Sound Editing because it was too technical. From the beginning of my career, my best tool has not been a piece of equipment but rather my personal aesthetic, which is crucial in coming up with the “right” sound for any given moment, whether I was working on a commercial or a feature film. When I give seminars I stress to the audience that Sound Design is all about “taste”. Good taste is like good wine, it takes time and experience to acquire it.

3. The project (film, television, commercial or music video) that most impressed you in the last year? Why?

I was walking on Broadway last night and playing on the big screens high above Times Square was the Metropolitan Opera Company. I looked at the audience who had seats and then everyone else, the tourist, the street performer, the commuters on their way home and thought, what a wonderful idea to bring to the streets (literally) a musical experience that not many people can normally experience. As a sound person, what also struck me was, the street noises playing background to the beautiful symphonic voices, an amazing juxtaposition of sounds…

4. The best or favorite project that you worked on in the past year? And why?

I worked on a spot for Absolut entitled “Protest” produced by TBWAChiatDay. With so much hate and violence in the world, this spot makes a very strong statement about non-violent protest. I felt like I was doing a little something for a much larger cause, world peace.

5. Name the top 4 artists on your iPod?

I hope I don’t show my age with these selections…
David Crosby

Neil Young
Laura Nyro
Stevie Wonder