James Willis

Location Sound Mixer

Wireless hop and lockitbox build on 2 canon C300 cameras, Management of 8 Ambient ACL204 Wirless Lockitboxes, Frequency coordination of 8 Lectrosonics wireless microphones, many technical hurdles to handle for a show of this nature.

Sound mixer for a documentary crew shooting on a Sony F5. Camera outfitted with a wireless hop via Lectrosonics receiver and locked timecode using Ambient ACL204 lockit boxes. Wiring up students and teachers, we documented a group of students attending a recovery high school in Houston and Austin TX.

Location sound mixing for a new travel style show featuring multiple challenging locations including a live music festival, open to the public dance halls, outdoor museums, and many more. Audio package consited of feeding 2 cameras with lectrosonics wireless hops, 5 IFB headsets, 2 ambient lockitboxes, and multitrack recording.

Micing up talent for b-roll and interview aspect of location shoot. One location we mic'd up 4 ballot dancers while preforming, i implemented the use of neoprene waist straps and lectrosonics SMv mini transmitters for talent comfort.

Mainly dealing with one talent, and capturing host throws. Most locations that were not ideal for sound such as a cave, hard walled art galleries, diners next to freeways, brain scanning rooms, etc. All location sound came out ideal as we used temporary acoustic treatment and educated mic placement.

I operated as the 2nd unit sound mixer.

I travel with the show capturing sound during the documentation of the talent throughout their weightless journey.

We followed the US Marshalls on steakouts, on kick doors, during capture of violent criminals. Many wardrobe challenges included bullet proof vest and heavy armor. We used Sound Devices recorders and Lectrosonics wireless. We were tracking multiple wireless in each bag, as well as a police radio, and boom track.

This show documented the crew at Gator Pit of Texas building badass grills at a fabrication shop in Houston, Texas. Following around 6 cast members building BBQ pits in a Houston makes for a challenge in the sound dept. But with sound devices recorders and Lectrosonics wireless the show went on.

House Hunters is HGTV house appraising and purchasing show. We document homebuyers purchasing a home in areas in Houston. Wiring talent to walk around houses, indoors and outdoors and capture great sound to tape for quick turnaround.

ENG sound mixer for one of 5 crews out on location. All cameras were locked with Ambient wireless lock it boxes that can wirelessly sync. We all employed Sound Devices recorders and Lectrosonics wirelss for talent mics and hops.

Location sound mixer employing a couple of Lectrosonics wireless for talent microphones and a few dual channel Lectrosonics receivers for lightweight hops to the camera. Offering the operator freedom to move about the food truck while i sat down in the shade and mixed sound, and at great food.

Fatal Encounters is a recreation show that airs on Discovery ID. It is show in a narrative manner and requires a lot of detail to capture dialogue on location for the show. It shoots in a very cinematic fashion and needs great sound to match the quality of the photography.

Hoarding, one of the most challenging of shows Ive had the pleasure to mix. Working out way through the mess of a talent that has hoards of trash in the house, we have to carry sound and camera gear through the mess to document the whole thing.

Sound Supervisor for this show requires the management of 16 channels of talent wireless, 6 HPX500 cameras, a DJ booth that requires sound capture, and a 2nd unit sound mixer doing ENG/realty style bits. Traveling show and requires hardwire multitrack system employed in talent RV for moves from location to location.