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EARWAX INVADES SEATTLE

San Francisco, CA, December 10, 2003 , Earwax composer Pat Farrell completes music track for an Adobe Systems corporate video.

Media Alchemy, Inc., a former Bay Area media production house recently moved to Seattle, where Executive Producer Erik Holsinger produced, directed, shot and edited a set of corporate videos for Adobe Systems. For the key video segment showcasing all the latest DV video products, he turned to Earwax Productions to provide a custom musical score.

"For our lead video segment, we needed music that went way beyond anything you'll ever find in library music," said Holsinger. "Yet we were also on a tight production schedule. Earwax and Pat Farrell came through with a brilliant score that the clients absolutely loved and was a joy to work with."

Pat Farrell created a five-minute electronika melodic beat track, to which Mr.. Holsinger edited the lead video segment. Since Ms Farrell created and delivered the music using REASON, Holsinger was able to easily make small adjustments to fit the needs of images and interviews on the video. "Every musical project that we've ever done with Earwax has added an incredible level of sophistication to our productions," notes Holsinger. "Whenever a media project calls for original music, they are the first people we call. "

KITCHEN SISTERS RULE

San Francisco, CA, October 2, 2003 , The award-winning Kitchen Sisters continue to rule the air waves with two new programs "Home Movies" and "The Green Street Mortuary Band". The Kitchen Sisters, Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva, are the creators of Lost & Found Sound, a regular feature on NPR's All Things Considered, The pieces were mixed by Jim McKee of Earwax Productions.

On October 3rd, NPR will broadcast the next installment of Lost & Found Sound, "The Green Street Mortuary Band", featuring some of the Chinese American cultural rituals and traditions of San Francisco's Chinatown. It celebrates the 95th anniversary of the Cathay Chinese Boys Band and its continued tradition as the Green Street Mortuary Band. "The depths and lengths that Davia and Nikki go to give us a full account of this history is awesome", said Mr. McKee, "The diversity of east and west traditions within this ceremony provide some of most fascinating sounds I¹ve ever had a chance to work with". The 12-minute piece will be heard in the last half-hour of All Things Considered.

On August 16th Lost & Found Sound observed National Home Movie Day with a special program, "Home Movies", documenting the rich and frequently odd domestic practice of home movie making.

More information, including nationwide broadcast times and many interactive features, as well as audio of the shows, can be found at http://www.sonicmemorial.com.

APPLE AND POLITICS

San Francisco, CA, September 10, 2003 , Apple Computer, Cruz Bustamante, No On Proposition 54, and the recycling whizzes at Alameda County Waste Management Authority have all come back to Earwax to get out their sound.

It's time to recycle that old computer; the Power Mac G5 is now available. Albert MacFarland of Apple Computer came back to Earwax to create the soundtrack for the two-minute launch video that will be playing in Apple Retail stores, in their theatres, as well as in CompUSA as a point-of-purchase attract loop. Created by Apple designers Adam Connelly and Barry Munsterteiger, with creative director Sam Davy, the piece feels like a gritty low-down rock and roll music video. It features the amazing 64-bit processor and its applications in music and motion graphics with images of Coldpla and The Incredible Hulk. The throbbing rock score was made by Earwax composers Kevin Gerzevitz and Rama Kolesnikow. Mr. McKee finished the score, built the sound design and mixed. He commented, "It's kind of a perfect place to use the sound artifacts from some past digital meltdowns." Earwax has been working with Apple Computer now for more than fifteen years.

Helping to spread the word about recycling, Bruce Goddard of Alameda County Waste Management decided to give Earwax free reign to create the latest two radio spots in their ongoing series. With composer Pat Farrell, Mr. McKee and Mr. Jones created the spots in their own signature audiograph style, setting edited on-the-street interview material into musical poetic constructions. One spot features kids and the other has adults, all talking about the importance of recycling.

Ross Communications of Sacramento is managing two campaigns for this tumultuous October 7th Statewide Special Election, otherwise known as the Recall. Two television spots are being broadcast this week, "No On Prop 54" and "Cruz Bustamante, Democrat for Governor" both created by the video magicians at Twenty2Product. Jim McKee designed the sound and mixed, while Barney Jones provided musical touches and also voiced the gubernatorial spot. "It's great to work on messages that I actually feel strongly about", said Mr. Jones, "it helps strengthen the illusion of being helpful."

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

San Francisco, CA, June 12, 2003 , Earwax is all over the place this Spring and Summer. From Finnish Broadcasting to the California Science Center in Los Angeles to cineplexes all over the country, the work of Earwax Productions is being heard.

Earwax is celebrating it's 10th year working with Harri Huhtamäki from Finnish Broadcasting's Radio Altelier. In early May, Jim McKee worked with Harri to produce three 45-minute radio features for broadcast this Summer and Fall. "Yrtit" is a two-part monologue that tells the story of Finland's celebrated poet Onervasta, who was imprisoned in a mental institution for five years. The third work entitled "Paradiso of the Ears" examines the way we hear things. The listener is taken on a journey through earth, water, and wind, with music provided by San Francisco's own Ralph Carney. While in Finland, Mr. McKee was a guest (along with former Earwaxer Andy Murdock of lotsofrobots.com) in this year's Clone Festival, Finland¹s premiere digital film festival.

Barney Jones mixed up some sounds for a new exhibit on energy which opens this summer at The California Science Center in L.A., and travels throughout California The exhibit includes several pieces of video and animation which explain some of the mysteries around the delivery of power and give tips about how to conserve energy. The pieces were produced by Julie Mirocha and Kirk Bergstrom of Worldlink, and edited by Andy Gersh.

Mr. Jones was also part of the editorial team on this year's summer blockbuster from Pixar, Finding Nemo.

HONORS FOR EARWAX AND FRIENDS

San Francisco, CA, April 8, 2003 , This spring, the Peabody Awards and the European Broadcasting Union chose to honor works mixed or created by Earwax Productions.

On April 2nd, Lost & Found Sound, created by the Kitchen Sisters Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva, was given a Peabody award for its Sonic Memorial project, "A program capturing the voices of those whose memories of the World Trade Center present the September 11 losses in a new perspective." The programs were regularly featured on NPR's All Things Considered, and were mixed at Earwax Productions by Jim McKee and Barney Jones. Also honored was the website, Sonicmemorial.org. The George Foster Peabody Awards were first awarded in 1941 for radio programs broadcast in 1940. The awards recognize distinguished achievement and meritorious service by radio and television networks, stations, producing organizations, cable television organizations and individuals.

The Radio Documentary Group of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has selected Sound of the Rose, created by Jim McKee, Rob Wasserman, Harri Huhtamäki at Radio Atelier YLE in Finland and Earwax Productions, USA, to be featured at its International Features Conference. "When you make something personal like this, it¹s nice to find out that somebody¹s listening." Said Mr. McKee. The conference will take place in Toronto in early May.

CONNECTING TO CLASSROOMS

San Francisco, CA, March 11, 2003 , Barney Jones and Jim McKee have lately been making their noises in classrooms, for classrooms and about classrooms.

Earwax Productions recently completed the sound design and mix for a 10 minute video about the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, North Carolina, the first and only Jewish secular boarding school in the country. Frank Green of Green TV produced the video. According to Mr. Green, "They have the highest standards of excellence in teaching, in curriculum, and in their facilities. The video production we did had to meet and exceed their high standards, which is why, of course, I went to Earwax again for the audio post. I've worked with Jim and Barney since the early days of Earwax. Very skilled and professional, of course . . . but the best part is their great attitude about the work. They love what they do and it shows."

Working with producer Erik Holsinger of Media Alchemy, Mr. Jones recently cast, directed and edited an elaborate set of prompts for Brisbane company, Classroom Connect. The prompts are for a series of online courses geared to kindergarten through second grade, and designed to teach little kids how to use technology. "I've worked with Earwax productions for years, and they've consistently delivered the highest quality of both audio production quality and professionalism," said Holsinger. "On the Classroom Connect project, Earwax was critical to bringing the project in ahead of schedule and on budget. Earwax is simply the best audio production company I've ever had the pleasure to work with."

Finally, Mr. Jones has been in the classroom, teaching electronic music workshops at the Communications Academy of Drake High in Marin County. Both Mr. McKee and Mr. Jones were invited to spin tales of audio production in the last century as part of "Insiders Day" at Expression Center for New Media, a phenomenally well equipped school of digital arts in Emeryville, California.

MACY'S ANNIVERSARY

San Francisco, CA, November 12, 2002 , Earwax Productions' team of composers and sound designers jazzes up a Macy's television spot.

Once again, the advertising department at Macy's turned to Earwax to create the soundtrack for a new commercial: "Anniversary". A husband sees a note in his wife's hand about an anniversary today. Thinking he has forgotten the special day, he scurries about creating a candlelight dinner before she returns home. Arriving home, the wife explains that the note is not about their anniversary, but the Macy's Anniversary Sale.

Out of the six music sketches, Macy's chose one by Rama Kolesnikow for it's hip combination of fun and serious intention. Jim McKee did the sound design and mix, asissted by Jeff Darby.

THE HEART AT EARWAX

San Francisco, CA, November 2, 2002 , Jim McKee recently finished the sound mix for "Unlocking the Heart of Adoption", the new documentary by Sheila Ganz, which will be screened at the 18th Annual Film Arts Festival.

Fifteen years in the making, this film chronicles the journey of a rape victim who "unwillingly relinquished her newborn daughter for adoption" The film chronicles the chilling, first person stories of adoptees, birthparents and adoptive parents in same race and transracial adoptions. These stories run the emotional gamut, from Hollywood-style "happy endings" to heart breaking tragedy, with bittersweet personal stories and fascinating historical background in between."

The Earwax team, with Andrew Roth and Ethan, restored a variety of audio sources, sweetening and transforming them into a polished sound mix led by Jim McKee. The 58 minute film will be screened Thursday, November 14th at 6pm in the BRAVA Theatre Center, 2781 24th Street in San Francisco.

http://www.unlockingtheheart.com.

BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE

San Francisco, CA, September 3, 2002 , The Getty Museum in Los Angeles has opened "The Danube Exodus" with sound design mix by Jim McKee of Earwax Productions.

Mr. McKee has been collaborating on an immersive interactive DVD installation that is running through September 29th at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Visitors to "The Danube Exodus: The Rippling Currents of the River" encounter three historical narratives through the innovative combination of early personal film footage and the latest DVD-ROM technologies. Down the Danube came Jews fleeing from Nazi oppression and a year later émigré Germans escaping Soviet oppression. These two stories and the story of Captain Nándor Andrásovits, who shot the footage while he transported the people, are interactively intertwined using five DVD projectors.

The mesmerizing power and impact of the experience in the central space relies heavily on the immersive 5:1 sound track created by sound designer Jim McKee of Earwax Productions. The audio mix includes ambient sounds of the river and harbor, the mechanical rhythms of ships' engines, regional music from the period, songs and prayers of the refugees, voice-overs of the Captain and his passengers and the haunting minimalist music of composer Tibor Szemzo.

The Labyrinth Project is a research initiative on interactive narrative that was founded in 1997 by Marsha Kinder at the Annenberg Center for Communication at the University of Southern California.

EARWAX GETS ANIMATED!

San Francisco, CA, June 14, 2002 , TechTV producer Mark DeVito hired earwax composer/sound design Jim McKee to create theme music and sound design for TechTV's newest edition Eye Drops. Mr. McKee collaborated with Kevin Gerzevitz and musicians Ralph Carney and Andrew Higgins to create this hot and wacky show opener.

According to Tech TV themselves, "This half-hour weekly program showcases today's best computer-generated animated shorts. From highly skilled amateurs to the most high-end professionals, these brilliant pieces demonstrate the power and beauty of technology when placed in the hands of contemporary artists.

"TechTV is the world's largest producer and distributor of television about computing, technology, and the Internet. Our programming can be seen in over 55 million homes worldwide. It is available in 64 countries, ranging from France to Mexico to China to Australia. Also, we provide the world's only satellite-delivered technology news feed, which is available over the Associated Press Television Network's satellite video news service or via tape delivery."

Fantasy DVD: Sony Pictures recent release of FINAL FANTASY on a special edition 2-disc DVD features sound design and effects editing by Jim McKee and Jeff Darby. Mr. McKee was hired by Skywalker Sound to design a track for the theatrical trailer (included on the DVD release) and to cut effects for the feature film. "The DVD sounds cool and contains some awesome graphics, interactive documentaries and animation workshops." Says Mr. Darby's seventeen-year-old nephew Todd.

GONE BAD done good: The second episode of Marco Bertoldo's short animation series GONE BAD took first place for animation in ALICE's 3-Minute Film Festival. Barney Jones spent an enormous amount of time scoring this short "Spaghetti Horror" cartoon.

EARWAX BACK IN NORTH BEACH

San Francisco, CA, June 1st, 2002 , Earwax Productions is setting up shop in the historic Sentinel Building in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood. Headquarters for American Zoetrope, and home for NPR's Lost and Found Sound and "The Kitchen Sisters," the building has long been a haven for creative energy and countless film and sound productions.

"The move brings us closer to our relations with many film, radio projects, advertising agencies and our more recent spoken word recordings with Bay Area Radio Drama and City Light's Lawrence Ferlinghetti," said earwax founder, Jim McKee. "And the coffee's a whole lot better," added his longtime partner, Barney Jones.

Mr. McKee continues to produce, mix and edit radio projects from San Francisco to Helsinki, Finland and Tonga. Now in its third season, NPR's Peobody Award winning "Lost and Found Sound" will be working with Jim to produce a series of radio pieces focusing on the theme of a Sonic Memorial to commemorate and chronicle the people, places and endeavors that made up the life and history of the World Trade Center.

Founding member, Barney Jones continues to provide his expertise as composer and music editor to many Bay Area film projects. He's helped create temporary music tracks for Francis Coppola, Chris Columbus, Wayne Wang and Pixar, working closely with the editors and directors to shape their  story. He has composed and produced the music for several independent documentaries. "The music made it feel like a real movie." said Judy Erlich, director of THE GOOD WAR (And Those Who Refused to Fight It).

Earwax has long been involved with the creative use of sound and music for many independent and feature film projects (from Bram Stoker's Dracula and IMAX films, to many others mixed at The Bay Area's Skywalker Sound). The group has enjoyed over fifteen years of collaboration with local directors and media visionaries such as Chip Lord, Michael Naimark, Pam Rorke Levy, Lisa Moncure, and Rick Tejada-Flores as well as foreign projects with Finnish directors Ilppo Pohjola and Harri Huhtam”ki. Current projects include the development of new film post techniques with Fox Searchlab and interactive DVD projects with the Labyrinth Project at USC and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

Founded in 1984, earwax productions continues to offer innovative solutions and state of the art technologies to produce sound design, music, and recording services for anything imaginable.

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