A Smile on Your Face. A Song in Your Heart.

Written and published via e-mail 12/13/01

One of the many joys of knowing Thom Ehle was meeting and befriending his mother, Ruth. She had a quick, genuine, heartfelt laugh and one-the-spot rejoinders for all wisecracks. She had a sharp wit, a twinkle in her eye, and an omnipresent smile. She punned and rhymed in an easy, lyrical, musical style. She made you feel welcome. She exuded warmth and love.

There’s a lot of Ruthie in Our Boy Thommy (OBT). For the last few days, I had the pleasure of shadowing OBT as he went about his business in the City of Angels. We visited studios, he tuned a couple of theatres, and we attended the premiere of “Vanilla Sky.” For me, it was a quick romp in the heady, ethereal world of moviemaking. For OBT it was SOP.

OBT is known as “Coach” around the studios. He told me why once, but I forgot, embarrassed I didn’t ask again. As you know, constructing a movie is a complex business. It calls for the expertise in both the arts and sciences. Art rules the cinema with technology playing a complimentary role. Sound is the center of Coach’s moviemaking cosmos. Layering and mixing sound is an intricate, technical exercise seasoned with an understanding art. It’s not an exercise for some tin-eared techno-geek who can stumble behind the mixing equipment. The best are those solve the inherent conflicts between people, science, and art to create coherent, well-told stories.

On its face, ego, fashion, and cosmetics rule Hollywood. The underbelly of Hollywood, where the people who build movies reside, is a much different place. It’s a meritocracy where skill reigns and fashion is a matter of personal taste. Hours can be long and are punctuated by lengthy waits while machines are reset, recalibrated, and readied for the next task. Everyone is given appropriate time to do their job, within reason. Every job is critical to story that is being told.

We visited a number of dubbing studios at Fox and Warner Brothers, and I met a number of OBT’s colleagues. Everyone was as genuinely happy to see OBT as we are when we see him. OBT brings his considerable expertise to the set, everyone does. More importantly, OBT brings Ruthie with him, and Ruthie plays well in Hollywood. People are happy to see OBT because he makes them feel warm. He makes them laugh. He has a twinkle in his eye. He has a good word for everyone. They trust his skill. They value his friendship. He has a lot of friends in the biz.

OBT is on the Hollywood varsity. He’s first-string in the big leagues. I was speaking with Vanilla Sky’s Post Production director while Thommy tuned the theatre. Her job is to sweat all things, big and small, and on this day there were plenty of both. There is real money on the line, and today is a critical day in the life of the film. She took the time to ask me what I thought of the operation. I told her that I was amazed that everyone treated their colleagues with patience and respect during such a tense, anxious time. She nodded her head and said “that’s because they are the best in the business.”

Proud to know you Thommy. Thanks for letting me tag along.

Cheers.