Palani Bala
07930 435 371
Sound Assistant
North London, HA9 0HN
Summary
An experienced TV sound assistant with a track record of delivering
meticulous & personal solutions to sound supervisors’ & productions’
requirements. Recently built on film and theatre sound success as a Sky
Scholar at The National Film & TV School with an Excellent Pass on a TV
Sound Diploma. Prior to this gained commercial sound, film sound and sound
art experience with works for Unilever, BFI and the Tate Gallery.
Expertise
Artist Foldback
Live Mixing
Audio Mixing
Location Recording
Audio Post-Production
Music Production
Audio Recording
PA Mixing
Comms Maintenance
Production Sound
DAW Operating
Radio Micing
De-rig
RF Planning/Maintenance
Fisher Boom Operating
Rod Mic Operating
Grams Operating
Sound Design
ISO Recording
Sound Tutoring
Live Band Rigging
Studio Floor Rigging
Career Highlights
§ In 2015, personally identified and mediated sound problems during a
Sapient Nitro promo shoot for British Airways. Spotted key sound
recording issues on a Boeing 747 and liaised with sound supervisor
and the production team to implement ADR (dubbing) sessions on the
plane coupled with time for wildtrack recordings. Actions gave final
advert a more realistic feel due to sounds being captured on the actual
plane. Cut down audio post-production time and budget by 10%.
§
In 2011, introduced media modules into a Czech high school whilst
teaching English there. Created course content for after school clubs,
taught students and assessed works. Helped students better their
music production skills and also create a short town-biography video.
The video came third place in a national competition.
//uk.linkedin.com/in/palanisound 1 of 4 §
In 2008, creatively addressed a short film’s key motive with sound
design. Being unable to find a steam train to record for the film sounds
were recorded, manipulated, track-layed and mixed to create a realistic
sound design solution for the film. ‘Endstation Heimat’ received praise
when shown at the BFI and won "Best Imaginative Response to the
Subject of War" at the Imperial War Museum Film Festival 2008.
Career History
Employer: Various
Position: Freelance TV/Film Sound Assistant
Dates: September 2014 – Present
§
§
Currently operating as a freelance sound assistant for TV and film in
studios and on location. Live broadcast clients include BT Sport, Sky
Studios, MCM Buzz and NFTS. Recorded content has been captured
for BBC, British Airways, Nestlé and Rudimental.
Roles focus on studio floor rigging, radio mic application, mixing,
recording, gram operating and rod mic operating.
Notable Assignments
§ Gained success with Sapient Nitro’s commercial for Nestlé. ‘Running
With India’ featured in the Top Ten Commercials of 2015.
§ Mixed live on air for Sky Studios Osterley during Sky Sports News and
for Sky Milbank during Sky News.
§ Assisted with large live-broadcast 360° music shows for BBC
Maidstone’s Later With Jools Holland and BT Sport’s ‘Football Tonight’.
§ Showcased at 18 film festivals for work on Ealing Studios short film’
The Good Son’ as location sound recordist & boom operator.
Employer: Various
Position: Full-time English and Part-time Media Teacher
Dates: November 2010 – September 2014
§
Raised cultural awareness, English ability and media skills for students
during contracts for British Council, Westgate Japan and Indonesian
Education Authorities.
Notable Assignments
§ Achieved 100% speaking-exam pass rates from students.
§ Improved British culture understanding to all students directly through
own original material and lessons at a 300-student Czech high school.
§ Taught the future business force at the biggest university in Japan.
//uk.linkedin.com/in/palanisound 2 of 4 Employer: Various
Position: Freelance Film/Theatre Sound Recordist & Re-recording Mixer
Dates: January 2008 – November 2010
§
§
Operated as a location and post-sound mixer for commercials and
short films shot on 16mm, 35mm and HD.
Roles focused on radio mic application, mixing, recording, DAW
editing, sound design and rod mic operating.
Notable Assignments
§ Designed, and live mixed, audio for an independent theatre production
at The Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford Upon Avon
§ Coordinated all sound work for a Pot Noodle commercial
§ Received praise and recognition from ICA and the British Film Institute
where a short film I sound designed and mixed was screened
§ Collaborated with London Sinfonietta creating recorded and live sound
works
Technical Skills
Audio ISO – Boom Recorder, JoeCo
Behringer (Midas) – X32 Mixer
BNCS – BT Sport, BSkyB
Calrec – Alpha, Apollo, Artemis,
Hydra 2
d&b Audiotechnik – PA Systems
Phonak – IEM
Riedel – Comms talkback
R128 – EBU Loudness Meter
Sennheiser – Radio mics and IEMs
Sound
Devices
–
Field
mixers/recorders
DAW – Cubase, Logic Pro X, Pro SpotOn – Grams Machine
Tools
Fisher – Boom setup, safety and Studer – Vista 8
handling
Lectrosonics – Radio Mics
Telex – Comms talkback
Microphones – Condenser, Dynamic, Wisycom – Radio mics
Ribbon
Motorola – GP Portable Radio Series Yamaha –QL, DL, O2R Series Mixers
Nexo – PA Systems
//uk.linkedin.com/in/palanisound 3 of 4 Qualifications
2015
TV Sound Broadcast Production
Very Good Pass
National Film & Television School UK
2008
BA (Hons) Sound Arts & Design
2:2
University of the Arts London
2005
A Level
Copland School, London.
References
Esan Wilson
Sound Supervisor
Sky Studios
[email protected]
Alex May
Sound Supervisor
Sky Studios
[email protected]
Peter Laugalis
Fisher Boom Operator
Freelance
[email protected]
Ian Stubbs
Broadcast Production Tutor
NFTS, BBC, Red Bee Media
[email protected]
Gary Clarke
TV Sound Supervisor
Freelance
[email protected]
John Higgins
TV & Theatre Director/Producer
Managing Mayhem, NFTS
[email protected]
//uk.linkedin.com/in/palanisound Full-time practical TV sound course.
Included 2-month Sky Studios
placement, fisher boom training and
comms training.
Full-time Sound Design course
encompassing music production &
mixing, film sound theory & postproduction and sound art
improvisation.
Media – A
English – B
I.T. - C
Testimonial
“He is definitely a team player and
showed the benefits of team
work…other members of the
department he met and worked with
made good comments about his
positive attitude”
“He showed an excellent ability to
problem solve and wanted to
experiment with microphone
techniques for (music) bands”
“On rigs and de-rigs he was fully
involved and pro-active in finding
tasks that needed doing and
executing them”
“Technically his studio work is at a
professional level and he’s always
eager to try new things”
“Has an excellent knowledge and is
hard working. Very pleasant to work
with and gets on extremely well with
production teams and other crew.”
“Helpful and succinct when planning
productions, providing me with a clear
sound setup and implementation of
actions. Highly professional and
worked above & beyond whilst on
location”
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