2012 Emmys: Q&A
Already shooting its 4th season, Modern Family’s production sound mixer, Stephen Tibbo, CAS, is once again part of the show’s Emmy nominations (fourteen in total). Oddly enough, last year, when we talked to Tibbo about his workflow on one of TV’s most beloved sitcoms, he was wrapping season 3’s Dude Ranch episode. This year, he’s been nominated for it.
S&P: You’ve been nominated every year Modern Family has been on air. That’s a great accomplishment.
Tibbo: It’s surreal for me. It’s really cool. What can you say? I mean… It’s an amazing experience and an amazing feeling to get those texts early in the morning from friends. That’s how I found out this year, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
S&P: Your team submitted the first episode of the season, Dude Ranch. I’m surprised we didn’t see the Disneyland episode. What was the deciding factor?
Tibbo: Dean Okrand (re-recording mixer) and I sat down and watched the Dude Ranch and Disneyland episodes back to back. We listened to both and Dude Ranch overall had more richness. The track sounded better, and the episode also had a lot more depth in regards to its effects. Between being on this ranch in the middle of nowhere with cattle, horses, and the various juxtapositions of silence, it was the hardest episode we’ve done in terms of a production sound aspect.
Lectrosonics Wireless Deployed on Modern Family
Los Angeles, CA – May 2011… When you’re running location sound for Modern Family—one of TV’s hottest sitcoms—the ability to capture audio efficiently and without interfering with the show’s creative process is absolutely essential. Modern Family captured six Emmy® Awards after its first season— including Best Comedy, Best Writing, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing for a comedy or drama (half hour), Best Sound Mixing for a comedy or drama (half hour), as well as one for Casting Director Jeff Greenberg. For the show’s production sound mixer, Stephen A. Tibbo, CAS, the Emmy for Best Sound Mixing holds particular significance, as it was his first such award. With additional credits that include NBC’s Life and CBS’ Ghost Whisperer, as well as the films Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang and American Pie 2, Tibbo obviously knows a thing or two about location sound. That’s why his wireless equipment of choice is Lectrosonics.
2011 Emmys: Q&A
Leading the Emmy noms for comedy this year was Modern Family with 17. Amongst the cast and crew nominations, included one for Best Sound Mixing. Between making French toast for his two kids, and packing for Monday’s show taping at a dude ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, production sound mixer, Steve Tibbo, CAS, sat down with S&P Saturday morning to talk audio and about his second nod for Modern:
S&P: Two years in a row. Congratulations. How is it to be part of a show that’s recognized on the cast side and the technical side?
TIBBO: What can’t you say? It’s amazing. I’ve been on a lot of shows that have been one way or another, but to be on one that has industry accreditation for both, it’s just really gratifying. For a show to come together like this is and to be involved in it is fantastic.
S&P: You’re entering your 3rd season of Modern, have you introduced anything new to your mix?
TIBBO: Actually, I have. I put together a little portable cart with a Zaxcom Fusion and a Mix-8. I added a Lectrosonics Field Venue on it as well so it has all the basics I need to mix.
Behind the Scenes of Modern Family
ABC TV’s hit show, Modern Family, created by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, is genius meets hilarity. Gilarity. The show is set in a nameless suburban neighborhood and documents the lives of three families, each portraying a specific yet contemporary domestic lifestyle. The best part about the series is the connection between the families. They openly admit they’re dysfunctional and know each others short comings, but all that doesn’t matter because they still love each other in the end. This modern reality is why you might find that the show hits home so much (and it doesn’t hurt it’s funny – really funny).
Near the back of Stage 5 on t he 20th Century Fox lot, sound mixer, Stephen Tibbo, CAS, sat quietly illuminated from the glow of the two monitors on his cart. He was in the middle of a take. I could hear him giving notes to one of his boom ops telling him he could come down a little bit. Focused, it was like I wasn’t even there until the bell rang. Then instantly, he flipped his cans from his ears and switched into this thoughtful and polite conversationalist. “Hey, let’s get you some Comtek’s so you know what’s going on,” says Tibbo.