Foley Artist John Roesch to Receive MPSE Career Achievement Award
Every once in a while, the people behind the scenes get the recognition they deserve.
That happy event is occurring this coming February, thanks to the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE). The non-profit organization has named the elite Foley artist John Roesch as the recipient of its 2013 Career Achievement Award, which will be presented at the 60th MPSE Golden Reel Awards on February 17, 2013 in Los Angeles.
Roesch’s portfolio is impressive to say the least: He has contributed to more than 400 films in a career that spans more than three decades. Among his credits are blockbusters including The Dark Knight Rises, its predecessor The Dark Knight, all three films in the Matrix trilogy and Inception.
The workbench says it all — John Roesch is worthy.
“John Roesch is an outstanding craftsman,” said MPSE president Bobbi Banks. “As a Foley artist, John’s art is so subtle that movie-goers may not recognize it, and yet it is an essential element in creating the environment, atmosphere and mood of films. Even after 30 years, he continues to innovate and push the boundaries of his craft. The MPSE takes great pride in saluting his work and career.”
Roesch is the first Foley artist to receive the MPSE Career Achievement Award. He stands today as one of the most accomplished Foley artists in motion pictures. He is the recipient of two MPSE Golden Reel Awards (The Dark Knight, The Matrix) alongside more than a dozen nominations. In all, he has worked on 16 films that have won Academy Awards for Best Sound or Best Sound Editing.
He studied filmmaking at New York University and was a Directing Fellow at the American Film Institute. He discovered his passion for Foley while at AFI, and today stands as a member of Local 700, Motion Picture Sound Editors, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The MPSE Golden Reel Awards is the preeminent awards competition for sound editors, acknowledging the year’s best work in editing dialogue, ADR, sound effects, Foley and music. The competition encompasses work for feature films, television and other mediums. It also presents special awards for Filmmaker and Career Achievement.
Roesch is in very good company: Past recipients of the MPSE Filmmaker Award include George Lucas, Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Brian Grazer and Gale Anne Hurd. Some past recipients of its Career Achievement Award include George Watters II, Walter Murch, Don Hall, Larry Singer and Charles L. Campbell.
The 60th MPSE Golden Reel Awards will be held February 17, 2013 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in Los Angeles.
For those who may not be familiar, the MPSE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a wealth of knowledge from award-winning professionals to a diverse group of individuals, youth and career professionals alike; mentoring and educating the community about the artistic merit and technical advancements in sound and music editing; providing scholarships and mentorship for the continuing advancement of motion picture sound in education; and helping to enhance the personal and professional lives of the men and women who practice this unique craft.