Ande Schurr: Sound advice from an unconventional soundman
Ande Schurr sound mixing on a production
Can you acquire skills in various aspects of production work, build a name in the film and TV circle and still find time to train in VIP tactical security and first aid? Ande Schurr, Founder of Schurr Productions, shows us how it’s done.
Based in Singapore, Ande plies his skills as a videographer, corporate video producer and social media manager and content creator. As a production sound recordist, Ande has amassed an impressive list of clients that includes Netflix, Discovery Channel and the BBC. Having worked in film and TV internationally for over 15 years, Schurr shares what it’s like to work on international gigs and surviving a massive shoot in the midst of a pandemic.
Go big or go home?
As a New Zealander who has recently set-up base in Singapore in 2019, Schurr spills the tea on the differences between working on international and local productions. The surprise - there aren’t many, technically speaking. However, he reflects that there is a high level of quality control (read: various meetings prior to the job to check that configurations meet the standards of the platform).
With bigger budgets, there is also a need to collaborate within and across larger teams. He highlights how, for instance, frequency coordination for lighting, camera and sound departments invariably becomes more complex. “Every department uses wireless radios, equipment or Bluetooth to some capacity. The lighting department relies heavily on bluetooth to control its entire setup using DMX (Digital Multiplex). The camera department requires wireless follow focus, monitors and more. The sound department needs all its radio mics for actors, not to mention audio headsets for directors and producers, to be free from any noise and interference.”
Ande muses, “When you add more than 100 crew to the mix, all of whom carry UHF Film Set Walkie Talkies on locations near cell towers, major radio disruptions can happen unless careful planning and testing has been done.”
“That being said, the opportunity to work on an intentional production is a very satisfying experience.”
When asked if the pandemic added any complications, he explains that there are various layers or bubbles within the production for cast and crew, along with a colour coding system to help keep people in separate zones. For overseas shoots, other complexities were the added quarantine time and having to stay within the hotels.
He quips as he reminisces over a recent shoot in Batam, “Fortunately, it was a beautiful area with enough little shops and delivery food services to keep us comfortable. And the cats in Batam are the best! They’re very talkative and friendly. Many of the crew adopted cats while we were there.”
Ginger, one of Ande’s favourite cats at Nongsa Point Marina, Batam
Tricks and Tools of the Trade
What are his key learnings from working on productions for Hollywood and Netflix? Since working with diverse teams comes with the job, Schurr opines that the first skill to be honed is one of trust and understanding of your own team.
“There were times at the start, when I had just met my new local team and they would say to me, ‘Trust me’. But of course, no matter who you are, no one can just suddenly trust someone - they have to prove it. And that's exactly what happened over time. My team earned my trust, and I earned theirs, through daily experiences that showed our value and care for one another.
Ande emphasises that a team can make or break your experience, “You must handpick a team that you have independently verified, if at all possible, through previous experience. Not just references from other people. However, that is not always possible. It's a huge weight off my shoulder having a team that flows well and acts responsibly.”
Beyond having competencies and the right team, Ande also reflects on the importance of having the right gear for mobile filmmaking. “While having quality and durable equipment is very important, having tough bags for gear that are easy to transport is just as critical. Often on a shoot, you go from studio to filming on the back of a vehicle in a matter of minutes. And in low light at night! If care is not taken, your fragile antennas, cables, transmitters and receivers and other equipment can take a beating and get broken beyond repair. Besides making a world of difference to your speed and safety of gear, the team loves it when everything looks nice and is easy to carry.”
Ande Schurr on a recent job as a sound mixer (Centre) next to Director Tony Tilse and his Indonesian sound team (from Left: Rezza Feriyano, Adytio Santoso and Waim Ahmad Faheizi)
Getting your foot in
For budding freelancers who would like to land their first foray into international gigs, Ande has this to say, “Firstly, work as much locally as possible. Not only does this build experience and increase your equipment arsenal, but it also helps toughen your personality. This way, no matter what the big jobs throw at you, you aren't going to faint or scream at them that it can't be done.”
The second tip is to keep an ear out for all international jobs. You can do this by approaching companies that bring in international work; some of these are called line production companies. In some instances, they may work entirely on international productions and as such, are not as well-known locally. However, a google search along with asking your mentors and experienced local crew members you work with, will turn up some leads.
He says, “The important thing is to realise the broader time frames these companies work with. They may plan one to two years in advance for a big drama series or feature film. This depends on whether they are developing the script themselves or are just hosting an international company that wants to film locally. For documentary shoots, the lead time is much shorter, perhaps weeks or even days.” Ande cites an anecdote where he was asked by the local production house, AASIA Productions, to work on the Netflix documentary series ‘Somebody Feed Phil - Singapore’, “The producer asked me six days before the job started. Why? Because his contact in New York asked him just that morning if he could have a crew ready in time!”
“So be patient, keep in touch and try to build rapport with those who make the decisions.”
From a comfort zone to a new continent
Ande also shares about how he picked up other skills and found fulfillment outside of film and TV work. Spoiler alert: He didn’t achieve this in between projects but took dedicated time off.
In 2019, business was good and he was, in his words, “earning aplenty”. However, he reflected that money could not reach the parts of us that crave pure experience and adventure of a new kind. And so he sold both his houses and car to enrol at a private military school training in VIP and tactical security in South Africa.
“I’d left New Zealand for good without a clear knowledge of where I would end up after the training in South Africa.”
He said, “Taking this time off from film and TV was a very personal need and I had to act on it fast while I still felt young enough! As strange as it may seem, life can just get too comfortable , especially in a beautiful country like New Zealand, where I was living at the time. I realised that I was withering up inside in terms of experience and fulfilling my potential. My soul needed something new to keep alive.”
As difficult as it was to be apart, his girlfriend, who is now his fiancé, gave him her full support. While he was training in Africa, she found a job in Singapore. He joined her in Singapore after completing his training and the rest is history - Ande set up Schurr Productions under the EntrePass work scheme and has called Singapore home for two years now.
“If I had tried to squeeze this experience in between jobs I would have only had 1% of the benefit of the experience of travelling and learning a new skill set. My mind would constantly be thinking about the jobs, the houses and the things I had left behind in my home country. That would defeat the purpose of having a transformative experience. Sometimes the only way forward is to break free from everything in your current life, except your loving relationships of course.”
Ande on anti-poaching duty in Musina, South Africa
Along with sound recording on local and international productions, Ande manages Schurr Productions, a corporate video & social media management company in Singapore. http://www.schurrproductions.tv
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