CSB has been working for months on an exciting project with film journalist Andrew Urban of Urbancinefile. We’re interviewing film and television practitioners about their business experiences.
Our aim is to develop a deeper understanding about the history of business decision-making in film and television and to share with our audience the wisdom from the accumulated mistakes, experiments and achievements of the contributors.
Roger Savage - biography
Roger Savage is a re-recording mixer and the head of Soundfirm, Australia’s largest and most highly awarded sound post production company. Roger started his career in the UK in the 1960s and emigrated to Australia in 1964. He spent many years working with many of Australia’s successful recording stars of the time. He has been credited with having been a major force in establishing an international quality for Australian music recording.
In 1978 he mixed his first feature film Mad Max II using synchronised video picture and multitrack sound, the first time this technique had been used on a feature film. In 1983, Roger opened Soundfirm in Melbourne. He followed this with Sydney in 1986 and most recently, Beijing in 2004. Over the years Soundfirm has developed into the foremost facility of its kind and Roger continues to head the organisation he created over 20 years ago.
Audio download
Chapter 1 - Opportunities and growth - 13 minutes
- First film mixed: Mad Max (1978)
- Increasing interest in soundtrack technology
- Lucasfilm offer to work on Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
- Started Soundfirm in 1983 with finance from AAV
- With 10BA starting, there was plenty of work (eg. Crocodile Dundee)
- Business driven by passion; quality results with lower costs
Video downloads
Chapter 2 - Domestic and international business - 18 minutes
- Overview of Soundfirm in Melbourne & Sydney
- Opening Soundfirm in Beijing (2004) with Chinese partner – to meet increased Chinese demand
- Beijing’s contribution to overseas revenue - over 50% of total
- The only non-Government soundtrack company in China
- Over 60 staff in Beijing
- Soundfirm can help productions coming to China
- No sales team - all word-of-mouth
- Niche growth: English dubbing work for other foreign films
Video downloads
Chapter 3 - Technology, personnel and projects - 17 minutes
- Budget range for sound packages - from $50,000 to $120,000 plus
- Technology having dramatic impact on efficiency
- Would prefer more small films than fewer big films
- With children’s TV work, Melbourne is consistently busy
- Core staff plus freelancers
- Investing in technology
- Importance of getting good location sound
Video downloads
