Greg P. Russell Responds to Michael Minkler's Comments
UPDATED (3/1): Tom O'Neil has O'Connell's response to all this at The Envelope:
As you may or may not know, my mother Skippy passed away on Sunday night right after the Oscars. I was holding her in my arms when she died. I was not made aware of Mr. Minkler's comments until Monday morning. I have not seen them personally and at this point I have no intention of looking at them or reading about them. I'll get back to you when I get that far down of my list of what is important to me. Take care, Kevin.
Let's hope all this mess is behind us soon, and above all, that Mr. Minkler can drum up the stones to at least apologize for his unnecessary public comments.
EARLIER: By now many of you may be aware of the comments sound mixer Michael Minkler made about his peer, Kevin O'Connell's status as the most nominated craftsman in the industry yet to win. While I have heard murmurs from certain quarters that some mixers were becoming irritated with the amount of publicity around O'Connell and partner Greg P. Russell, I think it goes without saying Minkler's press room comments were uncalled for, petty, and above all, unprofessional.
I emailed Russell this evening to get a response out of him, even to find out of Minkler was indeed sincere in his comments or if it was some dry joke. Mr. Russell replied with an impassioned, lengthy tirade full of expletives, and I offered some space for him to provide an official statement if he liked, perhaps one more toned down. Like the straight-shooter he is, Greg released the quote for me to print in full, and so I shall...
He was absolutely sincere with that BULLSHIT. That man has lost whatever respect he had from a ton of people. Kevin mind you left the ceremonies right after our award and went to the hospital where his mother passed away in his arms at 11:32 pm. As if Kevin didn't have enough to deal with. He wakes up to this bullshit.
It's been a really weird couple of days. I've been fielding all the calls because Kev has been out. The head of our studio came in to say he blasted Minkler for his assault. I even kicked myself for being congratulatory that night. Minkler said to me when I congratulated him that I was always a classy guy and he appreciated that alot. Integrity is something that means everything to me and this man has absolutely NONE. He stood backstage representing the entire Sound Community in front of the world, only to disgrace us all.
What makes the whole scenario worse is Minkler's notion that O'Connell is an "okay" mixer, when two of Minkler's three Oscars have come for the easiest genre to mix there is: the film musical. When the songs come to you pretty crisp and sounding good to go, and there is little if any layering and creation in the way of aural environments (and indeed, the Academy at large remains ignorant to this process), sure...you're gonna keep winning Oscars.
In any case, it really puts things in perspective when you consider that, with all the publicity...hey, maybe O'Connell just really wanted his mother to see him win an Oscar before she passed away. Still want to tell him he should just "go away and be happy" with his 19 nominations, Mr. Minkler?
Comments
Wow, such a sad sad story. Michael Minkler must be kicking himself now, and he deserves it. Kevin O'Connell deserved that award Sunday night, overdue or not. He put in the best work of the nominees.
Posted by: bblasingame![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 28, 2007 04:33 AM
It seems that Mike Minkler is just upset that he has not gotten as much recognition as Kevin O'Connell and Greg Russell. Minklers body of work does not measure up to Kevin and Gregs. At this point I don't think he measures up to thier level as a human being either. If winning an Oscar puts you in Mikes Minklers company...
Posted by: dnbillhook![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 28, 2007 12:18 PM
The films nominated were all worthy of the award- All of the Mixers who were a part of those nominations are the top people in the field. Minkler's comments were as Mr. Russell stated, a disgrace to the community. This is of course outside the immense loss Kevin and his talented family underwent that evening with the passing of thier mother.
However, to imply that Minkler's resume is pedestrian by any measure is absurd- he has mixed some truly influential films from the last three decades. This however is no excuse for such undignified comments.
Posted by: cmaynes![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 28, 2007 12:41 PM
For those who read realitycheck's comment from earlier, he/she has asked that it be deleted. We're not about censoring here, this was done at the request of the poster.
Posted by: Kristopher Tapley![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 28, 2007 04:09 PM
It really is not that easy to mix a musical, let's not start taking potshots at Minkler. Remember that is is possible to be a talented mixer AND an asshole.
Posted by: joncro![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 1, 2007 02:19 PM
Mike Minkler is on my bad-boys list for worse mixing bad-mouth-boy for Dreamgirls I’d soon eat broken glass than buy the DVD. I have Transformers and that is buy far the best and most complex Dolby film of 2007 don’t know about The Bourne Ultimatum I think it should have only taken sound effects editing, leaving Transformers to garb best sound. Oh, well that’s cricket best of luck for this years what ever film you’re working on Kevin and as for Minkler that fat sodden git isn’t getting mentioned in any DVD review post anymore fat little cheeky git.
Posted by: JBLsince1989![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 29, 2008 01:52 PM