NWT Sound Editor Makes Mark on The Shape of Water

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Blog Entries

April 20, 2018

As the GNWT continues to build and invest in the NWT’s film sector in support of greater economic diversification and development, one of our own is already making waves on the big screen, most recently for his work on Academy Award winning film, The Shape of Water.

Dashen Naidoo, was born and raised in Yellowknife and it was a long road filled with hard work that took him from the video room at St. Patrick’s High School to working on multi-million dollar red-carpet films.

“In grade nine, one of our assignments was to write a script for a commercial but I knew a bit about working a camera and editing equipment so I asked if I could actually shoot the commercial instead,” Dashen explains. “The school’s video coordinator, Rob Hart, recognized my interest right away and was super supportive. He pushed me to learn new things about film and provided guidance in an area that most people didn’t know much about. At the time I didn’t know that this could be a sustainable career, but those initial years were really important in setting me on this path.”

Dashen went on to study film at Sheridan College which required him to take classes in every niche of film development: from screen writing and set design to production and sound editing.

The sound editing courses were taught by accomplished industry editor Stephen Barden, which gave Dashen a great appreciation for the job and level that can be reached in the world of sound design.

Over the course of his 12-year career in film, Dashen experienced many “made it” moments.  

From filmmakers walking out of the mix theatre saying, “That’s amazing, that sound track changed everything”, to working on his first feature film. The culmination of these moments was sitting at an Academy Award nominee breakfast, heart pounding, waiting to hear the news that The Shape of Water was nominated.

“Even without the nomination, working on this Guillermo del Toro film was an exceptional award. Films like these push our creative thinking. Seeing my name in the credits was an added bonus. That’s something permanent; a part of film history. It’s a really amazing thing to be part of that legacy.”

 

What exactly does a sound editor do?

When watching a film, the audience hears thousands of sounds. Car doors close. Clothing is shuffled. A person takes steps. A handle is turned. What the audience may not realize is that every one of these sounds is manufactured; carefully designed, recorded and curated before being shipped to a mixer theatre.

The sound is what enables the audience to deep-dive into the experience and immerse themselves into the world and story being told. If the job is done right, it becomes a seamless part of the film.

“There is a lot of trust involved in being a creative professional,” Dashen says. “You have to prove yourself over time. It can be a slow process but the best things come with time.”

For The Shape of Water (under supervisors Nelson Ferreira and Nathan Robitaille) Dashen and four other sound effects editors spent 10 months grueling over every auditory detail.

The film, set in Baltimore in 1962, meant Dashen spent his days tracking down distinguishable sounds of the time from old trams and fire truck engines to relays and radio transmission sounds to curate a whole new world of sound for viewers.

Following the Oscar-winning Geillermo film, Dashen went on to work on The Breadwinner, which also resulted in acclaim for his work, winning  the best sound editing award at the Canadian Screen Awards in March. He is currently sound designing on Roger Avary’s (writer of Pulp Fiction) new film Lucky Day.

 

Roots in the North Remain

Key to attracting more guest producers and productions to the NWT is the continued growth of homegrown capacity to support and service medium and major productions. Take One: The NWT Film Strategy and Action Plan outlines actions and investments to develop the skills and competencies of NWT film producers, the below-the-line labour force and service providers.

Dashen’s success story is an inspirational one for northerners involved in film and shows that rewarding careers in film are attainable for NWT residents. 

“I’m still a northerner at heart and I love the idea of coming back to visit and share some of what I’ve learned,” Dashen says.

“There’s been a noticeable shift in the creative culture in the Northwest Territories since I left, and as that momentum grows, it’s a great time to share knowledge and get the next generation excited about film craft. There were great people who helped guide me as my hobby transformed into a full-fledged career, and I’m excited about the idea of helping others seek their potential.”