Cinema Audio Society

[Gohanto]

I just ran into the Cinema Audio Society (CAS) recently in an article in Mix and hadn't heard of it before. I ran over their site, but there wasn't a ton of info there compared to other pro organizations websites.

Just curious if someone could let me know how big and/or important that really is in the industry. Comparable to getting into the ASC for Cinematographers? Or WGA for writers?

Helpful in finding jobs?

[Noiz2]

It's big but it's all mixers. MPSE is the editors version. You have to be sponsored and voted in and you need something like 5 years of verifiable mixing credits on features. MPSE is similar but it's editing credits you need. You would have to check but I don't think either count ads but I think both count network (& cable) TV work.

Also both have non voting memberships that have lower requirements, but you can't use the initials. And though they have members all over all events and such are in LA, so not so great if you don't live close to LA.

[Alan H. Chang]

Yup, all mixers. Including Production Sound Mixers and Re-recording Mixers for Film and Television. Verifiable mixing credits must include minimum 5 years active in production sound or post sound, 2 active sponsors from the industry.

For MPSE, minimum 3 years as sound designer or sound editor cutting DIA, ADR, SFX, FOLEY, or MUSIC. 2 active sponsors from the industry, a letter of endorsement from one of the sponsoring MPSE member, and 2 references.

To answer your question:
Will it get you jobs? Maybe. By the time you have CAS or MPSE recognition, you probably have a whole list of working clients to keep you busy. At times like this work might be considerably lower than usual, but nonetheless you still get work.

Scott got it all right. There are lower memberships such as Associate, Affiliate, and Student participation.

[Noiz2]

Yes I forgot the last part. Basically no it won't get you work. Partly because of what Alan said (you have to have gotten a lot of work to get there) and also because by and large your fellow mixers are not the people that are going to hire you or even have a say in who is hiring you. You need to hang out with directors and producers and picture editors. The last may seem strange but the picture editor is on really early and has a strong connection to the director so if the picture editor says hey so and so is a good sound editor, you might have a job. Now if your in LA and can go to the social events and such then it could be useful to get to know people. But if your out of LA it's probably not that helpful. I would go to your local Final Cut Pro users group and introduce yourself, that is probably a better leg up.

Cheers
SK

[ptalsky]

And, unlike IA, CAS isn't really a union, so it's primary focus isn't getting work for its members (some would argue that isn't IA's primary focus any more either, but I digress). It's probably harder to get into CAS than it is to get into SAG and some of the other entertainment unions.

Phil

[Noiz2]

It's not a union at all. It's closer to AES, a society of professionals from a specific field. IA doesn't get you any work at, at least not in film as far as I know, at least not in post. In stage there are union calls so you can get that. Maybe for grips and such where you need a bunch there are "calls" but positions like mixers and boom ops and editors are never in my experience put out as calls.

but we are digressing...

CAS is a good thing to join if your a mixer and MPSE is a good thing to join if your an editor. One perk is that,at least as a full member, you can get into academy screenings.