SUN.STAR Weekend recently had a lightning chat with one of Hollywood’s well-regarded sound mixers, Tim Cooney. He has been in the movie industry since 1976, first working as a boom man for Universal Studios, until eventually working his way up in the sound department. Among the movies under his belt are Lethal Weapon 4, Conspiracy Theory, We Were Soldiers, Demolition Man, Cliffhanger, The Punisher and Deep Blue Sea. In 2000, he had worked as the production sound mixer for Noriega: God’s Favorite, a television movie drama that was filmed in Manila.
As sound mixer, Tim has received several nominations in the following distinguished awarding bodies: Emmys, Cinema Audio Society, Golden Reel and the Oscars. He is currently residing in Dumaguete City with his wife, Cherry Cooney.
Sun.Star Weekend: What led you to the film industry? How did you become a sound mixer?
Tim Cooney: Like so many people, I kind of fell into it. I had traveled with several circuses I had learned to train animals. After a few years, actress Tippi Hedren (from Alfred Hitchcocks ’”The Birds” and “Marnie”) offered me a job training elephants for her movie. I would train the elephants everyday, but there was a lot of down time, so I hung out with the sound guy because he was a musician like myself. He took me under his wing and taught me how to do sound. When the picture was done shooting, I had to make a decision to work in sound or keep training elephants. I chose sound only because it became so politically incorrect in the U.S. to train animals for show. I then went to Universal Studios and drove them nuts for three months before they finally hired me.
Sun.Star Weekend: How was it like working with famous actors like Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and John Travolta?
Tim Cooney: Working with famous people is usually very easy for me. I have rarely had had a problem with the famous people. It is usually the actors that are on their way up or on their way down that give you the most grief. They think they are already a star. Mel is great! I love him, he just can’t drink. Sly and I are always teasing each other and have more of a personal relationship. JT as he is called by people that know him is a true professional. He is always on time in makeup and wardrobe, but keeps to himself. He’s a guarded person but very easy to work with.
Sun.Star Weekend: Can you tell me more about your experience filming “Noriega: God’s Favorite”?
Tim Cooney: The producers of the show contacted me and wanted me to do the sound. When I agreed, they then said we need to put you on a plane today. Apparently, they had hired a mixer from some other country and after one week of shooting, the sound was useless. I had a Filipino assistant, his name is Don Santos. He is an excellent sound guy and is good as any sound guy in Hollywood. The shooting was all done around Manila and surrounding areas. Bob Hoskins played Noriega very well and was always cooperative when it came to sound requests. I knew after shooting, the Philippines is where I would retire.
Sun.Star Weekend: Do you have any upcoming projects?
Tim Cooney: I have no plans to work again - with one exception. There is a director by the name of Randall Wallace. If he does a film, I would come out of retirement for him. He wrote Braveheart and Pearl Harbor; wrote and directed We Were Soldiers and Secretariat. I know he is putting something together with Mel so we will see what happens. I do go to film schools and colleges occasionally, and talk about the business and try to teach them what it takes to succeed. I enjoy teaching but it’s more about the stories I tell that seem to make an impression.
Sun.Star Weekend: Do you have any plans of joining the Pinoy movie industry?
Tim Cooney: Join the Filipino movie industry? They probably have enough guys that know what they are doing. I say this because I have the utmost respect for my former assistant, Don Santos. I don’t know how to contact him, but I would love to talk to him again one day.
Sun.Star Weekend: What do you love about the Philippines?
Tim Cooney: I just love the Filipino people. Anywhere you go in the world, it’s all about the people. I find the Filipinos and the Irish to be the most congenial. When you go somewhere for vacation, if people are nice to you and help you, and have a conversation with you, it’s those things you remember when you go home. I met my Filipino wife Cherry in Texas. I told her early on in our relationship that I would retire in the Philippines. We just decided it was time. I am 60 now and we want to do some traveling, either build or buy a house, and when you are 60, you better move it along before it’s too late! (FSE)