Michael J. Kohut

{{short description|American sound engineer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| image =

| name = Michael J. Kohut

| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|6|8}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death year and age|2012|1943}}

| death_place =

| occupation = President, Digital Post Production Facilities, Sony Pictures Studios and Sound Rerecording Mixer

| yearsactive = 1965-2008

}}

Michael J. Kohut (June 8, 1943 – 2012) was an American audio engineer. He was a seven-time Academy Award nominee for Best Sound, a BAFTA award winner for Best Sound for Fame{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1981/film|title=Film in 1981 {{!}} BAFTA Awards|website=awards.bafta.org|access-date=August 29, 2019}} and was President of Post Production Facilities{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1996/scene/vpage/sony-boosts-kohut-to-post-prod-n-prez-1117466915/|title=Sony boosts Kohut to post-prod'n prez|last=Weiner|first=Rex|date=December 5, 1996|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=August 29, 2019}} at Sony Pictures Studios.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mediaandmarketing.com/13Writer/Interviews/MIX.Mike_Kohut.html|title=Michael Kohut Interview|website=www.mediaandmarketing.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} During his tenure at Sony Pictures Studios, he led the American team in the development of Sony Dynamic Digital Sound the discrete eight-channel playback system for motion picture sound.

Kohut was a sound rerecording mixer for over eighty feature films and several television shows.[https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0463489/?ref_=instant_nm_1&q=michael%20j%20kohut] He was honored with a Career Achievement Award by the Cinema Audio Society,{{CN|date=June 2024}} several Cinema Audio Society Award wins and nominations, and was included in the "In Memoriam" tribute of the Academy Awards broadcast in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt2461862/?ref_=nm_filmo_archive_1|title=The Oscars - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}}

Early life and career

Michael John Kohut moved to Los Angeles from Canada, the son of Ukrainian immigrants. He and his wife, Francine, have two sons, Tateum and Tyson. Tateum Kohut, is an Emmy-nominated sound re-recording mixer for his work on True Detective and Cinema Audio Society Award winner for The Blues.{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1691769/about|title=Tateum Kohut - Filmography {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}}

Michael J. Kohut started his 40+ year career at MGM in 1965 as a production sound cable operator, a boom operator, and worked on location in Hawaii for the original Hawaii Five-O series on CBS. After working on several television series, including Medical Center and several television movies, including Roe vs. Wade,{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0098212/?ref_=nm_filmo_pasttv_1|title=Roe vs. Wade - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} Kohut transitioned from mixing for television to sound mixing for motion pictures.

Professional experience

In addition to the seven films for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, Meteor, Fame, Pennies from Heaven, WarGames, 2010: The Year We Make Contact, RoboCop and Total Recall, Kohut was re-recording mixer for award-winning feature films Rich and Famous{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0082992/filmmakers|title=Rich and Famous - Cast {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} directed by the legendary George Cukor, Prince of Tides{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0102713/?ref_=recent_view_1|title=The Prince of Tides - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} directed by Barbra Streisand, Dead Poets Society{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0097165/?ref_=nm_filmo_pastfilmvid_10|title=Dead Poets Society - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} directed by Peter Weir, and Basic Instinct{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0103772/?ref_=nm_filmo_pastfilmvid_1|title=Basic Instinct - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} directed by Paul Verhoeven. Among his other feature film credits are fan favorites Rocky IV{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0089927/?ref_=instant_tt_1&q=rocky%20iv|title=Rocky IV - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} directed by Sylvester Stallone, Farewell to the King{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0097334/?ref_=instant_tt_1&q=farewell%20to%20the%20king|title=Farewell to the King - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} directed by John Milius, The Presidio{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0095897/?ref_=nm_filmo_pastfilmvid_14|title=The Presidio - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} directed by Peter Hyams, and The War of the Roses{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0098621/?ref_=instant_tt_1&q=the%20war%20of%20the%20roses|title=The War of the Roses - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} and Throw Mama from the Train,{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0094142/?ref_=instant_tt_1&q=throw%20mama%20f|title=Throw Momma from the Train - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} both directed by Danny DeVito.

After the physical property for the MGM Studios in Culver City, California was sold to Lorimar-Telepictures in 1988 (after a brief three-month ownership by Turner), Kohut was promoted to Sound Director of Lorimar Post Production Facilities, in addition to continuing his role of lead mixer on the storied Cary Grant Theatre{{Cite web|url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/sony-pictures-cary-grant-theatre-366959|title=Sony Pictures' Cary Grant Theatre|last=Droney|first=Maureen|website=Mixonline|date=September 2001 |language=en-us|access-date=August 29, 2019}} dub stage. EVP, Post Production Facilities, Charles A. Silvers promoted Kohut to VP, Post Production Facilities, expanding Kohut's duties to cover post production sound and editorial, over 100 cutting rooms, 7 dub stages, 2 ADR and 2 Foley stages, in addition to his sound mixing duties.

During the Lorimar years, Kohut transitioned the sound editorial department from traditional film cutting to digital post production with the introduction of Waveframe Digital Audio Workstations. He famously designed a campaign challenging competitors to step into the digital realm by showing Dallas editor, Fred W. Berger,{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0074179/|title=Fred W. Berger - Contact Info, Agent, Manager {{!}} IMDbPro|last=|first=|date=|website=pro.imdb.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=August 29, 2019}} already in his 80s, proclaiming that it was never too late to learn new technology.

When Sony Corporation, purchased the Lorimar studio property in 1990, Silvers retired and Kohut was promoted to SVP, as Post Production Facilities continued to expand to encompass 25% of the 44-acre lot, adding dub stages and digital editing rooms and renovating existing facilities. Sony, a leading electronics company, sought to expand its product line with the acquisition of the studio, and Kohut lead the American development team at the studio, Dana Wood,{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939631/|title=Dana Wood - Contact Info, Agent, Manager {{!}} IMDbPro|last=|first=|date=|website=pro.imdb.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=August 29, 2019}} Jeffrey E. Taylor,{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0852556/|title=Jeffrey Taylor - Contact Info, Agent, Manager {{!}} IMDbPro|last=|first=|date=|website=pro.imdb.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=August 29, 2019}} Stanley Wiegand,{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4784347/|title=Stan Wiegand|website=IMDb|access-date=September 6, 2019}} Mark Koffman{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3766511/|title=Mark Koffman - Contact Info, Agent, Manager {{!}} IMDbPro|last=|first=|date=|website=pro.imdb.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=August 29, 2019}} and Melissa J. L. Smith,{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2688300/|title=Melissa Smith - Contact Info, Agent, Manager {{!}} IMDbPro|last=|first=|date=|website=pro.imdb.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=August 29, 2019}} in the development of the Sony Dynamic Digital Sound system, which made its debut in the Arnold Schwarzenegger hit, Last Action Hero{{Cite web|url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0107362/?ref_=instant_tt_1&q=last%20action%20hero|title=Last Action Hero - Production & Contact Info {{!}} IMDbPro|website=pro.imdb.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}} directed by John McTiernan for Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony. The technology was rolled out in the AMC theater chain and used a laser to direct focused beams of light. A patent for the technology was issued in 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://patents.justia.com/inventor/michael-j-kohut|title=Michael J. Kohut Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search|website=patents.justia.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}}

Kohut retired from post production sound mixing as his managerial workload grew when he was promoted to Executive Vice President, then President of Post Production Facilities for Sony Pictures Studios, continuing the department's expansion{{Cite web|url=http://www.sonypicturesstudios.com/soundmixing.php|title=Sound Mixing {{!}} Studio Operations|website=www.sonypicturesstudios.com|language=en|access-date=August 29, 2019}} including the landmark William Holden Theatre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mixonline.com/sfp/william-holden-theatre-sony-pictures-post-production-culver-city-calif-369370|title=William Holden Theatre: Sony Pictures Post Production, Culver City, Calif.|last=Kenny|first=Tom|website=Mixonline|date=September 2014 |language=en-us|access-date=August 29, 2019}}

Kohut's achievements in sound was summarized in a 1996 article in which he recounted, "I worked with Paul Verhoeven on the first Robocop. At the end of the movie, I recall Paul saying to me: 'Mike, sound was 60% of this movie.' It was a great feeling."{{Cite web|url=http://www.mediaandmarketing.com/13Writer/Interviews/MIX.Mike_Kohut.html|title=Michael Kohut Interview|website=www.mediaandmarketing.com|access-date=August 29, 2019}}

Selected filmography

  • Meteor (1979){{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1980 |title=The 52nd Academy Awards (1980) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 7, 2011|work=oscars.org}}
  • Fame (1980){{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1981 |title=The 53rd Academy Awards (1981) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 7, 2011|work=oscars.org}}
  • Pennies from Heaven (1981){{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1982 |title=The 54th Academy Awards (1982) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 8, 2011|work=oscars.org}}
  • WarGames (1983){{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1984 |title=The 56th Academy Awards (1984) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 9, 2011|work=oscars.org}}
  • 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984){{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1985 |title=The 57th Academy Awards (1985) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 13, 2011|work=oscars.org}}
  • RoboCop (1987){{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1988 |title=The 60th Academy Awards (1988) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 16, 2011|work=oscars.org}}
  • Total Recall (1990){{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991 |title=The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 20, 2011|work=oscars.org}}

References

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