The year was 1994, and I decided to be an audio engineer.

Well, I figured I could do some creative work – my yearbook pic caption says I wanted to do “Graphic Design”, but I figured that, if that didn’t work out, then I’d do audio.

I don’t remember what got me on this track, I really don’t. But I do remember, as I toured colleges, that I’d ask to look at their radio stations. I wasn’t interested in the film studio; where do you mix the audio at?

So, I went to school to learn how audio worked. I spent days in mixing studios and in front of SoundEdit 16 (RIP) mixing sounds. I scored people’s films, I did group projects and took the audio part. I loved every bit of it.

Then, junior year of college. We were talking about the role of sound in film. I’ve already written about my Miles Davis experience in this space, and at some point I’ll get into Blazing Saddles, but we watched a French film called Diva in class, and I…I was stunned.

This was a movie about…sound. About recording. About high fidelity recordings and music piracy. And I drank it in.

Fast forward to grown me. I have this movie on VHS, DVD, and Blu-Ray. I watched it again tonight, and there were some things I didn’t remember and some things I noticed this time. I don’t think it’s especially rated as a classic to anyone, but it’s in my Top 10 Movies.

And I think of what could have been. If not for a system which encourages peonage, or taking out huge loans, or possibly being a 30 year old “intern” making $1K a month…that could have worked out for me.

But, here, but for the grace of God, go I.