SANTA MONICA — Lime Studios has launched a new sound design division named Lime Sound Design, or LSD (https://lsdstudios.tv). The division features the talents of newly-signed sound designer Michael Anastasi and sound designer/mixer Rohan Young.
Lime is currently building new studios for LSD, including a standalone Foley room. The LSD team is in the midst of work on a series of projects that will launch this spring, including commercial campaigns for Nike, Samsung, StubHub and Adobe.
According to executive producer Susie Boyajan, “all of the mixers at Lime have always enjoyed the sound design aspect of their jobs, and are really talented at it. But having a new division with LSD that operates differently than our current, hourly sound design structure makes sense for the way the industry is continuing to change. We see it as a real advantage that we can offer clients both models.”
“I have always considered myself a sound designer that mixes,” says Young. “Some of my personal favorite spots have been the ones on which I have done both. It’s a different experience to be involved early on and try various things that bring the spot to life. Sometimes it's better to split the work. Sometimes it’s just a preference. I’ve worked closely with Michael for a long time. It became more and more apparent to both of us that we should be working together. Starting LSD became a no-brainer. As fellow sound designers, we can influence each other's work and bounce ideas between us. While we have similar aesthetics in our work, we each have our own individual style that we bring to the table. Our now-shared resources with the addition of a Foley stage and location audio recordists only make things better for both of us and even more so for our clients.”
Anastasi joins LSD from Barking Owl, where he spent the last seven years creating sound design for projects that include a PSA on human trafficking entitled Hide and Seek. He also provided sound design to the feature film Casa De Mi Padre, starring Will Ferrell, and served as sound supervisor/sound design on the film. For Nike’s two-minute black & white Together project, featuring Lebron James, Anastasi traveled back to Cleveland to record more than 500 extras.
“It’s not every day that you get the chance to direct that many people and have them chant what you need them to,” he recalls.
Anastasi also created sound design for the GE spot The Boy Who Beeps, and for Adidas’ Basketball Needs Creators.
Photo (L-R): Anastasi and Young