Featured Member: David F. Ramos

How many years have you spent working or studying in the Vancouver post production industry? 15 years

Where did you get your start in our community? Producer Ben Mink used to call me all the time for help with music software issues. This led to us working together, and eventually collaborating on a few shows. He gracefully shared decades of experience in music production with me. There’s a long list of people that helped me get into the post community, this was simply one break.

Did you attend a local post-secondary institution, and which one/program? Yes — after finishing classical guitar and a music degree spread between Mexico, New York, Montreal and Havana, I came to Vancouver to study Audio Engineering at PAVI — just to get that techy/geeky side of music production covered.

What do you see as the biggest asset to your sector, relative to the Vancouver industry? Vancouver has a great network of stellar performers always ready to drop by and record. It's a great privilege to have such talent so close by — always happy and enthused to add some life to my little dots and scribbles.

What do you see as the biggest hurdle for your sector, relative to the Vancouver industry? Truthfully, resisting the temptation to perpetually explore all the islands and magnificent fjords only 30 minutes away. Once one sees what's right around the corner — I don’t understand how anyone can get any work done around here.

Why did you join the VPA? I’m stuck alone in a dark room working on music all day. The VPA gives me the chance to hang with like-minded people who understand that I’m probably not completely crazy...

Who was/is your mentor/inspiration/idol? Films by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro probably enticed me into working in the film industry.

If you could have worked on any series/film ever created, which one would it be? Delicatessen

In one sentence, what advice do you wish someone had given you five years ago, relative to your career today? Become a better writer.

What is your favourite pastime outside of work? I've recently developed an obsession with long distance sea kayaking. Just getting started, but it's the first time in my life I've pursued an activity outside of music.

What is your favorite project that you've worked on, and why? I absolutely love working on films whose ultimate goal is to make things better. When you can use your craft to strengthen a story that needs to be told, it makes all the late nights really worth it.