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Rifle grad Sam Miille, now a resident of New York City, worked on the sound crew for the Oscar-nominated film “Hugo.”
Oscar nominations for ‘Hugo'
Best Picture
Cinematography
Direction
Costume Design
Art Direction
Film Editing
Music
Visual Effects
Sound Mixing
Sound Editing
Writing - Adapted Screenplay
Cinematography
Direction
Costume Design
Art Direction
Film Editing
Music
Visual Effects
Sound Mixing
Sound Editing
Writing - Adapted Screenplay
Rifle High graduate Sam Miille never imagined himself in the movie business. But this Sunday, a film he worked on is up for 11 Academy Awards, including the sound mixing and editing that he worked on.
“Hugo,” directed by Martin Scorsese, has garnered the most nominations of any film this year, including best picture.
Miille's work in sound mixing involved the technical aspects of creating, editing and transforming the movie's sound effects.
“I'm the guy slamming doors, playing with explosions, trying come up with the right sound,” he said. “I'm also one of the schmucks on the computer trying to make sure that the film's sound tells another part of the story. The sound is really half of the movie,” Miille said.
Miille, a self-described “computer nerd” and 1993 RHS grad, now works as a professional sound engineer in the film industry. He is based in New York City.
Excited for “Hugo” to be so favorably recognized, Miille said he's happy to have worked on a film embraced by so many movie-goers.
“I won't be at the podium accepting an Oscar for sound mixing on Sunday, but my bosses may be,” he said. “And whether or not they win, I'm so proud to work with such amazing, talented people on a truly wonderful film that's a genuinely great story.”
Miille said he never imagined he'd end up working the film industry.
“Growing up, we always went to Grand Junction for movies,” Miille said. “I never wondered about the ins and outs of the industry or what was behind the veil of making a movie, because that world just seemed so far off.”
Now living and working in New York as a professional sound engineer, Miille said he loves his job but he misses the pace and people of Rifle.
“Rifle is my hometown for sure, and I do miss the small-town atmosphere,” he said. “I miss having a backyard and a barbecue more than anything, but this job has shown me the great diversity in the world. I've had the privilege to travel and meet all kinds of different people.”
Getting into and being successful in the industry is something Miille contributes to the work ethic he developed while working for his parents' businesses.
His mother, Olinda Nevonen, owns Creekbend Bistro in downtown Rifle. His dad, John Nevonen, owns ABC Tree and Lawn Care.
“For anyone looking to get into this business, I would say work ethic is one of the most important things,” he said.
“I learned that working for my parents in the valley and watching the work they put into their businesses.
“Even if you're only peeling onions, your work ethic is more important than any degree a person can have. I like to think western Garfield County helped me develop that.”
Miille said he was able to work his way up in the film industry, thanks to knowing how to work hard.
“This is an industry you very much learn on the job,” he said. “The great part about this field is that it's very mentor based. You have to get there and work your way up. I've worked with a lot of good people. I guess I got a lucky break, and I know the value of a work ethic.”
Miille said he's thankful for the experience working on the movie brought him.
“It's really a privilege working with people of such talent. Only a handful of people get that privilege,” he said. “What's more than the nominations is the chance to work on something that's bigger than yourself. That's what makes me happy.”
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Ben Kingsley and Christopher Lee, “Hugo” is based on the children's book “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” It's about a boy living in a Paris railway station and is the most nominated film of 2011. The Academy Awards air this Sunday evening.
“Hugo,” directed by Martin Scorsese, has garnered the most nominations of any film this year, including best picture.
Miille's work in sound mixing involved the technical aspects of creating, editing and transforming the movie's sound effects.
“I'm the guy slamming doors, playing with explosions, trying come up with the right sound,” he said. “I'm also one of the schmucks on the computer trying to make sure that the film's sound tells another part of the story. The sound is really half of the movie,” Miille said.
Miille, a self-described “computer nerd” and 1993 RHS grad, now works as a professional sound engineer in the film industry. He is based in New York City.
Excited for “Hugo” to be so favorably recognized, Miille said he's happy to have worked on a film embraced by so many movie-goers.
“I won't be at the podium accepting an Oscar for sound mixing on Sunday, but my bosses may be,” he said. “And whether or not they win, I'm so proud to work with such amazing, talented people on a truly wonderful film that's a genuinely great story.”
Miille said he never imagined he'd end up working the film industry.
“Growing up, we always went to Grand Junction for movies,” Miille said. “I never wondered about the ins and outs of the industry or what was behind the veil of making a movie, because that world just seemed so far off.”
Now living and working in New York as a professional sound engineer, Miille said he loves his job but he misses the pace and people of Rifle.
“Rifle is my hometown for sure, and I do miss the small-town atmosphere,” he said. “I miss having a backyard and a barbecue more than anything, but this job has shown me the great diversity in the world. I've had the privilege to travel and meet all kinds of different people.”
Getting into and being successful in the industry is something Miille contributes to the work ethic he developed while working for his parents' businesses.
His mother, Olinda Nevonen, owns Creekbend Bistro in downtown Rifle. His dad, John Nevonen, owns ABC Tree and Lawn Care.
“For anyone looking to get into this business, I would say work ethic is one of the most important things,” he said.
“I learned that working for my parents in the valley and watching the work they put into their businesses.
“Even if you're only peeling onions, your work ethic is more important than any degree a person can have. I like to think western Garfield County helped me develop that.”
Miille said he was able to work his way up in the film industry, thanks to knowing how to work hard.
“This is an industry you very much learn on the job,” he said. “The great part about this field is that it's very mentor based. You have to get there and work your way up. I've worked with a lot of good people. I guess I got a lucky break, and I know the value of a work ethic.”
Miille said he's thankful for the experience working on the movie brought him.
“It's really a privilege working with people of such talent. Only a handful of people get that privilege,” he said. “What's more than the nominations is the chance to work on something that's bigger than yourself. That's what makes me happy.”
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Ben Kingsley and Christopher Lee, “Hugo” is based on the children's book “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” It's about a boy living in a Paris railway station and is the most nominated film of 2011. The Academy Awards air this Sunday evening.
