Fox Studio Lot’s Sound Department Adds Marielle Abaunza to Lead Biz Development Amid Sound Editorial Expansion (EXCLUSIVE)

Marielle Abaunza has joined the Fox Studio Lot’s Sound Department as vice president of business development, amid wider plans to grow its services with the launch of a sound editorial division.

The Sound Department is bringing back sound editorial to fully service sound clients as part of the overall services the Fox lot provides to content creatives as a independent facility (The Sound Department and the lot’s real estate was not a part of Disney’s 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox). To do this, it is planning to hire supervising sound editors, enabling the Sound Department to offer full sound packages, explains Andy Nelson, senior vice president at Fox Sound Operations.

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Abaunza, who will report to Nelson, joins Fox after more than a decade at postproduction sound company Formosa Group, where she helped the company expand to an international entity with domestic and international offices. Earlier, she worked in publicity with Rogers & Cowan, Paramount Pictures and Parish PR.

In her new role, Abaunza will work to grow the Sound Department’s services with the launch of the sound editorial division as well as its facilities including The Newman Scoring Stage, ADR/Foley and multiple theaters. That will include fostering relationships with established and emerging sound artists and clients.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marielle to the postproduction team,” said Nelson. “Her dynamic leadership and deep understanding of the industry landscape will play a pivotal role in advancing the studio’s creative and business objectives while delivering exceptional sound and postproduction services.”

Said Abaunza, “I am grateful to Gary Ehrlich, Andy Nelson and Stacey Robinson for this opportunity and look forward to collaborating with the talented teams at Fox to build on the Lot’s legacy to usher in a new era for the Sound Department and support our city and creative community during this pivotal time.”

“A Complete Unknown,” which is nominated for the Sound Oscar, “Better Man” and upcoming “The Thursday Murder Club” are among the recent films mixed or scheduled to be mixed at the Sound Department.

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Rerecording mixer Nelson recently extended his Oscar record with his 25th nomination, for the sound on “Wicked,” which he did for collaborator Jon. M. Chu.

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