(Tribute to Ken Weston - continued)with him. Ken was renowned for his collection of short 'poems' most of which were laced with gritty humour often related to the particular production of the day. Lots of them are unprintable in profanity terms, but they served to relieve the stresses and strains of the fourteen hour days and tight schedules that today’s film crews have to put up with. For example, on the Evita shoot, to the hit tune of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, Ken rewrote the lyrics “They think I’m a lavatory cleaner........" Born in Finsbury Park in 1947 he grew up in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire beginning his career in sound as a boom operator, learning early on how to keep the mic out of shot! But taking things one stage further when he himself was caught full on camera in Midnight Express! Ken was always very exacting in his work and demanded the highest standards. He was not satisfied merely to deliver an up front ‘Radio Mic’ sound. He wanted, and strove, to obtain the right ambience on his tracks and he achieved this admirably using his knowledge of microphones, and experience on the floor as both a boom operator and mixer. A moving Service of Thanksgiving was held for Ken at Christ Church, West Wimbledon on the 26th April 2001. After developing renal cancer in 1997 he had a kidney removed, but the cancer returned and he died on Good Friday 13th April 2001 only a month after receiving his top awards for best sound. He married twice. He is survived by his second wife, Janice, a daughter and son and three stepchildren. The service, conducted by the Rev Celia Thomson, was well attended and fourteen AMPS members were amongst the many friends and relatives present. Alan Parker was also among the mourners along with many other industry professionals. Peter Glossop gave a reading and David Nichols read a fascinating address including one of Ken’s poems......... Quote from David Nichols “One of the few that can be read in Church”. In memory of Ken a donation was made by the Association of Motion Picture Sound to Martin Gore’s Research Fund at The Royal Marsden Hospital. | From Colin Codner: On Good Friday this year I lost a very close work colleague and my dearest friend to cancer. Ken Weston and I worked together for over 18 extraordinary years. I was introduced to Ken by John Chandler. Although enigmatic, Ken’s motto remained “Simplicity is Best”. But, that simplicity made him a perfectionist. Directors such as Alan Parker, Ridley Scott, John lying, Peter Yates, would specifically request Ken to record the sound for their films. Such was their respect for him the culmination of his career had been his Oscar win for the film Gladiator which I had the pleasure of working with him on. Thankfully he was still around to receive the Oscar and appreciate the honour. During our years together I had not only learned technical skills from Ken but also life skills, the politics that surrounds the sound and camera departments. His casual manner, easy smile and having that listening ear made him a popular crew member. He was generous and gave a lot of boom operators, who later became mixer’s, their first break. As I am writing this The Son Of Pink Panther is on the TV. I can remember Ken giving me the responsibility for the second unit mixing, with Boom Op John Chandler, and we did around 40% of the dialogue from the film. Blake Edwards saw the second unit rushes and commented to Ken that the sound was all usable stuff. Ken did not take any of the credit. He told Blake “You should thank Colin for that”. He was a gracious man. Ken Weston was a mentor to several young sound men; he had lots of respect from his peers... Ken always spoke up for his crew. Ken will always be remember by many. From Dave Nichols’ Eulogy for Ken Weston: “At the risk of being flip, there is a joke in the business about sound being last to arrive and the first to leave. The truth is our friend Ken did leave much too soon “. |
