Hannah Arnush / Roundup
Students filled the Great Hall eagerly to find a seat. At the podium was a normal looking man with a job millions of people would dream of having. He has worked on every episode of the longest running animated series on television “The Simpsons.”
Chris Ledesma has edited every episode of “The Simpsons” which started on FOX in 1989. He came to Pierce College to speak on multimedia and the process of airing a television series.
Ledesma covered the three main parts of a television series: script, sketches and audio. Once the animatic (animated version of a story board in pencil outlines on white paper) process is approved by FOX, the sketches come to life with voice-over recordings.
Music is then added and the episode goes into dubbing where the musical dialogue and sound effect editor balance everything out. Ledesma then discussed the importance of music in a series and the 4 ways music is used; to mirror a shows emotion, or to sometimes do the opposing, in some cases music can open a new door for the audience, or lastly to have the character hear the music for comedy.
Once music is added the episode can be sent to FOX and is ready to be aired. “The show is a ever evolving process. Be open minded whether you are the one creating or the one following.”
When asked how “The Simpsons” have been able to be on so long Ledesma replied with “FOX believes in us. We go in and out of the world. We have been to every continent except Antarctica, we have been to heaven and hell and it doesn’t cost the show more but it will cost a live action show more. The one million dollar-per- episode budget is not affected.”
In 1993 Ledesma went “independent” and formed his own company Click Track Inc. Click Track Inc. is a professional mobile production service company that supports audio recording studios, TV broadcasting services, live concerts and touring bands behind them.
“If I could have any job other than this one I would love to conduct either theatre music or symphony orchaestras.”
Ledesma was then asked by a student the best advice he could give anybody. “The best thing you can do for yourself is always keep learning at all times and never give up. You have to have thick skin and accept rejection.”
Ledesma said he fell into this opportunity.”To be on a show that is loved all over the world and get to work and laugh, well that is amazing.”
Chris Ledesema shared his experiences working on “The Simpsons” with students and faculty in the Great Hall on Wednesday. (Victor Stephen Kamont / Roundup)