The audio community is mourning the loss of one of its most respected colleagues. Jim Frank passed away on Friday, Sept. 15 after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.

Frank was director of studio operations for Master’s Workshop. During his 12-year tenure, he was pivotal in the company’s award-winning history, which includes eight Golden Reel Awards presented by the Motion Picture Sound Editors in Hollywood, six Geminis for best sound and three International Monitor Awards. He played a significant role in accomplishing the first computerized imax mix in an actual imax theater and the first digital imax hd simulator sound track.

Doug McKenzie, president of Master’s, says Frank’s dedication to excellence and compassionate leadership will be missed in the audio community. ‘I know I speak not only for myself and the staff but also for many in Toronto’s production community when I say he’ll be truly missed. Clients from around the world relied on him for his technical insight and thorough understanding of their particular project. Dedication and devotion at his level are a rarity.’

Says Bob Predovich, Master’s vp and gm: ‘Jim clearly was one of the foundation people here at Master’s. He was one of the first people who came on board once we started to turn it into a post facility. We are dedicating the next steps in our company’s growth and progress to Jim because he got us where we are today.’

As a tribute to Frank’s contribution to Master’s growth and the relationships he built with production companies like Allegro Films, the credits of Allegro’s feature film Screamers, a high-profile project for Master’s, will read ‘Dedicated to Jim Frank.’

Frank is survived by his wife Jennifer and his three sons, Jonathan, Timothy and Nicholas. Donations can be made to the James M. Frank Fund for Cancer Research through Mount Sinai Hospital.