Award-winning sound editor and designer Jane Tattersall has left her position as president and CEO of Toronto picture and audio post house Tattersall Casablanca, citing the desire to return to a more hands-on role in her craft. March 7 was Tattersall’s last day at the company.

Tattersall’s departure comes with TC on the selling block. Faced with contraction last June, TC owner Alliance Atlantis Communications decided to divest itself of the company, along with post subsidiaries Calibre Digital Pictures and Salter Street Digital. Hollywood-based media asset management provider Point.360 picked up the option to buy the trio, and with the option set to expire March 21, the company is on the verge of finalizing the deal, pegged at an estimated US$14 million.

Tattersall says that while AAC basically left her alone to run the company, especially after a successful first year, she envisions a different environment under the new ownership.

‘[Point.360 is] a big company… I’m guessing they would require a fair amount of reporting back to them. I wouldn’t have a problem with that, but that’s time-consuming and a very serious responsibility,’ she says.

She insists, however, that she made up her mind months ago and has nothing but respect for what she perceives Point.360’s plans to be. The change of ownership simply provided the right time to make a move.

‘There are lots of people who can run companies and do administrative stuff,’ she offers. ‘There are fewer people who can do creative stuff, and that’s the thing that I really get a lot of pleasure out of.’

Tattersall was already a Gemini Award winner when, in 1992, she launched Tattersall Sound – consisting solely of her and some hardware – providing audio and audio post for films and TV. She garnered six more Gemini noms, winning three times, and nine Genie noms, winning for Naked Lunch, Sunshine and Love Come Down.

In June 2000, the company was acquired by AAC and merged with AAC’s Casablanca Sound & Picture to provide a one-stop post shop.

Expansion followed, and under the new banner, TC racked up kudos including an Emmy for best sound editing for the AAC mini Nuremberg.

Tattersall leaves TC on a high note, her name engraved on the recent Genie for sound editing for AAC’s Max, as well as on the 2002 Gemini for best sound in a comedy, variety, or performing arts program or series for Rhombus Media’s Ravel’s Brain.

Tattersall has enjoyed longstanding collaborations with certain directors who may very well follow her wherever she goes. Regarding the company, however, Tattersall does not foresee much disruption.

‘[TC] has a lot of work through until the summer, so I recognize my leaving isn’t going to jeopardize revenues and the flow of work,’ she says.

Tattersall will return to creative audio work, either launching a new shop or working as a freelancer, possibly even at TC.

AAC declined to comment, and calls to Point.360 regarding future directions for TC were not returned.

-www.tattersallcasablanca.com