Meet Dallas Sorrell of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dallas Sorrell.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The start of my journey began when I was young with a love for music. I was in the band program from middle to high school as a percussionist, and by twelfth grade, I had to decide what I wanted to do after I graduated. My true passion has always been music, and I wanted to do something in that field for sure.

One day, I finished watching a movie, and as the credits were rolling, this epic song was playing, and I immediately looked up the soundtrack so I could listen to it later. After I found it and added it to my library, I looked back up at the screen and saw that the credits were still going, and at that moment, I thought to myself that my name could be up there too. I’ve always listened to music scores from movies, shows, and video games, and never thought about pursuing a music career.

Later down the road, I researched different jobs in the music for film industry, besides just being a composer, and realized that it expands more towards the audio industry. Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Foley Artist, and Boom Operator, to name a few. I eventually graduated from high school and attended a couple of college open houses that taught audio and music. I picked The Atlanta Institute of Music and Media(AIMM) to advance my studies, and it was the best decision I made.

While working on my degree, I learned how to create music and got a better understanding of different film roles, which later expanded my interests in the audio world. I took a few classes around audio for media, and recording audio on film sets really intrigued me. Soon close to graduation, I picked up my first gig as a Boom Operator on a set, and ever since then, I’ve been getting on more sets recording audio, and on some projects, I would take with me in Post-Production sound designing, and composing. Eventually, I found a balance where I could be on set recording audio and be at home making music and designing sounds for projects.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. While I was in school, I was always worried about finding work after graduation in my career path. I worked in retail for a couple of years after high school, saving up for college. When I enrolled in college, I worked at a warehouse, which was stressful. I was trying to focus on my studies while simultaneously working forty-hour workweeks, juggling homework and sleep. Eventually, they had layoffs at the warehouse a few months before I graduated, which helped me focus more on my career.

My first year after graduating from college, I was struggling to find work in the film industry. I applied to a few companies and gigs, and I got a few of them, but the first year was rough. There were times when I thought to myself that I needed to go to plan B. As a freelancer, it’s hard for me to bring in clientele. The business side was difficult to promote myself, get recommendations, negotiate finances, and just get my name out there.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I mainly work in the Audio field, which is pretty broad. There are multiple titles in the field, but to name a few, I work as a Production Sound Mixer, Boom Operator, Sound Designer, and Composer for film, television, and other media sources.

I’ve recorded audio for short films, TV series, and feature-length films that soon went out to streaming services like Tubi and Amazon Prime. I traveled to Huntsville, Alabama, for a reality show called “More Than Hair Huntsville” that soon peaked at number two on Remy Network, which was a blast.

Audio for film isn’t the only work I do. I also do stagehand work, from setting up speakers, LED walls, and lights for big shows like at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to smaller venues like the Coca-Cola Roxy. From setting up shows of Metallica, Chris Brown, The Weekend, to Bruno Mars were daunting due to how many moving parts those shows have, but they’re also satisfying at the end.

I also returned to my school at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, creating social media content, recording, and editing to be posted on their platforms. Camera and video work was a turn for me, coming from an audio background, but these paths opened up new doors and skills in my career I didn’t think I would pursue.

Pricing:

• email dallascsorrell@gmail.com for pricing and inquiries

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallascsorrell/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallas-sorrell/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dallascsorrell/featured
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dallascsorrell

Image Credits
Chrysander Mandragora
Lane Whorton