It’s arguably every self-proclaimed nerd’s dream to work for Marvel Studios. This is especially true for production mixer Chris Giles, who, as he mentions in our interview below, turned to graphic novels and fantasy worlds for “an element of escapism” when he was young and “trying to find [his] place in the universe.” Though WandaVision isn’t the first Marvel project on his resume, the MCU series, which explores Wanda Maximoff’s grief against a backdrop of American television through the decades, is sort of the holy grail for Giles.
“It’s a female lead,” he says when asked about what made WandaVision so special to work on. Indeed, Giles articulates in our conversation the importance for him of social impact and advancement in telling stories onscreen, both big and small, and how it factors into the career choices he sometimes makes. On top of that, WandaVision was a sort of love letter to his childhood, during which black-and-white television shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show were a prominent feature. “The only stations we could get [on our black and white television] were things played on rerun.”
When asked about his recent Emmy nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Limited Series—which he shares with re-recording mixer Danielle Dupre, ADR mixer Doc Kane, and scoring mixer Casey Stone—Giles is humbly “honoured” at the recognition. And it’s certainly deserved: WandaVision was a huge step for Marvel Studios as its first foray into the streaming medium, and effectively opened the doors for the MCU’s newest phase of projects. Especially after a pandemic year that saw zero Marvel releases, the weekly experience of being entertained then teased by WandaVision was like no other.
“I really hope to stick with the MCU,” Giles says now that he’s fulfilled his inner-nerd’s dream. “I really want to do an MCU film. I would prefer to do one that’s new and fresh, and maybe something that hits some of those things that are near and dear to my heart, social change, or maybe a different type of hero than we’re accustomed to seeing.”
Congratulations, first of all, on your Emmy nomination! How did it feel when you first learned about the nomination and what does it mean for you?
It felt a little odd at first because I was like, wait, what, huh? Because it wasn’t expected, per se. I mean, I felt it was of quality to do so. But it wasn’t necessarily something that I either went in or walked away and said, Oh, this, this is gonna go the awards.There’s always that hope. But it wasn’t something like that. As I reflect on it now, knowing that I was nominated, there were some special elements in there. And there are things in there that I feel need to be recognized, both culturally and for the MCU. And for all the people that put their hand to it. And, you know, all the people that are struggling to get to that point. I feel like it’s great that the people behind the scenes are getting some form of recognition. And so I feel honoured.
WandaVision isn’t the first Marvel project that you’ve mixed for, but I think it’s safe to say that the impact the series had and the reception it’s seen have been unparalleled to say the least. It kind of seemed like perfect timing for it after a year of no MCU releases. While you were working on it, did you know that it would turn out to be so massively loved? What was the whole experience like from your perspective as the production mixer?
Well, the hope, of course, was for a positive reception. I was very, very happy to learn that it was going to be released when it was released because, apparently, for streaming content, the first quarter of the year—you know, if you look statistics and all that—is the best time in the year for most streaming releases. No idea why, but I was happy to find out that we would be early in the season. And then, as I find myself reflecting on our state of being in the world, and then also as a person that would watch [MCU] content, even if I wasn’t part of it—yeah, we were hungry!
And life in general seemed to kind of go into this weird new state of being. And while it was traumatic for some people—and we need to keep that in mind—for a lot of people, it was just a very weird time where they got to sit back, reflect, and maybe do some of the things that they had always hoped to put their hand to. So yeah, I think it was the perfect storm, for lack of better phrasing. And I’m very fortunate to be a recipient of that moment in time. And I’m super happy for all the people that have been working in the MCU universe way before I was ever a consideration. It’s a happy new transition because streaming is so important. And [WandaVision] was effectively their launch.
Can you take us to that moment when this project was brought to your attention? WandaVision is so unique and, as you were saying, the first streaming property for the MCU. So, moving into this new medium, plus the content that WandaVision explored, I can imagine being pitched and immediately feeling like it was something special. Where were you, and what was it like for you when the call came?
I was doing [The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It], and as that project was ending, there was that moment where you’re like, Oh, no, what do I do next? Unless you have like a big plan vacation or something, you’re grasping and asking what’s out there, what’s next, what’s the next big thing. So, [WandaVision] came up through a few friends that actually worked a lot in the MCU, and they said, hey, would you be interested in doing this thing, and at that time was called “Big Red.” And I had no concept of what that was. But as I sat back and read kind of a stripped down version of the first three episodes, I was like, this is awesome! And the reason why I felt it was so awesome was it was not what I expected. When they said things like, we’re going to model this akin to The Dick Van Dyke Show, I was like, whoa, wait a second. Because, funnily enough, I didn’t grow up very privileged—I guess that’s the pleasant way of saying it—and we quite literally had a black and white television for a very, very long time. Literally, the only stations we could get were things that played on rerun, like The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show, things that [Marvel Studios] started pulling a lot of imagery from. I could instantly visualize it in my mind. And I was like, this is just super exciting!
And then the other huge thing that’s important to me is: it’s a female lead. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, I guess, but to me, it’s still extremely important because when you think “superhero,” there is a tendency still, especially in the West, to imagine a male. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just really nice to see a change in that mold, like how Black Panther helped [contributed to] that social shift in what we’re looking for, what the consumer is seeing, what the fan is seeing, and what we’re craving. It gives opportunities to countless people because it’s now opening people’s minds to things outside of this cookie cutter concept.
A lot of actors get asked if they watch their own projects, and I’m wondering, from your perspective, when you rewatch the things that you’ve worked on, do you have a more critical ear? Do you pick certain nuances and start wishing you could change things, or are you able to separate yourself from the finished product and enjoy it as if you were an audience member?
I think that’s a great question! And I think we all have a challenge separating that. But me especially so because, you know, there’s a lot of pieces and elements to what I do that are technical. And a technical mindset tends to be pretty perfectionist-leaning. And then, when you add the creative elements to it, it goes into overdrive sometimes. So, what I do is: I watch the piece when it comes out, and then I walk away, usually for about three weeks, sometimes up to a couple months, and then I watch it again. Because the first time I watch it straight through, I have a harder time shutting my mind off and just sitting back and enjoying what I’m being presented. When there’s a little bit more time where I forget each little element of like, Oh, yes, we did XYZ thing to accomplish this task—when it starts becoming something that I have to try to recall in my mind, it gets better. So, yeah, it’s a process!
In addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you’ve also worked on Stranger Things and The Walking Dead. Would it be fair to say that you’re a fan of the fantasy genre, and was this space somewhere you’d always envisioned yourself working?
Well, not to belabour the point, but I don’t want to take away from other people’s work. I was assisting on those projects; I was not the primary. I need to make sure that I don’t steal somebody else’s thunder!
I would say that, in general, I grew up in a pretty challenged environment, as a lot of people do, and viewers do [so] there was an element of escapism when I was younger and trying to find my place in the universe. And some of that came through graphic novels and through comic series and through reading fantasy. I love The Lord of the Rings series. I ate up anything that was sci fi from, you know, rewinding and watching Alien and Blade Runner for the fifty-third time to, you know, the Star Wars universe to role-playing games and everything else. I have to admit I was a bit of a nerd. And then, I discovered computers and they just poured into that. And I was fascinated by telling those stories and trying to figure out how to tell them in a musical sense. How to create with the computer, how to make music and sounds to help tell stories, etc. And at that early an age, I didn’t even realize that I was already on track to be exactly where I’m at right now.
You’re currently working on another MCU property, Ms Marvel, which is another hugely anticipated series. I know Marvel Studios is a vault when it comes to details about its upcoming projects, but is there anything you can tell us about the project?
Well, the name’s Ms Marvel!
[Laughs.]
That’s a tough one…I’m totally in love with the cast! I think they’re wonderfully cast, and I think they have a ton of heart.
The Emmys are coming up really soon—how will you be celebrating?
Me, some friends, and sitting near a beach somewhere. A little bit more private, a little bit more toned down, but still very, very, very nice if you don’t actually get to be anywhere near a beach, which I haven’t been for a little bit.
WandaVision is now available to stream on Disney+.
