Oliver Snook graduated from Temple University two years ago, but already has a wealth of experience working in the film industry. Like many students, Snook was able to find his path in college by immersing himself in new experiences. While he attended classes for his studies of Film and Media Arts, he concentrated on Post-Production.
However, Snook felt he was looking for another avenue in his education. He was searching for a creative outlet to compliment everything he was learning. While taking classes during the pandemic, he took courses within Boyer College with Professor Patrick de Caumette that introduced him to the concepts of scoring for film, as well as video games. As a music lover and acapella singer, Snook deeply enjoyed these classes and began to use the lessons to inform his work in post production.
Therefore, in addition to his film degree, Snook worked toward a certificate in Music Technology. He also decided to defer his graduation during the pandemic and chose to participate in the LA Study Away program. Throughout the program and beyond, Snook interned for companies such as Alkemy X, This Is Sound Design and Esho Sound, the company that eventually hired him as a freelance sound editor, after his internship ended.
This year Oliver attended the Sundance Film Festival to promote documentaries he worked on: Better Angels: The Gospel According to Tammy Faye and Little Death. He supported the post-production team for sound in these films, through his work with Esho Sound and was excited to attend the festival for the first time.
“When I had come out to LA, if you had told me that I would have gone to Sundance within a year or whatever, I would have been like 'I don't know about that,'” said Snook. “I think I saw 13 films at Sundance and watched a couple movies on Netflix…because I was just so in the zone of watching movies and Letterboxd categorizing them.”
Despite making strides in his career so soon after graduating, he has not forgotten his roots on Broad Street. Snook humbly works with current FMA students on their thesis projects and shares his expertise in any way he can.
Oliver says he deeply values staying connected with the Temple community while he continues strengthening his craft in sound editing and design and we couldn't be happier to hear it. We're looking forward to more great things from him!
Article by Alyssa Threadgill
Photo by Conner White
Bio:
Oliver Snook is a composer and sound designer based in Los Angeles. After graduating from Temple University in 2022, he began working at Esho Sound as a sound editor and designer. He has worked on several short films, award winning features, documentaries, and video games. He recently went to Sundance with Esho Sound for their work on “Little Death,” and “Better Angels: The Gospel According to Tammy Faye,” the former winning the coveted Adobe Next Innovator Award. Oliver also currently sings with TopShelf Vocal, a professional acappella group in LA. In his free time, he likes to cook, game, and make tea. Oliver hopes to stay connected to the Temple community, and encourages anyone with questions or collaborations to reach out at owrsfilms@gmail.com