LLCC Music student works on award winning short film
Jeff Milner, music lab assistant, demonstrates how to connect a microphone to a computer using a digital-audio interface. The interface converts analog frequencies to digital data, sending it to the computer through an USB cable. Milner helps audio production students with their questions about interfacing mics and instruments with digital audio workstation software. The music lab is in room 2208 of Menard Hall.
November 25, 2018
Jeff Milner, a Lincoln Land student studying music, already has an IMDB page. The 19-year-old hasn’t graduated college yet, but his resume is already filled with credentials such as sound recordist, teacher and president.
Last summer, Milner worked as an audio engineer on “Saved by Grace,” a short drama film that was released last September.
As an audio engineer for the film, Milner operated the boom mic, recorded audio, and operated the microphones for the actors.
Brandan Haskell, a film student at the University of Missouri and Milner’s best friend from high school, directed the film.
Milner said the film won two awards, best short film and best actor, from the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival.
Milner said there was a difference between recording for a film on location and recording music in a studio.
“It’s so weird,” Milner said, “if you’re in a studio, time is money, but it’s not as fast paced as when you are out shooting for a film. It’s bam, bam, bam, one thing right after another, you got to get everything done before the sun sets.”
To prepare for his role on set, Haskell sent Milner audio equipment manuals to study prior to filming.
“He sent me the manuals of the equipment I’d be using,” Milner said. “Except they were the wrong manuals. When I got to the set, I had 15 minutes to learn how all the equipment worked. It was scary, but fun, as well.”
Milner’s work on Saved by Grace is documented here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm10255615/?ref_=fn_al_nm_2.
Milner is a multi-instrumentalist. His main instrument is the drum set but he also plays vibraphone, xylophone, timpani, acoustic guitar, bass and is learning piano.
Besides playing and studying music, Milner is a music performance major who is also enrolled in LLCC’s audio production certificate program.
Milner is LLCC’s music lab assistant this semester, he assists in keeping the Digital Audio Workstation software up to date and aids other audio and music students with working on their projects.
“Jeff is really, really helpful,” said Karan Robinson, 26. “Jeff has helped me by simplifying aspects of music theory that I have trouble with. I respect his criticism on my music projects.”
Milner is the president of the LLCC’s Jazz Club and he plays drums with the jazz band when they perform.
Milner is also a member of LLCC’s MP3 Club, which is a newly-formed nonperformance music club.
After graduation, he plans to transfer to Western Illinois University to complete a bachelor’s degree in audio production.
Paul Watson can be reached at [email protected].