The Hollywood Sound Community answers the call to send much-needed walkie-talkies to aid relief efforts in Ukraine

The Hollywood Voice Society is trying to provide encrypted walkie-talkies and satellite phones to Ukrainians unable to communicate in disaster areas. Organizers claim they have just delivered 100 walkie-talkies to kiev and they are still on their way.

Safe & Sound Ukraine, a fundraising effort led by Ksenia Vinogradova, a Kiev-based audio mixer, seeks to generate $ 200,000 in supplies and purchase digital communications equipment for rescue, rescue and evacuation personnel in a devastated country for war. To date, she has raised nearly $ 85,000 in donations to United Help Ukraine, a US 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

Donations can be made here.

Cinema Audio Society made a donation and became an official partner and supporter of Safe & Sound Ukraine. Others who have joined this effort include the Association of Film Sound, Gotham Sound, LA Sound Mixers, and Motion Picture Sound Editors.

“CAS is proud to join others in a healthy community in supporting the humanitarian efforts of Safe & Sound Ukraine,” said Carol Urban, president of CAS. We welcome everything Ksenia and her colleagues are doing to improve the lives of affected citizens in Ukraine.

Vinogradova posted on Facebook: “Before the war, my life was like that of many audio mixers around the world: calling cards, timelines, recording equipment, audio equipment, and I expressed my love for the world by capturing and editing your sounds. For audiovisual works.

“Times have changed now and I, like many people here, have expanded the scope and intensity of my work: I have participated in many humanitarian initiatives and continue to film with Dr. Crews. The evacuation of people, bombed areas and courageous Ukrainians are now in the spotlight. As volunteer coordinators, we maintain contact with hotspots and isolated cities and strive to meet the most urgent needs.

“We are doing everything we can to help, but in these difficult times we need a lot of support and resources: to keep our defenses strong, our volunteers to act right, our vulnerable groups to get the help they need, evacuation and medicines. “.” Even a small amount will bring the safety of our people a little closer. “

Chris Howland, co-founder of Safe & Sound Ukraine and co-founder of LA Sound Mixers, said: When times are tough or incredible, we only support each other because we are motivated by a similar kinship we feel through the craft. . Ksenia Vinogradova is one of us. She could have escaped national security, but she instead stayed and arranged for Safe & Sound Ukraine to help her make the changes. She now it is up to us, as part of the sound tribe of your film, to step in and help you. I am honored to help Ksenia and the Ukrainian people in this fight and I hope you will join us.

The idea for the fundraiser came from a conversation between Vinogradova and Gotham Sound co-owner Peter Schneider. By contacting colleagues in Ukraine, the US, the UK and Germany, they decided that the delivery of Walki-Tolkies, which are an integral part of any film or television production, would be an invaluable tool to help. His first fundraising donation came from an audio mixer. Incredible Mrs. Miesel.

“Gotham Sound is honored to be a founding member of Safe & Sound Ukraine,” said Schneider. In peacetime, Ksenia Vinogradova works as a sound mixer in kyiv. When Russia invaded, she assembled a film crew from around the world to help provide Ukrainian customers with safe and robust communications equipment and other humanitarian aid, while continuing to work and live in her hometown. We are inspired by her untiring leadership and her courage ”.