A Note from GMSC Past President, Michael Perlmutter
Hello Sync Community and Friends;
I informed the Officers at our Board meeting on November 26, 2024, that I will be formally stepping down as President of the Guild of Music Supervisors, Canada as of February 14, 2025.
This decision does not come lightly...but I believe it is time for others to lead the Guild into the next growth phase – ‘GMSC 2.0’ !
Since the inception of the “GMSC” in 2016, I have had the extreme privilege and honour to lead the organization.
The GMSC are a niche - but mighty - group. We built it from scratch.
Our goals were to create awareness of our craft, educate music and filmed media industries about our music supervision world and provide mentorships/opportunities for future music supervisors + artists.
We have grown exponentially in these 8 years, both in membership (currently at 33 accredited members) and in the awareness of our craft across the entertainment landscapes.
The GMSC has become a respected organization in the Sync community at home and abroad. The Board Members that I have worked with over the past 8.5 years have done an incredible job, on behalf of our community, by promoting the craft of music supervision and working alongside various stakeholders to create awareness of our world. Thank you to all of them. I am extremely proud of the work we have all done.
And thank you to past + current GMSC members who served on Committees and took much time and effort to work on programs/events. Your support and time are ever appreciated, and we hope you continue to support the new Board!
I take enormous pride in being a music supervisor, serving and working with our Sync community across the country. We can affect change in the industry. We can perpetuate the craft for a new generation, and we can educate all facets of our industries.
How lucky are we to be in this job and to be part of the fantastic Sync community?!
We laid some groundwork over the past few years with many events, educational speaking engagements and, of course, the creation of the Canadian Sync Awards.
The Awards have become a “must attend” event - in large part because it brings the community together.
We navigated through the pandemic with 2 very successful Sound + Vision online, educational programs that saw 1,000 people sign up each year. Throughout the rip in the fabric of our world/community, we kept folks engaged, educated and entertained.
We need to create more of these opportunities. And so, before I take my leave, I’d like to offer some recommendations for the future:
Continued educational opportunities for artists.
Further opportunities for GMSC membership to share information.
Appeal to “The Academy” for inclusion of a ‘Music Supervisor’ category at the Canadian Screen Awards.
Integrated educational programs with CMPA, DGC, SCGC, MPC, CIMA, SOCAN, The Academy, CFC and other industry organizations and schools.
Regional events across the country, where applicable.
Integrated educational partnerships with GMS and other international music supervisor associations/Guilds.
Consistent communications with various film and music bodies to stay updated on changes in industries and how the GMSC can get a seat at a table should the need arise.
Continued outreach to under-represented communities.
I will continue to co-produce the Sync Awards in 2025 (planning is underway!), with the new Board’s oversight, and will be available for consultation at any time should the new Board come knockin’.
I would like to formally thank GMS members Jonathan McHugh, Joel C High, Thomas Golubic, Lindsay Wolfington and Heather Guibert for their superb support of the GMSC and myself since our beginnings. We trust the bond between the organizations will continue to grow and strengthen.
To the board with whom I worked for several years: Natasha Duprey, Heather Gardner, Cody Partridge, Christine Leslie, Val Biggin, Everton Lewis Jr. and the late David Hayman (who was a VP for a few years): Thanks for your support, dedication, good humour and passion for the Sync community. What a ride.
A huge congratulations to the new president of the GMSC, Heather Gardner; and additional congratulations to the new board! The GMSC is in fantastic hands under Heather’s leadership; Heather has always shown immense passion and commitment to the craft of music supervision and the Sync. community.
Thank you again for allowing me to lead the GMSC since Day One. I am not going too far – and always around to support and help move things forward for GMSC 2.0... and 3.0.
With much humility and appreciation,
Yours in Sync,
Michael Perlmutter
Past President, Co-Founder
Guild of Music Supervisors, Canada