Coleman

Supervising Sound Editor

Sound on a sailboat is its own category of difficult. You’re dealing with constant wind across open decks, rigging that hums and snaps under load, waves and hull slap that shift with speed and angle, and machinery noise from engines, winches, and generators that comes and goes unpredictably. The set is never acoustically stable: surfaces are hard and reflective, spaces are tight, and the boat itself is always moving, which changes mic placement, proximity, and background noise minute by minute. Even simple dialogue can be complicated by salt air, spray, and the need to protect gear without compromising capture.

This is where Coleman Metts comes in. With more than 30 years of experience as a production sound mixer and team lead, there are few acoustic environments he hasn’t encountered. His career includes work on Oscar-winning films and high-end productions where clean, usable sound had to be captured under real-world conditions rather than manufactured later. That background translates naturally to the challenges of shooting at sea, where adaptability, preparation, and calm problem-solving matter as much as technical skill.

Across a wide range of projects, Coleman has built a reputation for reliable on-set sound and a measured presence under pressure. On a sailboat — where the environment is uncompromising and every take matters — Coleman’s experience and skill are critical.

The Sailing Dharma crew is very fortunate to have him join the project.