Ray Spiess

Born in Germany abroad to the parents of Raymond E. Spiess and Minerva P. Spiess, due to his fathers military assignment. He was delivered by a mid-wife and was actually born on German soil. He traveled all over the US and abroad due to his father being a career military Sgt. In 1964, his family finally settled in Corona, California until the passing of his grandfather. It was then that he moved to Ontario, California and lived there attending schools until joining the service himself. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division from 1970 to 1977. After receiving an Honorable Discharge, he worked various jobs until he became a Correctional Officer. He worked in this position for 8 years until making a decision to change his career. His first venture into the entertainment industry was a "Driver", for a television Producer. This jobs lasted a year at which time he learned as much as possible in between driving assignments. In 1994, he left to work at "High-Top Sports", a production company that produced books on tape. It was here that he was introduced to "Digital Audio Workstations" (DAW). Having no college or background in this field made it extremely difficult to stay ahead of the game. But with help from others, he was soon learning the ins and outs of the editing systems and mixing consoles, recording devices and microphones. After 6 months into the job, he was offered a chance to work at a Post production Sound Studio. He took the offer and continued to work days at "High-Top Productions, and nights at "Coley Sound" a production sound house. After a year, he was offered full time at "Coley Sound". It was here that he started as an assistant sound editor and had to continue learning more and more technical procedures and learning to use another DAW. He moved up to the next position of Dialogue Editor and continued to edit Dialogue until a decision was made to join the Motion Picture Sound Editors Guild. After 3 years into the business, he was hired at Sony Pictures and continued to work as a dialogue editor. After one year at Sony, he was offered a position at Todd A.O. Studios, again as a Dialogue Editor. It was here that he decided to pursue supervising. After supervising various shows, and working for another few years, he decided that it was time to produce and direct his own film. During the summer of 1999, he directed a short film, that later was accepted at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. The film was screened at over 50 festivals, and also played on various television PBS stations, Airlines and limited theater release. After Todd A.O., He left to work at Technicolor Creative Services, again in the supervisors capacity. Working again on several series. Recently after a few years there, his show moved back to Warner Brothers, thus requesting him to continued on with the show. Today he works at Warner Brothers supervising "One Tree Hill" and other television shows. He has over 11 Emmy Nominations, and over 5 Golden Reel Awards, All for "Best Sound" categories. His short film "Dreamer" also received numerous awards too. Looking back on his decision to become part of the entertainment industry, his only regret was that he didn't start sooner. This has become his passion, life and love. His next desires are to segway into Directing. He has two other brothers, and two Sisters. His father relocated to Corona, California, after the passing of his mother in September 2004. He has four beautiful children, ages 30, 27, 19, 16. Two boys, two girls. And of course, two grandchildren, a boy and girl.