Canadian sound mixer Craig Mann wins Oscar for work on ‘Whiplash’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Canadian sound mixer Craig Mann has won an Oscar for his work on the intense drumming film “Whiplash.”

The 38-year-old claimed the sound mixing Academy Award along with co-nominees Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley.

“Thank you Academy for this honour. We’re thrilled to be here,” Mann said as he clutched the gold statue, turning his attention to the film’s director, Damien Chazelle, in the audience.

“Under extremely difficult conditions you showed us the meaning of leadership and under that leadership a creative collaboration blossomed. And that creativity is really what helps us do our job, so thank you.”

They beat out teams from the films “American Sniper,” “Birdman,” “Intersteller” and “Unbroken.”

Mann was born in Oakville, Ont., and raised in the Toronto-area cities of Pickering and Burlington.

Now L.A.-based, Mann spent years assisting the industry’s top sound mixers in Canada and the United States before deciding to become a mixer himself years ago.

“Whiplash” is about an ambitious young musician and the demanding teacher who pushes him to his limit.

Mann and his colleagues collected a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award earlier this year, when he expressed surprise at the film’s success.

“It’s frankly kind of a miracle that this is getting the recognition that it’s getting.”