Meet Mehrnaz Mohabati: ADR mixer helping Al Pacino and Willem Dafoe shine
“I don’t believe in accepting ‘No’ because society says so. If you know you have the passion and the means for it, you should make your dream happen.”
Meet Mehrnaz Mohabati, a celebrated ADR mixer and highly honored alumna of The Los Angeles Film School.
Quite simply, Mehrnaz is an inspiration. Not just to aspiring sound creatives, but to women everywhere.
From Iran to Hollywood, her incredible story resonates with anyone determined to achieve success.
With a career full of diverse and high-profile projects, Mehrnaz has broken through societal barriers to become a well-known name in the industry.
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of The L.A. Film School, we’re excited to welcome Mehrnaz as an inductee to our 5th Annual Spotlight Awards.
How did Mehrnaz achieve success in the industry?
Mehrnaz’s journey started in Tehran, Iran, where she fell in love with art and music.
Despite living in a country where not many women work in sound, she chased her dream, becoming one of the first female sound engineers in Iran.
Driven by her passion, Mehrnaz moved to Los Angeles, inspired by the sound design in famous Hollywood movies such as the original Star Wars trilogy and Wall-E.
Her love for the city’s film scene kept her going. Even though she faced some tough times finding work at first, she never gave up. Eventually, she scored a job at a Disney-affiliated studio. Her persistence and skills opened doors, leading her to work on notable projects and build an impressive resume.
The L.A. Film School connection
Mehrnaz’s journey at The L.A. Film School was a major milestone in her success story.
With the guidance of incredible mentors like Val Kuklowsky and James Coburn, who offered not just knowledge but unwavering support, she was able to sharpen her skills and broaden her network.
Since then Mehrnaz has worked on a variety of high-profile projects, including Winning Time and American Fiction. One of her most exciting recent works was collaborating with filmmaker Darren Aronofsky on Postcard from Earth for the Sphere in Las Vegas, a project that perfectly showcased her versatility and innovation in immersive sound technology.
Now a seasoned ADR mixer, Mehrnaz is known for her natural flow sessions—an approach where actors seamlessly deliver their lines without rigid pauses or starts. With these skills she helps actors like Al Pacino, Willem Dafoe and Molly Shannon deliver their most thrilling performances.
Her talent has earned her recognition across the industry, including an MPSE Golden Reel Award nomination for Outstanding Sound Editing in the documentary Fire Chasers and an AMAA Best Sound Award for Soul Diaspora.
Mehrnaz’s advice to budding creatives
“Stay humble, show your character and be true to yourself.”
“Keep up to date with all your equipment and technology.”
“Make mistakes. And learn as much as you can.”
Welcoming Mehrnaz to the Spotlight Academy
Prepare to join us for the 5th Annual Spotlight Awards from September 9-12! We’ll be celebrating the passion, innovation and commitment of graduates of The L.A. Film School. And you can experience Mehrnaz’s induction into the Class of 2024 as she is welcomed into the Spotlight Academy.
Keep an eye on your email for exciting Spotlight events, including expert panels, virtual demos, interactive experiences and more. Don’t forget to join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #LAFSSpotlight. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!