Jack Levy

Jack Levy
Role:	Supervising Sound Editor
BSG Universe:	Re-imagined Series and Caprica
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:	Missing required parameter 1=month! ,
Nationality:	USA
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IMDb profile

Jack Levy is an American supervising sound editor and founder of AnEFX who worked on the Miniseries and 46 episodes of the Re-imagined Series. Levy won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for the series finale "Daybreak, Part II," working alongside Daniel Colman, MPSE. He also received an Emmy nomination for Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome (2012).

Levy founded the Burbank-based sound design and post-production audio studio AnEFX in 1992, building it into one of the entertainment industry's premier facilities for television, film, video games, and podcast production. His career spans over 112 documented credits across film, television, video games, and emerging media, with approximately 30 personal awards and nominations including multiple Emmys and Golden Reel Awards.

Career

Early Sound Design and Film Work

Levy began his career in music production, working with notable artists including Herb Alpert, The Temptations, Ray Charles, and George Clinton before transitioning to film and television sound design. His early film credits include sound effects work on Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness (1992), where he worked alongside sound designers Alan Howarth and Steven D. Williams at Skywalker Sound.

Other film credits include The Invisible Man (2000) and the acclaimed documentary Food, Inc. (2008). Levy also worked on PBS's American Experience series (2000-2017), earning an Emmy nomination for sound editing on the episode "Two Days in October."

Founding AnEFX

In 1992, Levy founded AnEFX, initially working independently from his home before eventually establishing a Burbank facility in 1998. The warehouse-style building was converted into a state-of-the-art facility featuring multiple Avid Pro Tools-based audio suites, an ADR room with various ISDN monitoring flavors, and an unusually large Foley stage equipped with a water tank and direct street access for oversize objects.

AnEFX's client-focused approach included a full-time chef serving meals for employees and clients, fostering collaborative working relationships. Levy's business philosophy emphasized exceptional customer service regardless of project size or budget, and the studio operated without a dedicated sales person, relying entirely on word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients. The studio also provided archiving services beyond client contracts, enabling quick turnaround for DVD releases and additional formats.

Battlestar Galactica Franchise

Levy served as supervising sound editor on the Miniseries, working alongside sound designer Daniel Colman, re-recording mixers Kevin Patrick Burns and Todd Orr, and the sound team that established the franchise's distinctive audio aesthetic. The 2003 miniseries earned Levy his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special.

Levy continued as supervising sound editor throughout the regular series (2004-2009), working on 46 episodes across all four seasons. He received Emmy nominations for sound editing on "Exodus, Part II" in 2007 and the series finale "Daybreak, Part II" in 2009. The team won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for "Daybreak (Part 2)," with Levy and Daniel Colman, MPSE (Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer), leading a team that included Vince Balunas (Dialogue/ADR Editor), Sam C. Lewis (Sound Effects Editor), and foley artists Doug Madick and Rick Partlow.

In 2012, Levy was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome. He also received multiple Golden Reel Award nominations for his work on Blood & Chrome and Caprica.

In a 2012 interview, Levy discussed the unique sound design challenges of adapting Battlestar Galactica for video games, noting the series' distinctive "soft, round sound, more like being underwater than in outer space" contrasted with typical space combat expectations of "big rocket engines and laser shots." He described the process of balancing the show's established aesthetic with gamers' desire for more immediate, primal audio feedback.

Expanded Television Career

Beyond Battlestar Galactica, Levy built an extensive television career as supervising sound editor on numerous series. His credits include Gossip Girl (2007-2010), Psych (2006-2014, 70 episodes), Suits (2011-2015), Nashville (2012-2013), Royal Pains (2009), and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2016).

Levy earned a Golden Reel Award nomination for Best Sound in a Series for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2013. Additional science fiction series credits include Defiance (2013), Alphas (2011-2013), Warehouse 13 (2011), and Mr. Robot (2015).

Later credits include Outlander (2014-2015), Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (2014-2018, 40 episodes), The Son (2017), Emerald City (2017), Good Behavior (2016-2017), Shut Eye (2016), Channel Zero (2016), and Lifeline (2017), which was executive produced by Dwayne Johnson.

Podcast Production and Recent Work

In recent years, Levy has transitioned into podcast production, serving as executive producer, director, and audio specialist for multiple projects. He founded Manifest Media Productions and currently serves as Chief Creative Officer. His podcast work includes collaborations with iHeartMedia, Universal, Audible, and other major platforms.

Recent podcast credits include executive producer and supervising sound editor roles on Table Read Podcast (2023-2025) and The Lower Bottoms (2021), an iHeartMedia production. In a 2020 podcast interview, Levy discussed sound design techniques, loop groups/walla recording, and performance in ADR recording environments.

Professional Philosophy and Industry Impact

Levy has mentored numerous sound professionals who have collectively earned over 130 nominations and approximately 20 award wins. He is recognized in the industry as a "Go-To" audio expert, problem solver, and resource for leadership of the entire production lifecycle from inception to delivery.

His work has spanned collaborations with Warner Bros., Sony, Universal, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, Marvel, Disney, and virtually every major studio and network. In video games, Levy has worked with Electronic Arts, Philips Interactive, and Walt Disney Interactive, while in music his credits include projects for Warner Bros., Motown, Paisley Park, and Capitol Records.

Levy describes his approach to audio production as focused on enabling entertainers to effectively tell stories through the highest quality sound, with emphasis on delivering perfection within budget, deadline, and technical specifications.

Personal Life

Jack Levy was born in Minneapolis and raised in Buffalo, New York, where his family owned retail businesses. His father's emphasis on equal customer service regardless of purchase size influenced Levy's own business philosophy at AnEFX. After time living in Alaska, Levy moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in sound design.

Levy was married to Jill Carpenter Levy from May 6, 2000, until their divorce on September 1, 2012, and has three sons. He maintains chickens at his home and brings fresh eggs to the studio kitchen daily, using this routine as a reminder of his goal to make AnEFX "completely different from other studios." Levy reports operating on approximately four hours of sleep per night, allowing him time for both work and family.

Levy also uses the alternative professional name John A. Levy.

Awards and Recognition

Levy has received approximately 30 personal awards and nominations throughout his career.

Emmy Awards:

• 2012 – Primetime Emmy, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome) – Winner
• 2009 – Primetime Emmy, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series (Battlestar Galactica, "Daybreak, Part 2") – Winner
• 2007 – Primetime Emmy nomination (Battlestar Galactica, "Exodus, Part 2")
• 2007 – Primetime Emmy nomination (American Experience, "Two Days in October")
• 2005 – Primetime Emmy nomination (Battlestar Galactica series)
• 2004 – Primetime Emmy nomination (Battlestar Galactica miniseries, night 2)

Golden Reel Awards (Motion Picture Sound Editors):

• 2014 – Golden Reel Award nomination, Best Sound Editing - Long Form Sound Effects and Foley in Television (Defiance, "Pilot")
• 2013 – Golden Reel Award nomination, Best Sound Editing - Short Form Sound Effects and Foley in Television (Alphas, "Wake up Call")
• 2013 – Golden Reel Award nomination, Best Sound Editing - Computer Episodic Entertainment (Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome)
• 2012 – Golden Reel Award nomination (Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome)
• 2011 – Golden Reel Award nomination (Alphas)
• 2011 – Golden Reel Award nomination (Red Faction: Origins)
• 2011 – Golden Reel Award nomination (Warehouse 13, "Of Monsters and Men")
• 2009 – Golden Reel Award nomination (Caprica)

Levy is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Motion Picture Sound Editors (M.P.S.E.).

References

External Links

• Jack Levy at the Internet Movie Database

• Jack Levy at LinkedIn
• AnEFX official website