Montrealers surprised, honoured by Emmy nomination

Two Montreal sound mixers have been nominated for an Emmy Award for their work on the HBO miniseries Big Little Lies.

This is the first Emmy nomination for Gavin Fernandes and Louis Gignac, who worked on the show directed by Montreal native Jean-Marc Valle.

"We were quite surprised, actually," said Fernandes. "We're very happy about it, and really honoured to be among that group of people."

They are nominated, along with Hollywood-based mixer Brendan Beebe, in the category for sound mixing for a limited series or movie.

Big Little Liesis a seven-episode miniseries about a homicide at an elementary school in Monterey, California starring ReeseWitherspoon,NicoleKidmanandShailene Woodley.

The show,based on the novel of the same name, was nominated for 16 Emmys, includingbest miniseries direction.

• Big Little Lies snags 16 Emmy Award nods

This isn't the first time Fernandes and Gignac have worked with Valle; they all worked together on the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club, which was nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards.

Fernandessaid Montreal's film production scene is expanding, and known for fostering homegrown talent.

"The benefits of living in Montreal instead of other parts of Canada is that we have a very strong, proud and longstanding arts community," said Fernandes.

"Filmmaking, because the Quebec population inherently goes to see homegrown talent, we have an incredible star structure here they don't always have in English Canada."

He says that the local scene is "alive and well," with no end in sight.

"People in Quebec tend to want to see local stories with local stars."

The Emmy Awards show takes place Sept. 17 in Los Angeles.