We mix in a calibrated room ( 85db )(Dolby calibrates it for us)
We begin dialogue cleanup and various spotting sessions with dialogue bouncing around -20 db ( digital ppm scale ) as a starting point.. Normally I lower the room to 82 to start mixing. As you stated, It can get a little hot up front in a medium size room. I print at 85 though. Out dialogue ends up between -10 db ppm and -30 db ppm -ish. i'm being rough here because like most re-recording mixers in a calibrated sub stage we do it by ear. Then we mix everything around the dialogue, emotional moment and the directors vision. Some of out mixes are quiet and some are loud... it depends in the end what the client is asking for. We can only offer our professional opinion and hope to make the clients film the best sounding that we possibly can.
we have a DMU and a DTS T2 Tower, as well as LEQ(m) and various metering via our DK600M.. When necessary we use a DOLBY LM100 as well. Between our Neve Capricorm, the DK600M, the T2, DMU and other tools we can meter ourselves to death.
In fact, I find I have to weene interns off the meters at times....
In this forum I though it might be helpful to first time post people and people who are starting out in post, to offer some insight to where to start and how to deal with levels in film, broadcast, DVD, radio etc.... T
he pros already know how to do this.
cheers
geo