144 - Randy Thom - Director of Sound at Skywalker Sound

In this episode, I chat with Academy Award-winning sound designer Randy Thom about his journey from college radio to shaping the soundscapes of some of cinema’s most iconic films.We discuss:

• Growing up loving movies and discovering sound via college radio in Ohio
• Making a cold call to Walter Murch and landing a job on Apocalypse Now
• Early sound experiments at Skywalker Ranch
• Recording effects for The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Collaborating with Robert Zemeckis and David Lynch
• Why sound should be involved in pre-production
• The evolution from analog to digital workflows
• The creative and economic impact of AI on film sound
• The philosophy behind “inventing” sonic space
• Winning an Oscar for The Right Stuff
• Winning a BAFTA for The Revenant

Randy also reflects on mentorship, collaboration at Skywalker Ranch, and why storytelling always matters more than authenticity.Listen now and take a deep dive into the craft of cinematic sound.

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