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 OhioMaking a cold call to Walter Murch and landing a job on Apocalypse NowEarly sound experiments at Skywalker RanchRecording effects for The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost ArkCollaborating with Robert Zemeckis and David LynchWhy sound should be involved in pre-productionThe evolution from analog to digital workflowsThe creative and economic impact of AI on film soundThe philosophy behind “inventing” sonic spaceWinning an Oscar for The Right StuffWinning a BAFTA for The RevenantRandy 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.See below for all the links you might need!This podcast is completely independent and made possible by listener support. If you’d like to help me keep making these episodes, you can join my Patreon community here: https://patreon.com/jamiebenning Watch more on YouTube:Check out the Filmumentaries YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes clips and extra content: https://youtube.com/filmumentariesAll my links