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Randy Thom

Randy Thom is an American sound designer renowned for his innovative contributions to film audio, serving as the director of sound design at Skywalker Sound while actively working on major motion pictures.^[1] His career spans over four decades, marked by collaborations with acclaimed directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, and Guillermo del Toro, and he has earned two Academy Awards for his work on The Right Stuff (1983, Best Sound) and The Incredibles (2004, Best Sound Editing), the latter being the only win for sound in an animated feature.^[1] Thom has received seventeen Oscar nominations overall, including a 2025 nomination for Best Sound for The Wild Robot, along with one Emmy nomination and one Grammy nomination, and he was honored with the Cinema Audio Society's Career Achievement Award in 2010 and the Motion Picture Sound Editors' Career Achievement Award in 2014.^[1]^[2] Thom's entry into film sound began in public radio, where he volunteered to collect and edit sounds for broadcasts, an experience that ignited his passion for integrating audio into visual storytelling.^[3] His breakthrough came in 1975 when he apprenticed under Walter Murch on Apocalypse Now (1979), starting with a day observing the remix of American Graffiti and culminating in his first union job on the Vietnam War epic, where he spent 1.5 years recording authentic soldier foley in trenches.^[3] Since joining Skywalker Sound in 1983 as part of a core team of designers, Thom has shaped the soundscapes of iconic films including Return of the Jedi (1983), Forrest Gump (1994), The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), The Revenant (2015), and The Wild Robot (2024).^[1] Beyond technical prowess, Thom emphasizes sound's narrative role, advocating for designs that enhance emotional depth and immersion, as detailed in his influential essay "Designing a Movie for Sound."^[4] He views sound design as a collaborative storytelling tool, advising aspiring professionals to prioritize communication, resilience, and diversity in hiring to foster innovative teams.^[3] Projects like Contact (1997), Coraline (2009), and War of the Worlds (2005) exemplify his ability to blend practical recordings with creative effects, earning praise for elevating cinematic experiences.^[1]

Early Life and Education

Early Life

David Randall Thom was born on August 21, 1951, in Shreveport, Louisiana.^[5] Raised in the region, Thom spent much of his childhood exploring the forests of Louisiana, an immersion in natural environments that he later credited with shaping his artistic sensibilities more profoundly than any exposure to films, music, or conventional art forms.^[6]

Education and Initial Interests

Randy Thom grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, attending local schools during his formative years before pursuing higher education.^[7] In the late 1960s, he enrolled at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, a liberal arts institution known for encouraging creative exploration.^[8] At Antioch, Thom's initial interests in audio deepened through hands-on involvement with the campus radio station WYSO, where he began volunteering in 1970.^[7] Over the next two years, he advanced to program director, producing live music broadcasts and dramatic pieces that honed his skills in sound recording and editing.^[8] These activities, rooted in the vibrant community radio scene of the early 1970s, allowed him to experiment with audio equipment as a part-time pursuit alongside his studies.^[9] Following his time at Antioch, Thom continued self-educating in audio production by migrating to Berkeley, California, and working at KPFA, a Pacifica Foundation station, where he recorded news segments, documentaries, and live events.^[7] Influenced by the innovative radio and music scenes of the era, including experimental public broadcasting, he developed a passion for capturing and manipulating sound through trial and error with available technology.^[9] This period marked the transition from casual hobbies to structured audio experimentation, building on a childhood fascination with everyday sounds.^[3]

Professional Career

Entry into Film Sound

In the mid-1970s, after working in radio and music recording, Randy Thom sought to enter the field of film sound by contacting renowned sound designer Walter Murch.^[10] Murch invited Thom to observe a stereo remix session for American Graffiti (1973), during which Thom introduced himself and later submitted an essay on his observations at Murch's request.^[3] Impressed by the essay, Murch hired Thom as one of his assistants on Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979), marking Thom's first film credit as a post-production sound effects recordist.^[3]^[11] Thom worked on Apocalypse Now for a year and a half, an experience he described as "like the film school I never had," highlighting the intensive immersion required to adapt his radio background to the collaborative and technically demanding process of cinematic audio.^[3] This project introduced him to the challenges of scaling sound elements for large-format film, including field recording effects under production pressures in the Philippines and integrating them into the film's complex mix overseen by Murch.^[12] Following Apocalypse Now, Thom's early roles in the late 1970s included assisting sound designer Ben Burtt on Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), his introduction to Lucasfilm projects, where he contributed as a sound effects recordist amid the innovative audio demands of the franchise.^[6] These initial assignments solidified his pivot from radio's more isolated editing to film's synchronized, narrative-driven soundscapes.^[3]

Skywalker Sound and Key Roles

Randy Thom joined Lucasfilm in 1980 as a sound editor shortly after his work on Apocalypse Now under Walter Murch, marking the beginning of his long association with the company.^[6] In 1983, following the establishment of Skywalker Sound as Lucasfilm's dedicated post-production audio facility, Thom became a staff sound designer and re-recording mixer, contributing to the studio's innovative sound workflows from its inception.^[13] Over the subsequent decades, Thom's responsibilities at Skywalker Sound expanded progressively. He advanced to the role of supervising sound editor, overseeing the integration of sound elements across projects, while continuing hands-on work as a sound designer and re-recording mixer.^[3] In 2005, he was appointed Director of Sound Design, a position in which he guided the department's creative direction and mentored emerging talent. Skywalker Sound served as the cornerstone of Thom's career, providing a collaborative environment envisioned by George Lucas that emphasized team-based approaches to sound creation, including early involvement with directors and cross-disciplinary integration of audio crafts.^[6] Thom worked closely with Lucas on multiple endeavors, benefiting from the facility's state-of-the-art resources to refine collective sound strategies. As of 2025, he remains in his directorial role, actively participating in film sound design while leading the team's ongoing evolution.^[14]^[1]

Notable Collaborations and Projects

Randy Thom has maintained a long-term creative partnership with director Robert Zemeckis, beginning with Forrest Gump (1994) and extending through multiple projects that highlight his role in shaping immersive audio landscapes for Zemeckis's narrative-driven films.^[3] This collaboration includes key works such as Contact (1997), where Thom contributed to the film's pre-production sound discussions to establish its overall sonic tone, Cast Away (2000), emphasizing naturalistic environmental sounds, and more recent efforts like The Witches (2020).^[6] Thom's work with Zemeckis often involves close coordination during early development stages to align sound design with the director's vision for emotional and atmospheric depth.^[11] Thom's collaborations with Brad Bird demonstrate his expertise in animated features, starting with The Iron Giant (1999) and continuing with Pixar's The Incredibles (2004), where he served as supervising sound editor, sound designer, and re-recording mixer. This partnership extended to Ratatouille (2007), marking Thom's third project with Bird and showcasing a shared language in crafting dynamic, character-driven soundscapes that enhance humor and tension in animation.^[15] Their teamwork at Skywalker Sound emphasized iterative spotting sessions to integrate sound effects seamlessly with Bird's kinetic storytelling style. In recent years, Thom has partnered with director Chris Sanders on animated adventures, including How to Train Your Dragon (2010) and its sequel (2014), before reuniting for The Wild Robot (2024), where discussions on sound design began over two years prior to production. The film earned a nomination for Best Sound at the 97th Academy Awards (2025).^[2] Sanders praised Thom's ability to infuse emotional resonance into the film's animal characters through innovative vocal and environmental layering.^[16] At Skywalker Sound, Thom collaborated with re-recording mixers Gary Rizzo and Leff Lefferts to balance the film's score and effects, creating a cohesive auditory world that supports Sanders's themes of adaptation and connection.^[17] Beyond feature films, Thom ventured into video games as lead sound designer for Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006), his first such project, where he applied Hollywood mixing techniques to blend dialogue, effects, and music over five weeks of post-production.^[18] This work with developer Radical Entertainment involved daily sound iterations via VPN, adapting cinematic approaches to interactive environments.^[19] Earlier, Thom contributed to the documentary The Thin Blue Line (1988), directed by Errol Morris, handling sound design to underscore the film's investigative tension through subtle, evocative audio cues.^[1] On high-profile projects like The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), Thom teamed up with sound designer Jamey Scott at Skywalker Sound to honor Nintendo's iconic game audio while enhancing it for theatrical immersion, recreating classic effects like coin collects and power-ups with layered, high-fidelity recordings.^[20] Their collaborative process focused on preserving nostalgic elements while amplifying the film's energetic action sequences through precise synchronization with animation.^[21]

Sound Design Approach

Philosophy and Techniques

Randy Thom emphasizes the use of naturalistic sounds to foster emotional immersion in film, prioritizing field recordings captured in real-world environments over synthetic effects to evoke authentic emotional responses from audiences. He argues that sounds like those from a steel mill or malfunctioning water cooler, when recorded on location, carry inherent emotional variations that synthetic alternatives often lack, allowing them to function almost like characters in the narrative. This approach stems from his belief that sound design should mimic the organic unpredictability of life, enhancing viewer connection without artificial exaggeration.^[4]^[22] Thom advocates for sound as a fundamental narrative tool, seamlessly integrating foley, dialogue, and effects to shape pacing, define characters, and clarify plot points throughout the filmmaking process. Rather than treating sound as a post-production add-on, he promotes early collaboration across writing, shooting, and editing to ensure these elements form a cohesive continuum that supports the story's emotional arc. For instance, in point-of-view sequences, he uses acoustic spaces and sparse dialogue to heighten ambiguity and immersion, allowing sound to reveal character insights that visuals alone cannot convey.^[23]^[4]^[22] In interviews, Thom has cautioned against over-reliance on music in soundtracks, noting that constant musical cues can dilute the overall impact, making the experience less engaging by overshadowing the potential of integrated sound effects and ambience. He views the boundary between music and sound design as artificial, preferring a balanced blend where effects and score enhance each other without one dominating, as excessive music often stems from temporary scores that limit creative exploration. This philosophy encourages filmmakers to leverage sound's full narrative power, reducing the need for musical crutches to carry emotional weight.^[23]^[22]^[24]

Innovations in Sound Design

Randy Thom pioneered location-based sound recording techniques at Skywalker Sound, emphasizing the capture of authentic environmental sounds directly from real-world sites to enhance narrative immersion. He advocated for recording automated dialogue replacement (ADR) on location rather than in isolated studios, arguing that real-world acoustics inspire performers and yield more realistic results, as seen in his suggestions for filming scenes in actual environments like steel mills to integrate ambient noises organically.^[4] To facilitate these captures, Thom utilized portable rigs such as DAT machines paired with MS (Mid-Side) stereo microphone setups, which provided high-fidelity, compact field recording capabilities suitable for diverse terrains.^[22] Additionally, he experimented with emerging portable hard disc recorders like the Diva system in the late 1990s, enabling simultaneous multi-channel recording with battery power and a RAM buffer to retrospectively capture up to 10 seconds of audio, allowing for spontaneous environmental documentation without missing key moments.^[22] These methods stemmed from his early work at Skywalker Ranch, where he recorded natural elements like gunshots and forest ambiences in the site's pristine acoustics before full facilities were built, underscoring a commitment to serendipitous discoveries in field recording.^[6] During the 1980s and 1990s, Thom contributed significantly to the transition from analog to digital sound editing at Skywalker Sound, helping integrate tools that revolutionized post-production workflows. As sound design evolved, he bridged the gap between traditional editing and mixing roles, which were previously distinct, by adopting digital audio workstations early on.^[25] A key innovation was Skywalker Sound's early embrace of Pro Tools in the 1990s, which Thom utilized to expand creative possibilities by allowing direct experimentation with expansive sound libraries within a single platform, reducing dependence on separate analog consoles and enabling seamless integration of effects, dialogue, and music.^[25] This shift facilitated more fluid collaboration among sound teams, as Thom noted that Pro Tools' ubiquity empowered designers to mix iteratively during editing phases, a practice that became standard in the industry.^[25] Thom's unique approaches to animal sound manipulation have advanced creature vocal design, prioritizing layered, organic constructions from real-world sources to convey emotional depth. He begins with recordings of animals, birds, or human voices selected for their emotional potential—such as pain, curiosity, or affection—then manipulates them through pitching, reversal, and blending to create believable, non-synthetic vocals that span a wide expressive range.^[26] For instance, in films requiring complex creature behaviors, Thom combines multiple species; he used recordings from bears, dogs, horses, and his own voice for bear vocals, editing and processing them to unify characteristics like pitch and spatial qualities while avoiding abrupt electronic artifacts.^[27] In The Wild Robot (2024), Thom applied these techniques to animal characters by sourcing field recordings from global rescue organizations and YouTube handlers (e.g., fox sounds from Finnegan Fox), layering them with human breath elements and loop group performances to transition from chaotic "gibberish" to narrative-driven communications, ensuring the creatures felt both wild and empathetic.^[28] This method aligns with Thom's broader naturalistic philosophy, where manipulated animal sounds serve as emotional anchors rather than mere effects.^[26]

Filmography Highlights

Major Films

In the 1980s, Randy Thom contributed significantly to the sound design of The Right Stuff (1983), directed by Philip Kaufman, where he served as a re-recording mixer alongside a team that enhanced the film's portrayal of test pilots and the early space program through realistic aviation sounds.^[29] These audio elements captured the intensity of aircraft maneuvers and rocket launches, drawing from authentic recordings to immerse audiences in the high-stakes world of experimental flight. Thom's work helped underscore the film's themes of human ingenuity and peril, integrating propulsion roars and sonic booms that felt palpably real without relying on exaggerated effects.^[29] During the 1990s and 2000s, Thom's sound design elevated historical and fantastical narratives in key collaborations, such as with director Robert Zemeckis on Forrest Gump (1994). For this film, Thom focused on period effects to evoke mid-20th-century America and the Vietnam War era, using realistic battle ambiences like whizzing bullets and exploding mortars in the Vietnam sequences to reflect the protagonist's disoriented perspective.^[30] He blended these with subtle transitions, such as helicopter flyovers that seamlessly shifted from wartime flashbacks to present-day bus stop scenes, employing Pro Tools editing and DAT field recordings from locations like Santa Barbara to achieve temporal continuity and emotional depth.^[30] In The Incredibles (2004), directed by Brad Bird, Thom crafted superhero action sounds that balanced whimsy and peril, including the Velocipods' propulsion derived from Formula 1 car engines layered with knife-sharpening edges for a menacing hum.^[31] Character-specific effects further defined the heroes: Elastigirl's stretches from rubber band field recordings, Frozone's ice powers using dry ice on warm metal for resonant feedback, Violet's force fields with a comedic beach ball "boing," and Dash's super-speed runs via sped-up Foley of hands pattering in water.^[31] In the 2010s and 2020s, Thom's designs increasingly emphasized naturalistic immersion in survival and animated tales. For The Revenant (2015), directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, he acted as supervising sound editor and re-recording mixer, prioritizing authentic wilderness ambiences to convey the harsh 1820s frontier, with layered environmental recordings of wind, rivers, and forests that heightened isolation and tension.^[32] A standout element was the bear attack sequence, where Thom and sound designer Jon Title integrated horse and camel vocalizations with manipulated growls to create a visceral, non-traditional roar that felt organically terrifying.^[32] In The Wild Robot (2024), directed by Chris Sanders, Thom integrated robotic and wildlife sounds to humanize the story's island ecosystem, designing the robot Roz's movements with pneumatic and hydraulic effects sourced from personal breath recordings (at a 100:1 ratio) rather than metallic servos, blended via Foley with natural elements like waves and wildlife calls.^[33] Subtle electronic processing on Lupita Nyong'o's voice for Roz's boot-up moments contrasted with unadorned dialogue to emphasize emotional growth, while the island's soundscape—evoking loneliness through seaside ambiences—inspired early collaborations with animators to merge tech and nature seamlessly.^[33]

Other Contributions

Throughout his career, Randy Thom has contributed to over 100 films in partial or supporting sound roles, including production sound mixing and re-recording mixing on Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).^[34] These contributions often involved specialized tasks like sound effects recording or supervision, extending his influence across a broad spectrum of projects beyond his lead sound design work.^[1] In addition to live-action features, Thom has made significant contributions to animation, where he has served as sound designer and re-recording mixer on films such as Coraline (2009) and How to Train Your Dragon (2010).^[1] His work in this medium emphasizes immersive auditory environments that enhance fantastical narratives, as seen in his role on Ratatouille (2007).^[1] Thom's television contributions include serving as re-recording consultant on the documentary The Thin Blue Line (1988), which earned critical acclaim for its innovative audio storytelling.^[35] He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or Special for Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1986), recognizing his impact on non-feature television projects.^[36] In emerging media, Thom has extended his expertise to video games, notably as a sound designer for Scarface: The World is Yours (2006), where he explored interactive audio's potential for dynamic storytelling.^[37] More recently, up to 2025, he provided consulting sound design for streaming content, including supervisory roles on Netflix's The Midnight Sky (2020) and additional voice work for the animated Vivo (2021), and sound designer on the live-action How to Train Your Dragon (2025).^[38]^[39]^[40]

Awards and Honors

Academy Awards

Randy Thom has earned two Academy Awards and a total of 16 nominations across various sound categories, recognizing his contributions to film audio design and mixing.^[41]^[14] His first Oscar came at the 56th Academy Awards in 1984 for Best Sound on The Right Stuff, shared with Mark Berger, Tom Scott, and David MacMillan, for their work on the historical aviation drama directed by Philip Kaufman. This win honored the film's immersive audio capture of high-speed flight sequences and period-accurate environments. Thom's second Academy Award was at the 77th ceremony in 2005 for Best Sound Editing on The Incredibles, shared with Michael Silvers, celebrating the animated superhero film's innovative effects and character-driven soundscape from Pixar Animation Studios. Thom's nominations span decades and reflect the evolution of the Academy's sound categories, which began as a single Best Sound award from 1928 to 1999 before splitting into Best Sound (later Sound Mixing) and Best Sound Editing from 2000 to 2019, then merging into a unified Best Sound category starting in 2020.^[42]^[43] Key examples include dual 80th Academy Awards nominations in 2008 for Ratatouille—Best Sound Mixing (shared with Michael Semanick and Doc Kane) and Best Sound Editing (shared with Michael Silvers)—for the Pixar's culinary adventure's vibrant, layered audio world.^[44] He received a Best Achievement in Sound Mixing nomination at the 88th Academy Awards in 2016 for The Revenant, shared with Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño, and Chris Duesterdiek, acknowledging the survival epic's raw, naturalistic sound design amid harsh wilderness settings.^[45] Most recently, at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025, Thom was nominated for Best Sound on The Wild Robot, shared with Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo, and Leff Lefferts, for the animated film's emotive and ecologically rich sonic palette.^[2] Other notable nominations encompass films like Return of the Jedi (1983, Best Sound), Forrest Gump (1995, Best Sound), and Finding Nemo (2004, Best Sound Editing, shared with Michael Silvers).^[41]

Other Recognitions

Randy Thom received a BAFTA Award for Best Sound for his work on The Revenant in 2016, shared with Lon Bender, Chris Duesterdiek, Martin Hernández, Jon Taylor, and Frank A. Montaño.^[41] He was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Sound for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 2003.^[41] Thom has earned multiple MPSE Golden Reel Awards for outstanding achievement in sound editing. Notable wins include the 2000 award for The Iron Giant, the 2005 award for The Incredibles, and the 2006 award for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.^[46] In 2025, he won the MPSE Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Animation for The Wild Robot, where he served as sound designer, shared with supervising sound editors Brian Chumney and Leff Lefferts, and the sound effects editing team.^[47]^[48] He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Special in 1986 for Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.^[49] Thom also earned a Grammy nomination during his career for contributions to sound engineering.^[1] In 2020, Thom won the César Award for Best Sound for The Wolf's Call (Le Chant du loup), shared with Nicolas Cantin, Thomas Desjonquères, Raphaël Mouterde, and Olivier Goinard.^[50] Thom was honored with the Cinema Audio Society's Career Achievement Award in 2010.^[1] He was also honored with the MPSE Career Achievement Award in 2014, recognizing his lifelong contributions to sound editing and design.^[51]

Legacy and Influence

Impact on the Industry

Randy Thom's emphasis on naturalistic sound design has profoundly influenced industry trends since the 1980s, promoting organic, perspective-driven audio that prioritizes emotional resonance and storytelling over exaggerated effects. At Skywalker Sound, his approach—rooted in field recordings and real-world acoustics, as seen in films like Apocalypse Now (1979) where helicopter sounds evoked character perception—encouraged a shift toward subtle, immersive soundscapes that integrate seamlessly with visuals.^[52]^[4] This philosophy inspired peers within the facility, including collaborators like Ben Burtt and Gary Rydstrom, fostering a collaborative environment where sound designers shared techniques to enhance narrative depth rather than compete with synthetic spectacle.^[6] Beyond Skywalker Sound, Thom's advocacy for sound as an early collaborator in filmmaking—advocating its input during scriptwriting and pre-production—has permeated broader post-production practices, influencing directors and editors to consider audio's role in shaping emotional POV from the outset.^[46] His techniques, such as using breath recordings for robotic characters in The Wild Robot (2024) to achieve a less synthetic feel, continue to exemplify this trend, demonstrating how naturalistic elements can humanize fantastical elements and inspire animators in contemporary animation pipelines.^[33] Thom's pioneering adoption of digital tools further transformed audio workflows, as he was among the first to employ Digidesign's Sound Designer workstation on feature films in the late 1980s, predating Pro Tools and streamlining editing, layering, and mixing processes at Skywalker Sound.^[46] This innovation accelerated the transition to digital post-production norms, enabling more iterative and creative sound integration that became standard by the 1990s and evolved into the efficient, collaborative systems used industry-wide by 2025.^[6] His ongoing contributions, including early involvement in projects like The Wild Robot, underscore how these workflows now support naturalistic design in high-stakes animation and live-action alike.^[33] Thom's enduring impact is evident in his continued recognition within industry forums, such as his featured role in the 2025 Mix Sound for Film & TV panel "INDEPTH Live: A Sound Design Conversation," where he discussed techniques alongside peers like Mark Mangini and Will Files, reinforcing his influence on evolving standards.^[53] Publications and panels frequently cite his work as a benchmark for integrating sound into holistic filmmaking, solidifying his role in shaping post-1980s practices.^[4]

Teaching and Mentorship

Throughout his tenure as Director of Sound Design at Skywalker Sound, Randy Thom has actively mentored emerging sound professionals, particularly through the facility's internship and apprenticeship programs. For instance, in 2012, Thom supervised intern Kim Patrick, who transitioned into an apprenticeship under his guidance alongside re-recording mixer Leff Lefferts, eventually advancing to roles as a supervising sound editor, sound designer, and re-recording mixer on various projects. Similarly, intern Baihui Yang worked directly under Thom, receiving hands-on training during an apprenticeship on a sci-fi film where she honed editorial skills while seated nearby his workstation; this mentorship propelled her to union membership and full-time positions in sound editing. These efforts have contributed to team credits on films such as The Incredibles and Ratatouille, where junior designers under Thom's oversight handled key sound elements, fostering a collaborative environment that emphasizes practical skill-building.^[54] Thom has extended his educational influence through public speaking, workshops, and written contributions that demystify sound design principles. In 2009, he was featured as the sound designer of the month on the platform Designing Sound, where he provided in-depth articles and interviews detailing his techniques, such as integrating natural ambiences into narrative storytelling, inspiring aspiring professionals to prioritize auditory creativity. Earlier examples include a 2012 remote master class for USC's School of Cinematic Arts, in which Thom reviewed student films like Haven's Point and The Chemist in real-time via high-definition video and surround sound, offering feedback that highlighted immersive mixing and effects integration to enhance educational outcomes. More recently, in 2025, Thom participated in panels at the Mix Sound for Film & TV event, discussing sound design techniques for films like Apocalypse Now and the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake with colleagues Mark Mangini and Will Files, as well as an INDAC online conversation, sharing insights on dragon vocalizations and collaborative processes.^[11]^[55]^[56]^[57]^[58] A key aspect of Thom's advocacy for sound education lies in promoting field recording as a foundational practice in training programs, underscoring its role in capturing authentic elements that ground film narratives in reality. At Skywalker Sound, he routinely assigns apprentices to field recording tasks, emphasizing how venturing beyond the studio yields irreplaceable sounds that inform broader design decisions, as seen in his guidance of teams on projects requiring environmental authenticity. This approach, echoed in his workshops and interviews, encourages trainees to integrate on-location audio early in the creative process, enhancing conceptual understanding over synthesized alternatives and contributing to the facility's reputation for nurturing versatile sound artists.^[6]^[4]

References

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Randy Thom - Skysound
Randy Thom is Director of Sound Design at Skywalker Sound, but still spends most of his time working on films. His credits include: Apocalypse Now, ...
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RANDY THOM - SOUND DESIGNER - Motion Picture Editors Guild
I began sound work as a volunteer at a public radio station. My work in collecting and editing sounds for radio pieces led me to think about doing film sound.
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Designing for sound by Randy Thom - FilmSound.org
... Walter Murch had been able to accomplish in the mix of "Apocalypse Now." Well, what was great about that mix began long before anybody got near a dubbing ...Missing: 1975 | Show results with:1975
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Randy Thom — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Randy Thom. Personal Info. Known For Sound. Known Credits 110. Gender Male. Birthday August 21, 1951 (74 years old). Place of Birth Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ...Missing: early life
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Randy Thom Looks Back on 40 Years with Skywalker Sound
Dec 9, 2019 · Randy Thom Looks Back on 40 Years with Skywalker Sound. 12/09/2019 ... I think spending a lot of time as a kid in the forest where I grew up ...
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Randy Thom - Mixonline
Jan 1, 2005 · Originally from Shreveport, La., Thom got his start in the sound business working for the campus radio station at Antioch College in Ohio.
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Looking Back on Formative Days in College Radio - NPR
Jun 30, 2007 · " He just finished the sound for "Ratatouille." Randy Thom says Antioch College was the right nutrient for WYSO's petri dish of creativity.Missing: hobbies | Show results with:hobbies
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Sound Advice: An Interview with Randy Thom
May 3, 2013 · Two-time Academy Award-winning Sound Pioneer Randy Thom discusses the simplicity of great sound design and his process for animated movie The Croods.Missing: childhood Shreveport
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Oscars: Sound Guru Randy Thom on His 20-Year 'Soapbox' and His ...
Nov 18, 2013 · Skywalker Sound's veteran sound designer/rerecording mixer Randy Thom has earned 14 Oscar nominations, winning Academy Awards for The Incredibles and The Right ...
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June's Featured Sound Designer: Randy Thom
Jun 19, 2009 · Randy Thom started his career in radio and music recording before making the transition to film in 1975, when he was hired on Apocalypse Now (1979) as a sound ...
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Randy Thom started his career in radio and music recording before making the transition to film in 1975, when he was hired on Apocalypse Now as a sound effects ...
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Randy Thom - IMDb
Since 1983, Thom has been on staff as a sound designer and mixer at Lucasfilm's Skywalker Sound facility. He is part of a small group of sound designers ...
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Speaker Details: 2025 Mix Sound for Film & TV
Randy Thom is Director of Sound Design at Skywalker Sound, but still spends most of his time working on films. His credits include: Apocalypse Now, ...
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Contender-Randy Thom-sound mixing/editing- Ratatouille - M&E ...
Ratatouille was Thom's third collaboration withdirector Brad Bird. "He and I have a common language now, which makesthings easier. I know automatically what ...<|separator|>
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to talk about their stunning work on the latest animated adventure/tearjerker from DreamWorks Animation, The Wild Robot. A ...
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Oct 2, 2024 · Featuring Chris Sanders - Writer and Director, Randy Thom - Sound Designer, Gary Rizzo - Re-recording Mixer, Leff Lefferts - Re-recording Mixer ...
[17]
Randy Thom Special: Scarface (video game) - Designing Sound
Jun 30, 2009 · Academy Award winner Randy Thom served as lead sound designer, in his first work in the video game space. “Scarface: The World Is Yours will ...
[18]
Scarface: The World Is Yours Video Game Mixed With Hollywood ...
Oct 5, 2006 · The game spent five weeks being mixed in the same way that a Hollywood motion picture is mixed: balancing dialogue, sound effects and music on a ...
[19]
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Apr 19, 2023 · The film's sound designers Jamey Scott and Randy Thom talk about working with actual Mario game sounds supplied by Nintendo, recreating or enhancing those ...
[20]
The Super Mario Bros. Movie - Skysound
Explore Skywalker Sound's work on The Super Mario Bros. Movie, including a ... Randy Thom. Sound Designer · Juan Peralta. Re-recording Mixer · Pete Horner. Re ...
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Cinesonic - Randy Thom (2000) - Philip Brophy
So, if you have a film like Apocalypse Now where you have Walter Murch as one of the picture editors (Walter has been a picture editor on all of the films ...
[22]
Randy Thom: Screenwriting For Sound - A Sound Effect
Jun 18, 2019 · Randy Thom, on why making sound design an integral part of the filmmaking process unlocks enormous storytelling potential:
[23]
Randy Thom: More Confessions Of A Sound Designer | A Sound Effect
Feb 4, 2020 · Here, film sound legend Randy Thom shares insights and hands-on tips from his decades in sound. Written by Randy Thom and reprinted with his kind permission.
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Soundbender: The Aural Adventures of Randy Thom - - CineMontage
Murch must have liked what Thom wrote because he hired him to work on Apocalypse Now, on which Murch was sound designer/re-recording mixer, as well as one of ...
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### Summary of Randy Thom's Sound Design Work on *The Incredibles* (2004)
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Creating the sounds for The Revenant by Woody Woodhall
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[33]
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi credits - Metacritic
Randy Thom; Re-Recording Mixer / production sound. Dennie Thorpe; audio engineer. John Watson; audio engineer. Christopher Weir; Assistant Sound Editor. Matthew ...
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Randy Thom | Television Academy
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Miniseries Or A Special - 1986. Randy Thom. Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. ABC. Click here if you have updates to this page.<|control11|><|separator|>
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Randy Thom Interview - IGN
Jun 30, 2006 · The Oscar-winning sound designer from Skywalker Sound talks Star Wars, Apocolypse Now and the upcoming Scarface videogame.Missing: childhood Shreveport
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Randy Thom Sheds Light on the Sound of 'The Midnight Sky'
Jan 13, 2021 · Sound design legend Randy Thom shares what it took to create the sound for George Clooney's 'The Midnight Sky':
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Randy Thom - TV Guide
Randy Thom · Actor · sound designer · assistant sound designer · sound designer & re-recording mixer · supervising sound designer · re-recording mixer · sound editor.<|control11|><|separator|>
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Awards - Randy Thom - IMDb
Academy Awards, USA ; 2025 Nominee · Best Sound. The Wild Robot ; 2016 Nominee · Best Achievement in Sound Mixing. The Revenant ; 2008 Nominee · Best Achievement in ...
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[PDF] SOUND MIXING FACTS MOST NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS
Randy Thom [1]. 10. Anna Behlmer [0]. 10. Robert Knudson [3]. 10. Michael Semanick [2]. 10. Gary Summers [4]. MOST AWARDS ([#] indicates number of nominations).
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[PDF] SOUND EDITING FACTS MOST NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS
Randy Thom [1]. MOST AWARDS ([#] indicates number of nominations). 3. Ben Burtt [7]. 3. Charles L. Campbell [4]. 3. Per Hallberg [4]. 3. Richard Hymns [9]. 3.
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Awards - Ratatouille (2007) - IMDb
2008 Nominee Oscar. Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures ... Sound Editing/Mixing. Doc Kane · Michael Semanick · Michael Silvers · Randy Thom.
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The 88th Academy Awards | 2016 - Oscars.org
Feb 28, 2016 · Montaño, Randy Thom and Chris Duesterdiek. Nominees. Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio and Stuart Wilson. Visual ...
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The 97th Academy Awards | 2025 - Oscars.org
Sep 5, 2025 · Wicked. Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson and John Marquis. Nominees. The Wild Robot. Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A.
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Randy Thom: 2014 MPSE Career Achievement Award Honoree -
As the director of sound design at Skywalker for the past seven years, Thom still spends the vast majority of his time designing and mixing soundtracks.
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72nd Annual MPSE Golden Reel Awards Nominees & Winners
Feature Animation. The Wild Robot. Universal Pictures. Supervising Sound Editors. Brian Chumney. Leff Lefferts. Sound Designer. Randy Thom MPSE. Sound Effects ...
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2025 Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards Winners List
Feb 23, 2025 · The Wild Robot Universal Pictures Supervising Sound Editors: Brian Chumney, Leff Lefferts Sound Designer: Randy Thom MPSE Sound Effects ...
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Cesar Awards 2020 Winners List in Full - The Hollywood Reporter
Feb 28, 2020 · Best sound honors went to the Wolf's Call team of Nicolas Cantin, Thomas Desjonquères, Raphaël Mouterde, Olivier Goinard and Randy Thom. ...
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Skywalker Sound's Randy Thom To Receive MPSE Lifetime Award
Dec 16, 2013 · Thom is a two-time Academy Award-winner (The Right Stuff, The Incredibles) and a 14-time Oscar nominee. He has contributed to more than 100 ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
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Tales from the Mixing Desk of Skywalker Sound, With Randy Thom
Jul 14, 2021 · After working in radio and music recording, Randy started his *film* career as a sound recordist on Apocalypse Now! In 1984 he was nominated ...Missing: education interests Louisiana<|control11|><|separator|>
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Top Sound Designers to Share Insights at Mix Sound for Film & TV ...
Sep 22, 2025 · ... 2025—has added a new panel, “INDEPTH Live: A Sound Design Conversation featuring Randy Thom, Mark Mangini and Will Files.” The panel is just ...Missing: publications | Show results with:publications
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Sounds Like Family: How Skywalker Sound Has Helped Boost ...
... Skywalker in 2012 in the company's internship program under sound designer Randy Thom and re-recording mixer Leff Lefferts, and was then asked to apprentice ...
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Randy Thom Special: Articles and Interviews - Designing Sound
Jun 30, 2009 · Let's see some interesing interviews and articles by Randy talking about his work, his techniques, and special sound development for several movies and games.Missing: contacted | Show results with:contacted
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Remote Master Class from Skywalker Sound - USC Cinematic Arts
Nov 14, 2012 · Thom, who won Academy Awards for The Right Stuff and The Incredibles, reviewed these projects from his sound design studio at Skywalker Sound ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Mix Sound for Film & TV Agenda
Join INDEPTH Sound Design creator Mike James Gallagher in conversation with Academy Award®-winning sound designer Randy Thom (Apocalypse Now, Forrest Gump, The ...
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VIEW Conference 2025, held October 12-17 in stunning Turin, Italy ...
Oct 7, 2025 · View Conference organized the free online event on Thursday, February 27, 2025 ... Randy Thom will be discussing their work in front of attendees.
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Sounddesigner Randy Thom & Director Shannon Tindle - INDAC
On June 16, 2025, the remarkable sound designer and two time Academy Award winner Randy Thom will be talking with me. I'm extremely interested in learning ...Missing: conferences | Show results with:conferences