Skywalker Sound and the challenges of making audio for VR films

Lauded Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, best known for his work on movies such as Birdman and The Revenant, last year nabbed a "special" Oscar award for his VR exhibition Carne y Arena. The virtual reality project,...

Meet the Oscar-nominated sound designers behind Kylo’s lightsaber

Skywalker Sound is home to Star Wars. From the first movie in 1977 to episode VII in 2015, the sound effects for the entire saga have been shaped and mixed within the red-bricked walls of George Lucas' audio post-production facility. The award-winnin...

From ‘Halo’ to Miles Davis: One woman’s life behind the scenes

A long, winding drive through Lucas Valley leads to the wooden gates of Skywalker Ranch. Inside George Lucas' exclusive estate, well-manicured gardens blend in with the sweeping wilderness of California's Marin County. Past an empty baseball field an...