SILVER

A Conversation with Oscar®-Winning Sound Designer Ben Burtt
Moderated by Randy Haberkamp, Executive Vice President of Library, Archive and Sci-Tech, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Oscar®-winning sound mixer, designer and editor Ben Burtt will participate in an on-stage Q&A about his motion picture career featuring excerpts from many of the iconic films on which he worked. Burtt will discuss the inspiration and creation of the sound and voice effects that have become iconic in American cinema, including the voice of WALL-E, the sounds of the lightsaber and Darth Vader's breathing from STAR WARS, and the crack of Indiana Jones' whip.

Burtt received a Special Achievement Oscar® for the creation of the alien, creature and robot voices featured in STAR WARS (1977) and for Sound Effects Editing for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981). He also won Oscars® for Sound Effects Editing for E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982) and INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989) and earned nominations in the Sound Mixing category for RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) and INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE; in Sound Effects Editing for RETURN OF THE JEDI and STAR WARS: EPISODE I – THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999); and for Sound Editing and Sound Mixing for WALL-E (2008).

Followed by:
THE PHANTOM EMPIRE: CHAPTER 1 (1935)
Introduction by sound designer Ben Burtt
THE PHANTOM EMPIRE is the only science-fiction western serial with songs, as popular singing cowboy Gene Autry (playing himself in his first starring role) discovers an advanced civilization exists below his ranch. He is assisted by young sidekicks Frankie (veteran child performer Frankie Darro) and Betsy (14-year-old champion trick rider Betsy King Ross). This film from Poverty Row stalwart Mascot Pictures holds up well against the later, more elaborate FLASH GORDON (1936) and BUCK ROGERS (1939) serials, with clever special effects, lots of action and a likeable performance by Autry. While the film has been available for years in poor quality copies, we are proud to show a new 35mm restoration from nitrate elements including the original camera negative. DIR Otto Brower, B. Reeves Eason; SCR Wallace MacDonald, Gerald Geraghty, Hy Freedman, Maurice Geraghty; PROD Nat Levine. U.S., 1935, b&w, 30 min. NOT RATED
DCP from the Library of Congress.

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No AFI Member passes accepted.