iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If you told me a year ago that a low budget film that I was about to work on was going to be so popular that a sing-a-long version would come out, I would’ve thought you were crazy. And here we are 🤣 Go experience BUDDY in theaters & sing loud & proud!

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Hey fellow Soundies! A few months ago I came across a post about a plug-in that can oscillate the parameters of other plugins. For example make Fab-Filter ProQ4 have rhythmic rises & drops at a certain frequency. I can’t remember the name of it. Any ideas?

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

For the sound design in “Buddy” we took inspiration from the sounds of classic movie musicals like “The Wizard of Oz” & “Oklahoma” for the ambiences outside of the park. A radical change from the minimalist soundscape in the “It’s Buddy” episodes. (Continued)

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Time to experience BUDDY with an audience!

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The dark, absurdist horror comedy BUDDY is out in movie theaters this weekend. This story comes from the brain of Casper Kelly of “Too Many Cooks” fame. I don’t get to work on films like this very often; something so bizarre, unhinged & unconventional

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I experienced this film last week & I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s absolutely one of my favorites of 2026

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I know that many of you have strong feelings about generative AI. This is a call to action to put some regulations in place. Take a look & share if you care. Save the arts from generative AI - Sign the Petition! c.org/nrD2SMm7Jt

c.org

Sign the Petition

Save the arts from generative AI

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Reposted by Mac Smith

Nick Tierce @nicktierce.com · 24/07/2026

A selection of episodes from STAR WARS DETOURS, George Lucas's final, unreleased Star Wars project, will screen at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

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Reposted by Mac Smith

Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 22/07/2026

Hollywood’s storied Cinerama Dome will soon be open for business again. Read more: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

This is an EXCELLENT episode! I know Jason & Gabe have wanted to chat with Ben for many years. Careful what you wish for… it may just come true someday

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Buddy is coming to your neighborhood in 5 weeks. Aren’t you excited kids?!?! I had a thing or two to do with the sound on this one. Buckle up

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Reposted by Mac Smith

Blast Points @blastpoints.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

TUESDAY! The Great Heep 40th anniversary continues as Star Wars legend BEN BURTT joins us to discuss writing the episode and so much more! This is one you’re not going to want to miss and it’ll be available everywhere podcasts are on Tuesday!

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Randy Thom helped me get my start in film sound. I’m thrilled to see that he’s teaming up with Mike James Gallagher. I tell filmmakers about the importance of involving sound artists from the start. Randy’s essay is the foundation for this. Spread the word. www.indepthsound.com/damfs

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I love BUDDY, yes I do I’m the proud sound designer of this absolutely crazy film Coming to a big screen, with big sound, near you on August 28th

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Reposted by Mac Smith

Peter Ramsey @pramsey342.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Storyboard artists, often closest and most integral to realizing a director's vision, are a relatively cheap part of the process. Often their role is disparaged, or not even understood. And yet one of the main goals of AI in film production seems to be to replicate what they do.

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Here’s a photo of Gatenn Matarazzo witnessing how much sound editing we had to do in a limited amount of time for PIZZA MOVIE. Sound design, foley, dialogue, ADR, & music all had to be edited precisely for successful comedic timing

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Reposted by Mac Smith

Blast Points @blastpoints.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Back in 2018, we did a whole episode celebrating the incredible contributions the late Marcia Lucas made to Star Wars and beyond. Check it out here on Apple Podcasts : podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

I’m so glad that I met Marcia Lucas 3 years ago. She was very kind to me & @actuallybrandon.bsky.social when we asked for a photo with her. There need to be more books written about her influence on the original trilogy films & Skywalker Ranch. Rest in peace

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

This past weekend I was a speaker at ANIMATED! A 2 day master class hosted by @aaronblaiseart.bsky.social in LA. I gave a talk about getting sound involved at the story stage; not letting it be an afterthought. I received enthusiastic responses from many attendees. It was encouraging

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

In 4 days I’ll be on stage at the Wilshire-Ebell theatre in LA along with over 2 dozen presenters. Come learn about the the whole animation pipeline. I’ll be talking about sound as storytelling and how that applies to animation. Hope to see you there!

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go last night, but the new LeAndre Thomas short film THIS IS PRIVATE, had its Bay Area premiere at the Lucasfilm theater at LDAC. It’s a special film & I hope people get to experience it soon. Tony Villaflor, Andrea Gard & I did the sound

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

You’re not ready for BUDDY. I’m the proud sound designer of this absurdist horror film directed by Casper Kelly. Experience it only in theaters in September, courtesy of Roadside Attractions & Saban Films

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Have you ever wanted to know how to make an animated film? Learn from 20+ top animation artists, including me, May 23 & 24. This in person master class will take you through the entire animation pipeline. Tickets on sale now for this Los Angeles event creatureartteacher.com/animated-mas...

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I'll be speaking at this 2 day animation event in May in LA. Learn about animation from concept to distribution with legends: John Musker, Ron Clements, Pam Coats, Peter Ramsey, & many more. I'll be speaking about sound (of course). Hope to see you there! creatureartteacher.com/animated-mas...

creatureartteacher.com

ANIMATION! Master Class - May 23rd - 24th

Tickets On Sale! 2 Days of Art & Animation Education

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Here’s a clip of the sound design I created for the start of the “drug phase” for Pizza Movie. This is the one you hear right before the “No Bad Words” phase begins. I love challenges like this where you can go in so many different directions

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Pizza Movie has been released for the world to see (and hear)! This movie is ridiculous from top to bottom and it was so much fun for our Skywalker Sound team to collaborate on a crazy comedy with BriTANicK! 🧵(1/4)

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

I just wrote a @mpeg700.bsky.social letter: Keep Post in California Alive! The legislation would support productions that complete sound, foley, picture editing, music recording/ mixing & VFX in CA. This is a critical moment for industry support Write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/keep...

actionnetwork.org

Keep Post Alive: Pass a CA Post-Production Tax Incentive

Assemblymember Nick Schultz has authored AB-2319, a bill that would create a tax incentive to stimulate post-production employment in California. Write to the Assembly's Arts Committee to make your vo...

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Today I got to experience Kabe’s Oasis for the first time. It was everything I anticipated & so much more. I’m thankful to have such super cool Star Wars friends. Thank you @halfmoth.bsky.social & @hollyfrey.bsky.social!!!

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Reposted by Mac Smith

Tim Prebble HISSandaROAR @hissandaroar.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Shredding gaffer tape & sellotape for #soundfx - new HISSandaROAR MiniFX Library released: FX033 100K STICKY TAPE recorded 192kHz with Sanken CUX100K mics www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzGW... #sounddesign #gameaudio

youtube.com

HISSandaROAR FX033 100K STICKY TAPE

YouTube video by tim prebble

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Are you a fan of Francis Coppola, Walter Murch, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and/or David Lynch? Have you seen the documentary film "Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound" that they all appear in? If not, you are missing out. It's available to stream on Peacock and Tubi

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

So many things had to go right (& wrong) with the making of this film for me to end up where I am today. If GWL hadn't gone over budget & hadn’t had to negotiate with Fox for the merchandising , there would be no Skywalker Ranch. It's where I've worked for the last 25 years (Skywalker Sound)

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Good friends of mine are shooting a short film in Missoula, Montana in a couple of months & they're looking for local actors. Here's the link to the casting call... www.spacedreamproductions.com/comic-relief Please spread the word!

spacedreamproductions.com

Comic Relief: Coming Soon — Space Dream Productions

Big Sky Grant recipient, and backed by a fiscal sponsorship through the Utah Film Center, "Comic Relief" is a feature film in development by Space Dream Productions. A 40-something children's party ...

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Today is the Netflix release of “The Plastics Detox” documentary. I’m the proud sound designer & this is the second film that I got to be a part of with filmmaker Louis Psihoyos. We previously collaborated together on “The Game Changers” (1/3)

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I had the honor of working with a very sound driven filmmaker recently & her film is screening at @sxsw. Vera Miao & I started collaborating early on the vocals of the creature for ROCK SPRINGS. This preliminary sound design helped inform the picture cut 🧵 (1/3)

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

I recently posted about how within the film industry, sound is primarily treated as an afterthought. This statement resonated with people, but many misunderstood the message. While capturing the best production sound on set and/or location is very important... (1/2)

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Here’s an interesting video essay “How Eraserhead Changed Sound Forever. The great Alan Splet was a sonic master & one of David Lynch’s great friends youtu.be/euB80Y4W7F0

youtu.be

How Eraserhead Changed Sound Forever

YouTube video by Auteur Cinema

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Sound is typically an afterthought because it’s misunderstood. It’s one of the most powerful tools in storytelling. It’s never too early to think about it. Make room at the table for your sound collaborators in pre production. 👇from Oscar winning sound designer, Randy Thom

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

I’m the proud sound designer & supervising sound editor for this important documentary. The Plastics Detox is really eye opening. A big thanks to re-recording mixer Chris Barnett & the rest of my Skywalker Sound team for their excellent contributions youtu.be/Esd8PEWlt9w?...

youtu.be

The Plastic Detox | Official Trailer | Netflix

YouTube video by Netflix

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

I love slowing down sound recordings. They can become something so completely different & mesmerizing

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Pretty crazy that not one, not two, but THREE movies that I sound designed are playing at #SXSW2026 Pizza Movie, Rock Springs, and Buddy

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Here’s a peek behind the gates of Skywalker Ranch & Skywalker Sound; my work home for the past 25 & a 1/2 years. I do not take it for granted that I get to be creative in a truly magical place medium.com/@SkywalkerSo...

medium.com

Sonic Storytelling: Go Beyond the Gates of Skywalker Ranch to the Heart of Skywalker Sound

Hidden among rolling hills and redwoods, George Lucas’s visionary retreat redefines what filmmaking can be: a creative refuge where words…

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

I’m the proud sound designer of ROCK SPRINGS. This was a creatively challenging story for sound. It’s a delicate ghost story with many sparse moments. Jeff King was my sonic partner & he built an incredible sound mix to support the story & the emotion

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Here’s an excellent article about the highly creative work that my colleagues did for the film “F1”. It gets under the hood & reveals the details that go into an elaborate sound job. They just received an Oscar nomination I didn’t work on this film. I’m just cheering for them from the grandstand

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Casper Kelly’s film BUDDY premieres tonight at #Sundance. I was the supervising sound editor & sound designer on it. I’m very curious what the initial reactions will be. Let me know if you are checking it out tonight or if you hear anything. Inquiring minds want to know!

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Reposted by Mac Smith

Peter Albrechtsen @lydrummet.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Today I heard a great description of film sound: The image is the body of a movie The sound is the soul of a movie ❤️🔊

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Mac Smith @giganticcranium.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Don’t get me wrong, I love John Williams’ STAR WARS score, but the sound design in Galaxy’s Edge makes it feel real & immersive. The subtle details in the soundscape bring it to life. IMHO, this is a mistake to switch to constant music in Batuu

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