Episode 23: Reimagining Sound Design for a Contemporary Musical (Interview with Gary Rydstrom)

In this episode, Dr. Vanessa Theme Ament, author of The Foley Grail and Foley Artist on such films as Die Hard, Platoon, and Predator, converses with Sound Designer and Re-recording Mixer Gary Rydstrom about his work on Director Steven Spielberg's adaptation of a Broadway musical and classic film, 2021's West Side Story. Vanessa and Gary share their insights and thoughts on the magic of sound in musicals focusing on the updated and reimagined version of West Side Story. Gary reveals how the immersive art and precise craft of sound design helped transform the world of West Side Story into a grounded reality and elevated the emotional authenticity of this story for the audience. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Performative Film Sound.