
Sound
Ben Burtt
Born
1948-07-12 (78)
Place of birth
Jamesville, New York, USA
Known for
Sound
Credits
53 titles
Benjamin "Ben" Burtt, Jr. is a sound designer, film editor, director, screenwriter, and voice actor. He has worked as sound designer on various films, including the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, WALL-E, and Star Trek. He is responsible for creating many of the iconic sound effects heard in the Star Wars film franchise, including the binary speech of R2-D2, the lightsaber hum, the sound of the blaster guns, and the heavy-breathing sound of Darth Vader, which he made by breathing into a scuba regulator. Burtt has a reputation for popularizing a sound effect dubbed the "Wilhelm scream", which was taken from a character named Wilhelm in the 1953 film The Ch…
Known for
8.1After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E— a robot designed to clean up the earth—discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen.
WALL·E
2008
7.9Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.
Return of the Jedi
1983
6.6Anakin Skywalker, a young slave strong with the Force, is discovered on Tatooine. Meanwhile, the evil Sith have returned, enacting their plot for revenge against the Jedi.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999
6.6Following an assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi investigate a mysterious plot into the heart of the Separatist movement and the beginning of the Clone Wars.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002
6.9A special celebrating the origins and legacy of Star Wars' legendary bounty hunter, Boba Fett.
Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett
2021
7.9When George Lucas set out to make Star Wars, little did he know he would end up revolutionizing an industry. This is the story of a team of creative geniuses who put the magic in the movies we love.
LIGHT & MAGIC
2022
Film credits
2020s · 2 titles
6.9A special celebrating the origins and legacy of Star Wars' legendary bounty hunter, Boba Fett.
Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett
2021
NRAn engaging behind-the-scenes documentary short detailing the production of Warner Bros.' Cold War aviation drama Chain Lightning (1950). Produced for Warner Archive, the featurette explores how Hollywood captured the dawn of supersonic flight.
Jet Jockeys in Love: The Making of CHAIN LIGHTNING ('50)
2021
2010s · 9 titles
6.9The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
2019
10.0Actor Martin Sheen narrates this newly produced, feature-length high definition documentary, touching on the film's timelessness and legacy before diving into the story of its development, production and release.
The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
2013
6.8The story of the gold-plated statuette that became the film industry's most coveted prize, AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... traces the history of the Academy itself, which began in 1927 when Louis B. Mayer, then head of MGM, led other prominent members of the industry in forming this professional honorary organization. Two years later the Academy began bestowing awards, which were nicknamed "Oscar," and quickly came to represent the pinnacle of cinematic achievement.
And the Oscar Goes To...
2014
6.5David Prowse is an eighty years old actor, who has lived behind Darth Vader's mask during three decades. A group of Star Wars fans find out why he has been apparently forgotten by Lucasfilm during thirty years, and decide to give him back the glory he never had. This is their last opportunity.
I Am Your Father
2015
7.0A making-of featurette for the first Academy Award winning film "Wings" (1927), with plenty of rare photographs and the participation of William Wellman, Jr.
Wings: Grandeur in the Sky
2012
5.5Documentary on the making of Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" (2012).
Lincoln: An American Journey
2013
8.2Go inside the sound design of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. From the ignition of a lightsaber to the chirp of a porg, Star Wars would not be the same without the brilliant sound design and mixing created by Skywalker Sound.
The Force of Sound
2018
6.7Documentary about the work of film director Michael Curtiz.
Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of
2012
NRFilmmaker George Lucas, spiritual father of the successful Star Wars series decided to invest 40 million dollars to develop a new editing system. From 1983 to 1986 the revolutionary EditDroid system was developed. The EditDroid was the first nonlinear electronic editing system and used several laser disc players loaded with the raw footage of a film. In the spring of 2005 Tom van Klingeren and Bruce Gray (both editors and instructors on filmmaking at the University of Amsterdam) went to Marin county in the United States in search of the lost history of the EditDroid. They visited the editors who had worked on the system in the 1980's and 90's. They made a return journey to the Skywalker Ranch with the now retired coordinator of the EditDroid project. At the ranch they explored the archives of Lucas' production company in search of the last EditDroid.
EditDroid: Rise and Fall
2014
2000s · 21 titles
8.1After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E— a robot designed to clean up the earth—discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen.
WALL·E
2008
6.6Following an assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi investigate a mysterious plot into the heart of the Separatist movement and the beginning of the Clone Wars.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002
7.5What lengths will a robot undergo to do his job? BURN·E is a dedicated hard working robot who finds himself locked out of his ship. BURN·E quickly learns that completing a simple task can often be a very difficult endeavor.
BURN·E
2008
7.6From the earliest versions of the script to the blockbuster debuts, explore the creation of the Star Wars Trilogy.
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy
2004
6.8For Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), there were to be many more visual effects than in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). This documentary shows many VFX meetings between George Lucas and ILM. Many of these meetings focus around the creation of a completely digital Yoda, used for the first time in the Star Wars films.
From Puppets to Pixels: The Making of Star Wars Episode II
2002
7.2This documentary offers a glimpse into all the people, departments, and work that went into creating the film, specifically, the fight between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Featured on the 2-Disc DVD for Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
Within a Minute: The Making of Star Wars Episode III
2005
8.5Fog City Mavericks: The Filmmakers of San Francisco is a compelling exploration of the legendary filmmakers who call the San Francisco Bay Area home including George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Chris Columbus and producer Saul Zaentz. The special weaves interviews, commentaries and unforgettable moments from some of the most visionary movies ever created such as American Graffiti, the Star Wars film series, the Indiana Jones film series, The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, Toy Story, The Incredibles, Lost in Translation, Flags of Our Fathers and many others. It also features interviews with those who have worked with Bay Area mavericks: Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, Anthony Minghella, Milos Forman and Frank Darabont.
Fog City Mavericks
2007
6.7Mockumentary telling the never before told life story of the fictional robot R2-D2 from the Star Wars film series. The movie was made as a fun project by the cast and crew of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Using interviews, fake archive photos, film clips, and behind the scenes footage the "true" story was told of Artoo's life.
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome
2001
8.8A VH1 television special wherein the cast discuss the making of the films and what made the franchise a phenomenon.
When Star Wars Ruled the World
2004
5.0A Biography of George Lucas.
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
2002
8.0The astonishing story of the genesis, production, worldwide success, and legacy of King Kong (1933), directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, a landmark of cinema, one of the most influential motion pictures in history.
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”
2008
4.7Documentary film exploring the making, and legacy of 'Forbidden Planet'
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
2006
7.0Short vignettes featured as a DVD Extra Short.
WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets
2008
6.5Current filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflect on the importance and influence of the epic classic "Ben-Hur".
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
2005
6.2Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking 2001: A Space Odyssey opened the door to all the films and filmmakers who followed it. Through interviews with directors such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Sydney Pollack - as well as special effects professionals and cultural historians - this documentary examines the legacy of Kubrick's masterpiece and its influence on science fiction films, special effects and world cinema.
Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001
2007
6.0Documentary breaking down the planning of the film's set pieces particularly the aerial car chase, conveyor-belt fight and climactic Clone War battle.
State of the Art: The Pre-Visualization of 'Episode II'
2002
6.0Ben Burtt reveals which sounds he and his team at Skywalker Sound recorded to incorporate into the Indiana Jones trilogy.
The Sound of 'Indiana Jones'
2003
Film historians, and survivors from the nearly 30-year struggle to bring sound to motion pictures take the audience from the early failed attempts by scientists and inventors, to the triumph of the talkies.
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
2007
7.0Documentary short film about Robby the Robot; a $125,000 engineering marvel that advanced cinematic robotics and went on to become a film star & pop culture icon in its own right
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
2006
6.0Ben Burtt and his team explain the process of creating the sound for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) in the all-new documentary "Films Are Not Released, They Escape".
Films Are Not Released, They Escape
2002
8.0Building Worlds From the Sound Up
Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up
2008
1990s · 3 titles
6.6Anakin Skywalker, a young slave strong with the Force, is discovered on Tatooine. Meanwhile, the evil Sith have returned, enacting their plot for revenge against the Jedi.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999
7.4A behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Steven Spielberg's 1982 film "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial."
The Making of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'
1996
8.0Host Howie Long takes viewers on a tour of the "Star Wars" universe, as Fox TV celebrates the re-release of the original three legendary films in this one hour special.
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
1997
1980s · 5 titles
7.9Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.
Return of the Jedi
1983
8.2Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
1980
7.4From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga is a 1983 television documentary special that originally aired on PBS. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the original Star Wars trilogy, with particular emphasis on the final film, Return of the Jedi. Narrated by actor Mark Hamill, the documentary was written by Richard Schickel who had written the previous television documentaries The Making of Star Wars (1977) and SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
1983
8.0Even the most devout Star Wars fan might not know that filmmaker and journalist Michel Parbot was once given unprecedented access to the set, stars, and filmmakers behind The Empire Strikes Back. The resulting work, The Making of The Empire Strikes Back, has apparently never been commercially released. Most of the footage has been lost, but 15 minutes has circulated online in recent years. Now, the 1 hour cut of Michel Parbot’s lost documentary has been found.
The Making of The Empire Strikes Back
1980
7.3BBC documentary. Witness John Williams composing the legendary score for The Empire Strikes Back and conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.
Star Wars: Music by John Williams
1980
Series credits
7.9When George Lucas set out to make Star Wars, little did he know he would end up revolutionizing an industry. This is the story of a team of creative geniuses who put the magic in the movies we love.
LIGHT & MAGIC
2022
7.9When George Lucas set out to make Star Wars, little did he know he would end up revolutionizing an industry. This is the story of a team of creative geniuses who put the magic in the movies we love.
LIGHT & MAGIC
2022
Behind the camera
6.2C-3PO and R2-D2 are on their way to Biitu to meet their new master, Mungo Baobab, when their ship is attacked and they are taken prisoner. Biitu has been taken over by the giant mechanical Great Heep who works with the Empire, enslaving the natives by using droid enforcers and draining R2 units to keep up his strength. Meanwhile Mungo has been imprisoned to be handed over to his arch enemy Admiral Screed.
Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep
1986
6.0Working with the French Secret Service, Indy joins the legendary Lafayette Escadrille flying unit and embarks on dangerous airborne reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. A run-in with German Ace Manfred von Richthofen leads to a death-defying dogfight that leaves Indy grounded and hot-in-pursuit of German aircraft designer Anthony Fokker. Undercover in hostile enemy territory, Indy discovers that the Germans possess a remarkable secret weapon that could change the course of the war and he resolves to bring news of it back to the Allies...if he doesn't destroy it first.
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen
1995
6.0Working with the French Secret Service, Indy joins the legendary Lafayette Escadrille flying unit and embarks on dangerous airborne reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. A run-in with German Ace Manfred von Richthofen leads to a death-defying dogfight that leaves Indy grounded and hot-in-pursuit of German aircraft designer Anthony Fokker. Undercover in hostile enemy territory, Indy discovers that the Germans possess a remarkable secret weapon that could change the course of the war and he resolves to bring news of it back to the Allies...if he doesn't destroy it first.
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen
1995
6.1From the unique vantage point of 200 miles above Earth's surface, we see how natural forces - volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes - affect our world, and how a powerful new force - humankind - has begun to alter the face of the planet. From Amazon rain forests to Serengeti grasslands, Blue Planet inspires a new appreciation of life on Earth, our only home.
Blue Planet
1990
7.1Travel alongside the astronauts as they deploy and repair the Hubble Space Telescope, soar above Venus and Mars, and find proof of new planets and the possibility of other life forming around distant stars.
Destiny in Space
1994
10.0They fixed the World Series. They built Las Vegas. They terrorized America with their vicious murders and fearless robberies. They are men named Bugsy Siegel, Al Capone, John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Lucky Luciano. And, for the first time, THE AMERICAN GANGSTER tells the true story behind their ruthless rise to wealth and power. Filled with vintage film and actual photographs, THE AMERICAN GANGSTER is a gripping look at the birth of organized crime. From prohibition to prostitution, from gangland massacres to gambling empires, their most infamous deeds are chronicled in shocking detail. Even more explosive than the movies they inspired, such as Scarface and The Godfather, are the true histories of the brilliant, brutal gangsters who turned the American Dream into an ongoing nightmare.
The American Gangster
1992
10.0An IMAX production that explores the ground-breaking special effects portrayed in Hollywood films from the very originals to the breathtaking special effects in movies today. Takes the audience on a "behind the scenes" look into what goes on during the production of a movie and how the special effects are created.
Special Effects: Anything Can Happen
1996
8.0As the first major land battle of the American Civil War, the First Battle of Manassas, fought on July 21, 1861, shocked a nation expecting a short and easy conflict. Thirteen months later, Northern and Southern armies clashed again in the Second Battle of Manassas, a far larger battle that signaled the ascendancy of Confederate military prowess under the leadership of Robert E. Lee. With its narrative sweep and stunning imagery, Manassas: End of Innocence offers audiences a glimpse into the lives of soldiers and civilians enmeshed in the turmoil of war. Shot on location in Manassas National Battlefield Park and within the surrounding community, the film showcases such landmark features of the battlefield landscape as the Stone House and the Stone Bridge over Bull Run and recreates key scenes from both battles.
Manassas: End of Innocence
2002
6.8Morgan Freeman narrates this documentary that explores the 54th Massachusetts regiment that is the basis of the motion picture, "Glory".
The True Story of Glory Continues
1991
NRMaking of documentary for the King Kong segment of the in the 1996 IMAX movie 'Special Effects: Anything Can Happen', featuring stop-motion animation created by the late great David Allen.
Behind the Scenes with King Kong in Special Effects
1996
