10 Under The Radar Talents Who Made Cinema Awesome

9. Ben Burtt (Sound Designer)

Sound is one of the most overlooked aspects of filmmaking, and usually it's hard to even notice the subtleties unless something goes very wrong. Yet, the difference between good Sound Design and bad Sound Design is often the difference between a good movie and a great one, even if most viewers don't even really notice. One of the most well-known sound designers is Ben Burtt. Although he has worked as a screenwriter, director, and editor, he is most well-known for his iconic sound work on the Star Wars Trilogy, where he personally developed many of the sounds, including the distinct hum of the lightsaber, and R2-D2's beep's and whistles. In addition to his immeasurable contributions to Star Wars, he also was responsible for the sounds of E.T and Wall-E among many others. Ben Burtt is an excellent example of how all the iconic sounds we hear in the movies don't usually come from big names everyone knows about, but from someone who puts in hours upon hours of work on some of the smallest and seemingly insignificant details that nevertheless have a huge impact on the finished project.