Introduction
David Randall Thoms (born 1951 in Shreveport, Louisiana ) is a sound designer, and the current Director of Sound Design at Skywalker Sound.
Career
Thom started his career with a spontaneous walk-in on the stereo mix session of American Graffiti. Thom introduced himself to Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, and Mark Berger. He simply stated, "Hi, I'm Randy. I've been working for a radio station in Berkeley, and I want to work in film sound."
It was at this point that Murch gave Thom a chance to sit in on a few mix sessions. He would go on to work his first sound job for Apocalypse Now. His second sound job would prove to be a strong turn in his career, as he assisted Ben Burtt in the Sound Effects Recording for The Empire Strikes Back.
In February 2010, Thom was honored with the Cinema Audio Society Career Achievement Award.
In 2013 he joined the International Samobor Film Music Festival as a board member.
In 2014 Thom received the prestigious MPSE Career Achievement Award at the 2014 Golden Reel Awards Gala in Los Angeles.
Awards
Academy Awards
- 2005 – Best Sound Editing, The Incredibles
- 1984 – Best Sound, The Right Stuff
Nominations
- 2016 – Best Sound Mixing, The Revenant
- 2008 – Best Sound, Ratatouille
- 2008 – Best Sound Editing, Ratatouille
- 2005 – Best Sound Editing, The Polar Express
- 2005 – Best Sound Mixing, The Polar Express
- 2005 – Best Sound Mixing, The Incredibles
- 2001 – Best Sound Mixing, Cast Away
- 1997 – Best Sound Mixing, Contact
- 1995 – Best Sound Effects Editing, Forrest Gump
- 1995 – Best Sound, Forrest Gump
- 1992 – Best Sound, Backdraft
- 1984 – Best Sound, Never Cry Wolf
- 1984 – Best Sound, Return of the Jedi
Honorary awards
- 2010 Cinema Audio Society Career Achievement Honoree.