Twenty Thousand Hertz Gremlins, War Rigs, & Star Trek Punks
Sep 6, 2023
Mark Mangini, a prolific sound designer with over 150 film credits, joins the podcast to discuss his favorite sonic moments from his career. Topics include the creation of iconic sound effects, the importance of quality sounds in sound design, the origins of lion roars in Poltergeist and The Lion King, the story behind the music selection for Star Trek 4, and legal issues and beloved scenes.
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Dune Sand Worm Sound Creation
- Mark Mangini created the sand worm swallowing sound in Dune by putting a lavalier microphone in his mouth and processing the sound.
- He often makes sounds himself when sound effects are unavailable.
Gremlins Vocal and Animal Blend
- Gremlins' evil creature sounds combined Howie Mandel's voice and animal growls for a seamless effect.
- Mark Dotson's maniacal laugh became iconic, used for gremlin laugh sounds in the film.
Fifth Element ZF-1 Gun Sound
- The ZF-1 gun sound in The Fifth Element was made using motorized metallic sounds plus a kitchen blender.
- The blender added a high-frequency whine to make the rapid fire sound more powerful and threatening.