Ben Osmo

Ben Osmo is a sound mixer from Australia. The veteran sound mixer has been awarded many prestigious awards like the honorary Australian Centenary Medal (2001). The three times AACTA Award nominee for Best Sound won it for Dead Calm (1989).

One of the most important among all these is the Academy Award for Best Sound, which he got for the film Mad Max Fury Road, at the 88th Academy Awards. Chris Jenkins Chris Jenkins is an American sound mixing artist. >> Read More... and Gregg Rudloff Gregg Rudloff is an American Re-recording Mixer. G >> Read More... were two of the other sound mixing artists to have won the award alongside him.

Some of his other well-known works include Strictly Ballroom (1991), The Boys are Back (2009), The Black Balloon (2008). Peter Pan (2003), Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001) and Babe: Pig in the City (1998). When asked about the experience in the film that got him an Oscar, Mad Max: Fury Road, Ben said that as the name suggests Mad Max: Fury Road, is a downright insane and maniacal pursuit in car set in a post-apocalyptic film set in a desert.

And which place can be as appropriate as Namibia, Africa to depict a post-apocalyptic scene? The film depicts a War Lord’s chase across the harsh and sandy terrain in a desperate, cry to free himself from his ruthless henchman.

So, as the movie script demands high-speed scenes, the sound mixer took on the challenge, the challenge to get every bit of dialogue and sound as clearly as possible. From sticking out from a car running at around 80-90 mph across the desert to using innovative thinking and tech.

When he realized that tailing a whole troop of cars darting at such high speed is going to be difficult. He took on to a 4X4 vehicle instead of the traditional sound carts used for movies. Then he fit all SSD 788T mics (a type of high-end mic) on the 4X4.

Using the high-end mic was a massive relief as during the six-month production they never fell behind neither did they have to shoot retakes. The entire film was quite technical and the whole team used to jump in their 4X4 and go for another 5,6 or 7 miles, after a take.

Then again set up all the technical instruments for the other take (sounds quite tiring doesn’t it?). Well, it was all due to the efforts of Ben and the entire sound team that the film became such a huge hit. Ben Osmo is currently working for the sound department in the upcoming film Alien: Covenant. Where he shows some more of his understanding and technical knowledge of his craft. Currently aged 65, he lives on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.