What the heck is sound mixing, and why does somebody get an Oscar for it?

Four of this year’s nominees sat down with TheWrap awards editor Steve Pond to explain tricks of the trade — as well as some secrets about some of last year’s most high-profile movies.

For those who don’t know, sound mixers oversee recording of a movie’s sound both on set and in postproduction with added sound effects that lend a greater authenticity. (Sound editors handle the overall soundtrack.)

Also Read: Why Chris Rock Is the Right Oscar Host at the Right Moment

“Fundamentally what we do is storytelling,” Randy Thom, one of four nominees for “The Revenant,” explained.

On Alejandro G. Inarritu’s film, Thom said, “The biggest challenge was probably the bear sequence. It was clear that that sequence was what the whole story was going to hinge on.”

For Gregg Rudloff, a nominee for “Mad Max: Fury Road,” variety was key given the nature of George Miller‘s movie. “At its core, it’s a chase movie. It’s one long chase,” he said. “We needed to keep an ever-evolving soundtrack.”

Also Read: Daisy Ridley, Michael B. Jordan Join List of Oscars Presenters

Christopher Scarabosio, a nominee for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” revealed a surprise about the sound during the fateful encounter between Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) — the work of one of the film’s lead sound editors, David Acord.

“The base of Kylo Ren’s Force sound is his cat purring,” Scarabosio said.

The sound mixers acknowledged that most moviegoers probably don’t understand what they do — or the difference between THX or Atmos or the latest in sound design technology. “Going back, I think there’s an awareness of a quality, hopefully,” said Andy Nelson, a nominee for both “Bridge of Spies” and “The Force Awakens.”

Who's Boycotting Oscars So Far - And Who's Just Mad (Photos)

Spike Lee

The director has refused to attend this year's Academy Awards because no people of color were nominated. "How is it possible for the 2nd consecutive year all 20 contenders under the actor category are white? And let’s not even get into the other branches. 40 white actors in 2 years and no flava at all. We can’t act?! WTF!!” he tweeted.
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Jada Pinkett Smith

The actress -- whose husband, Will Smith, was snubbed for Best Actor for "Concussion" -- pondered on social media whether people of color should participate in the Oscars at all. “At the Oscars, people of color are always welcomed to give out awards, even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments.
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Will Smith

The actor announced that he will not be attending this year’s Oscars ceremony in support of the boycott proposed by wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

"At this current time, we’re uncomfortable to stand there and say, ‘This is OK,'" he said.
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David Oyelowo

The actor, while presenting a King Legacy Award to Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, pointed out that this is the second year in a row the Academy has failed to nominate a single non-white actor. "For 20 opportunities to celebrate actors of color, actresses of color, to be missed last year is one thing; for that to happen again this year is unforgivable.”
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Michael Moore

The filmmaker told TheWrap that he plans to join the boycott, and said "I thought about this all day, and I don’t plan to go to the show, I don’t plan to watch it and I don’t plan to go to an Oscar party."
Will Packer

The "Straight Outta Compton" producer called the situation "embarrassing" in a lengthy social media post. “To my Academy colleagues, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. Period."
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Chris Rock

The actor-director, who will host the Academy Awards on February 28, made light of the controversy. He tweeted a new Oscars promo along with the caption “The #Oscars. The White BET Awards.”
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Tyrese Gibson

The “Furious 7” star called on Academy Awards host Chris Rock to pull out of the ceremony after no people of color were nominated in its 20 acting categories. He also went into more detail on social media, saying if the situation involved the under-representation of LGBT nominees, there is no question things would be different.
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Don Cheadle

The actor joined the discussion Sunday by tweeting at Chris Rock, saying he’ll be “parking cars” at the Hollywood & Highland complex the night of the ceremony.
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Whoopi Goldberg

"The View" host tore into the lack of diversity during Tuesday's episode: “We have this conversation every year and it pisses me off."
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BET Founder Bob Johnson

Johnson didn't just blame Oscar voters for the lack of diversity among this year's nominees, he told TheWrap studios must greenlight more diverse projects. He also implored African Americans to tell their own stories rather than depend on the Hollywood establishment.

"If you’re the African-American society and you wait for white America to say ‘I’m gonna tell your stories,’ first of all, they don’t know them or appreciate them, and second of all, that is not in their DNA,” he said.
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Mark Ruffalo

The "Hulk" actor told BBC Breakfast that he is "weighing" taking part in the Oscar boycott, stating that "the entire American system is rife with white privilege racism. It goes into our justice system.” He later took to Twitter to clarify his statements, in which he said that he will be attending the awards "in support of the victims of clergy Sexual Abuse and good journalism."
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Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson said his organization will "launch a nationwide 'TV Tune Out' of the Oscars ceremony, February 28. This will send the message that diversity in the film industry must be more than a hollow promise."
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Al Sharpton’s National Action Network

Al Sharpton’s civil rights organization is calling for a boycott of this year’s Oscars. “The lack of African Americans and women excluded from the major categories of Oscar nominees is appalling,” the chapter’s political director, Najee Ali said in a statement. “Cheryl Boone Issacs, the African-American president of the academy, is nothing but a pawn, and the black face of Hollywood’s system and culture that is racist, sexist and lacks true diversity.”
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