Independence Day at 30: The Sound Behind the Blockbuster | Bernard Weiser & Mark Lanza | VFF 2026

🎬 INDEPENDENCE DAY TURNS 30!
Thirty years after Independence Day became one of the defining blockbusters of the 1990s, we're going behind the scenes to explore something that helped make the movie unforgettable — its sound.
In this special Janette's TV Podcast episode from the Vaughan International Film Festival (VFF) 2026 International Screenings – Block 1, Janette Burke sits down with two highly accomplished Hollywood sound professionals, Mark Lanza and Bernard Weiser, to explore the art, technology and storytelling behind cinematic sound.
🎧 Mark Lanza, MPSE is an award-winning Supervising Sound Editor and Sound Designer whose career includes work on Independence Day, Natural Born Killers, True Lies, Starship Troopers, Homeland and Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams. A BAFTA winner for JFK, Mark is also a former two-term President of the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) and continues to serve on its Board of Directors.
Mark worked on Independence Day as a sound designer, making the movie's 30th anniversary in 2026 a perfect opportunity to revisit the craftsmanship behind its massive explosions, alien technology, spacecraft, action sequences and unforgettable sonic world.
🎬 Bernard Weiser is an acclaimed Sound Supervisor, Sound Designer, Dialogue Editor and Sound Effects Editor whose credits span major film and television productions including Schindler's List, The Hurt Locker, IT, American Hustle, True Detective, Law & Order: SVU, Ted Lasso and Ferrari.
Bernard is President of the Entertainment Industry Professionals Mentoring Alliance (EIPMA) and also teaches Sound Design at UCLA.
Together, Bernard and Mark take us into an area of filmmaking audiences rarely get to experience firsthand — the extraordinary work that happens behind the sound.
We discuss:
🎬 The 30th anniversary of Independence Day
🎧 Mark's experiences working on the blockbuster
👽 Creating the sonic world of science-fiction
💥 How explosions, spacecraft and action sequences are brought to life through sound
🎥 How sound changes the way we experience a scene
🔊 Sound supervision, design, dialogue and sound effects
🏆 Bernard and Mark's decades of Hollywood experience
🤖 How AI and new technology are changing post-production sound
👂 Why great sound is often something audiences feel without consciously noticing
🎓 Mentorship and opportunities for the next generation of filmmakers
🎞️ Why festivals like VFF matter to emerging talent
💡 Their advice for anyone hoping to work behind the scenes in film and television
Thirty years later, why does Independence Day remain such a memorable movie-going experience — and what can today's filmmakers learn from the professionals who help make movies sound extraordinary?
▶️ WATCH, LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE to Janette's TV Podcast for more conversations with filmmakers, entertainment professionals, celebrities, experts, thought leaders and changemakers.

ABOUT JANETTE BURKE
Janette Burke is an award-winning Media Personality, TV/Podcast Host, Interviewer, Red-Carpet Correspondent, Moderator, MC/Speaker and Brand Spokesperson with more than 20 years of media experience.
As Creator and Host of Janette's TV Podcast, Janette has conducted more than 700 interviews with celebrities, filmmakers, producers, directors, CEOs, bestselling authors, athletes, experts, thought leaders and changemakers.
Janette's TV Podcast is a video-first entertainment and lifestyle platform created for SAVVY, accomplished women over 40, featuring celebrity interviews, red-carpet and festival coverage, expert conversations, inspiring stories and lifestyle content.
Janette is also available for professional hosting, corporate interviews, moderating, red carpets, MC engagements, speaking and brand spokesperson opportunities.
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