Kathleen Kennedy, the esteemed filmmaker and former president of Lucasfilm, was recently honored with an honorary award from the Motion Picture Sound Editors at their annual Golden Reel Awards in Los Angeles. This accolade recognized her distinguished career, which includes indelible movie moments from iconic titles such as “Jurassic Park,” “Back to the Future,” and “Schindler’s List.” Accepting the prize from legendary sound designer Ben Burtt at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Kennedy passionately spoke about the critical role of sound in storytelling.

Kennedy emphasized that sound is far more than an afterthought; it is the very heartbeat of a story, integral to the filmmaking process from its earliest stages. “Sound helps root the story. It helps represent where characters are, not only geographically, but emotionally. It helps foreshadow the intent of a character or define what they’re going through. In short, it takes the audience on the journey of the film,” she stated. She recounted working with industry titans who taught her that sound should be conceived, designed, and refined from the outset, not merely ‘pasted on at the end’.

A pivotal lesson in sound design came from her work on Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” with Ben Burtt. Kennedy shared that while much attention was paid to E.T.’s visual appearance, it was the sound — the heavy, shuffling footsteps and the raspy, melodic breathing — that truly brought the character to life, transforming him from a puppet into a beloved friend. She amusingly recalled how E.T.’s unique voice originated from Pat Welsh, a woman Burtt overheard at a photography store and later recruited, noting that Welsh smoked two packs of Kool cigarettes daily.

Backstage at the event, Kennedy provided insights into upcoming projects and her transition from Lucasfilm leadership. She confirmed her role as producer for the imminent May release of “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” a project she greenlit. Addressing the popular character Grogu (also known as Baby Yoda), Kennedy highlighted him as a perfect example of a character who evokes deep connection and emotion without uttering a single word. Despite Yoda’s famous broken English, she confirmed that Grogu will maintain his silent expressiveness in the new film, further endearing him to audiences on the big screen.

Kennedy also reflected on her recent decision to hand over the reins of Lucasfilm in January to her long-time deputies, Dave Filoni, now president and chief creative officer, and Lynwen Brennan, co-president. She clarified that this transition was not sudden but the culmination of a decade-long mentoring process. “I spent 10 years talking Dave into gradually stepping into live action. He had so much experience in animation. He’s so knowledgeable about Star Wars and loves it so much, it’s really been a 10-year mentoring process for both of them,” she explained, adding that Brennan, who came from Industrial Light & Magic, had served as her general manager throughout her tenure. Kennedy characterized the leadership change as “really pretty seamless.”

During the ceremony, host Patton Oswalt light-heartedly joked about Kennedy being “freed from the nerd mafia” and “the comments section,” referencing the fervent and occasionally challenging nature of the Star Wars fanbase. Kennedy later reflected on this, noting that her time at Lucasfilm coincided with the explosion of fan expectations colliding with social media. She acknowledged that fans have always been a huge part of the franchise, and this new dynamic, while initially novel, became incredibly important to the company.

Kennedy concluded her on-stage remarks with a heartfelt tribute to sound designers, making a memorable reference to her 1981 film “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” She praised their unique curiosity, stating, “What I love most about sound designers and editors is your curiosity. You’re the only people I know who can hear the scrape of a toilet lid and think that’s it. That’s it! That’s the sound of the Ark of the Covenant opening.”

In a previous interview, Kennedy had expressed interest in AI’s potential in filmmaking. She clarified to Variety that she prefers the term “augmented reality” over “artificial intelligence,” emphasizing a commitment to human creativity. She sees these tools as potentially augmenting the creative process, speeding things up, and finding a place in the flow of creativity, but she firmly rejects the idea of them replacing human beings in the process.

Throughout her illustrious career, Kathleen Kennedy has garnered eight Oscar nominations. Under her leadership at Lucasfilm, the studio released the highest-grossing domestic film of all time, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” alongside other successful titles like “Rogue One,” “The Last Jedi,” and “Solo.” Prior to joining Disney, she served as producer or executive producer for over 70 feature films, which collectively received 120 Academy Award nominations and 25 wins. These iconic films include “Jurassic Park,” “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” “The Sixth Sense,” the “Back to the Future” trilogy, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Gremlins,” and “The Goonies.” Her remaining projects as a producer at Lucasfilm include “The Mandalorian and Grogu” and the forthcoming Ryan Gosling-led “Star Fighter.” Beyond her film work, Kennedy’s accolades include a BAFTA fellowship and a CBE Award. She has also served as board chair for the AFI and was a founding Council Member of the Hollywood Commission to Eliminate Sexual Harassment and Advance Equality. Currently, she serves on the boards of the LA Promise Fund, Library of America, and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.