Dustin Cawood

Dustin Cawood, Sound Designer in Residence, is an award-winning sound editor whose work has been instrumental in shaping some of the most influential films in contemporary filmmaking. As a graduate of the FSU Film School, where he earned his MFA in Film, Cawood has collaborated with renowned film and post-production companies such as Pixar Animation Studios and Skywalker Sound. This extensive experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of sound design and editorial techniques, enabling him to contribute to productions across animation, live-action, and television.

As a sound effects editor and designer, Cawood has made significant contributions to productions spanning various genres, including animation, science fiction, action, drama, and documentary filmmaking. His exceptional work has garnered recognition from his peers through the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE). Notably, he received a Golden Reel Award for his sound design work on WALL·Eand has been nominated for multiple additional Golden Reel Awards for films such as Toy Story 3, Super 8, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Monsters University, and The Boxtrolls. Furthermore, he was honored with a Hollywood Post Alliance Award for his contributions to Pixar’s Toy Story of Terror!.

Cawood’s career reflects a rare combination of high-level professional experience and a deep commitment to filmmaking education. At FSU, Cawood brings this extensive industry experience into the classroom, mentoring filmmakers in the creative and technical craft of cinematic sound. His teaching philosophy centers on the pivotal role of sound in storytelling, exploring how editorial decisions and sound design can shape character, atmosphere, emotion, and narrative.