Hudson Valley’s Alchemy Post Sound Crafts Oscar-Worthy Audio for 2026 Films

PEEKSKILL, New York — Stepping into one of the rooms at Alchemy Post Sound without prior knowledge might leave you puzzled by the bustling activity within.

Despite being situated thousands of miles from Hollywood, this team is deeply embedded in the film industry. While their faces might be unfamiliar, their work is widely experienced through the films you watch.

These individuals are foley artists—integral contributors to the world of cinema, whose artistry is indispensable to movie production.

“We craft sounds, ranging from the seemingly mundane, like footsteps, to more complex soundscapes in films such as those featuring F1 cars zooming by or intense scenes of a character being eviscerated. We are responsible for creating the auditory backdrop of actors’ movements,” explained Leslie Bloome.

The craft of foley, named in honor of its pioneer Jack Foley, has been an essential element of filmmaking since its inception in the 1920s.

Now in the hands of artists like Bloome, it’s very much alive and well.

“It’s 50% of your film, without it, you have a silent picture,” Bloome said. “Everything we do is, we look at it as a texture of sound. So if somebody’s wearing a zippy nylon coat, they’re gonna sound different than a person wearing a leather jacket that’s real creaky. All these little textures are really what helps bring the movie to life.”

To put it into perspective, think about some of this Oscar season’s most talked about films.

When the blood splatters in “Sinners,” or when you hear footsteps through the woods in “Hamnet,” or the crowd erupting at the ping pong table in “Marty Supreme.”

“All these little sounds are bringing the viewer closer to the reality of what’s happening in the story,” Bloome said.

The sound category at the Oscars is comprised of a sound mixer and a sound editor.

“There’s hundreds of people like Ryan and myself who have nitpicked every single one of those frames,” Bloome said. “Whether they’re dealing with sound effects, dialogue editing, foley, we’re all involved in creating this story,” Bloome said.

So on Oscar Sunday, as the world tunes in for Hollywood’s biggest night, spare a thought or two for ** some 3,000 miles away.

March 15 is Oscar Sunday! Watch the 2026 Oscars live on ABC and Hulu.

Live red carpet coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars.”Catch all the action on the red carpet live on ABC, or stream on Hulu and OnTheRedCarpet.com.The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. and will be followed by “The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose.”