Fact Finder - Movies

When legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith was scoring 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture,' he sought a sound that represented the vast, terrifying power of the V'ger entity. He chose the 'Blaster Beam,' an experimental electronic instrument consisting of a 15-foot long aluminum beam with metal strings and moveable pickups. It is played by striking the strings with pipes or mallets, creating a massive, low-frequency growl that vibrates the entire theater. The instrument was created by Craig Huxley, who had actually appeared as a child actor in the original Star Trek series. The Blaster Beam became an iconic part of the film's soundscape, representing the intersection of 1970s experimental music and big-budget Hollywood legend. It was later used by John Carpenter and in the scores for movies like '10 Cloverfield Lane.'