The worldwide success of The LEGO Movie, opening in Australia this week, is great news for budding film-makers, according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic Mr Damian Candusso.

The senior lecturer in sound and multimedia in the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga was one of the creative Australian minds behind the new movie.

The multi award-winning sound designer called on the assistance of his young sons and their toy sets to create unique sounds for the film.

"My sons' Duplo was used extensively for several of the Lego explosions," Mr Candusso said.

"I also had to buy some additional Lego and several toys that made weird and unique sounds that were used for some of the sound effects for Lord Business, one of the characters in the film.

"My kids have done well as these toys have now filtered down to them. Part of the fun was seeing their faces light up when I would rig up the toys with miniature microphones and then play them back to the Lego pictures."

With a production budget of $US60 million, the film has already made nearly $US400 million at the box office.

"Although I knew that the film would be a big success due to the Lego franchise, I didn't imagine that it would be this big," Mr Candusso said.

"This is great news for the Australian film industry. Warner Bros. Is already planning a sequel which will also be created here in Australia, with a release date in 2017.

"It's also great news for our students in the School Of Communication And Creative Industries at Charles Sturt University. Films of this calibre and the low Australian dollar make for a booming industry.' 

Mr Candusso has worked as sound designer for feature film work including The Great Gatsby, Happy Feet 2, Sanctum, The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ha'Hoole, Daybreakers, Australia and Happy Feet.  

The LEGO Movie opens in Australia on Thursday 3 April.

Read more about Mr Candusso in CSU News here. Read about the courses available in the University's School of Communication and Creative Industries here.