A turning point in Zimmer's career occurred with the 1988 film "Rain Man". Hollywood director Barry Levinson was looking for someone to score "Rain Man", and his wife heard the soundtrack CD of the anti-apartheid drama "A World Apart", for which Zimmer had composed the music. Levinson was impressed by Zimmer's work and hired him to score "Rain Man". In the score, Zimmer uses synthesizers (mostly a Fairlight CMI) mixed with steel drums. Zimmer explained that "It was a road movie, and road movies usually have jangly guitars or a bunch of strings. I kept thinking don't be bigger than the characters. Try to keep it contained. The Raymond character doesn't actually know where he is. The world is so different to him. He might as well be on Mars. So, why don't we just invent our own world music for a world that doesn't really exist?" Zimmer's score for "Rain Man" was nominated for an Academy Award in 1989, and the film won four Academy Awards including Best Picture.