Imagine watching any of the Star Wars movies without the classic instrumental music by legendary composer John Williams booming out of the movie theatre speakers. Or how about watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind without the music that, once again, was composed by John Williams? Or, how about watching any of your favorite TV shows (past or present) without hearing the music that became identifiable as the music for THAT show.
How fortunate the world of entertainment is for composers like John Williams, W.G. Snuffy Walden, Mike Post, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino and Bear McGreary (among countless others).
After sitting in the audience for a Behind the Music panel coordinated by the public relations company CW3PR at WonderCon a few weeks ago in San Francisco, we can add the following composers to that impressive line-up of talented composers:
Jim Dooley (Pushing Daisies)
Nathan Barr (True Blood)
Scott Starrett (The Event)
Marco Beltrami (V and Scream 4)
Michael Suby (The Vampire Diaries)
Sean Callery (24)
Composers Scott Starrett, Michael Suby and Sean Callery Photo Credit: Jennifer Schadel
Praises were lauded on these talented composers by moderator Bryan Fuller, Executive Producer and Creator of Pushing Daisies as well as through recorded messages from many of the executive producers who have worked with the panelists on the TV shows mentioned above.
When asked how they first got their big break in composing, Michael explained that a friend called him saying he got his first job and asked if he could write the score for the script his friend wrote. The finished product ended up going to Aaron Spelling. Meanwhile, Sean mentored under well-known composer Mike Snow on La Femme Nikita and then worked on Deep Space Nine.
Composers Nathan Barr and Marco Beltrami Photo Credit: Jennifer Schadel
As for Marco, he learned that a low-budget movie needed someone (anyone) to do the score for the movie. That movie ended up being Scream. Whereas, a demo tape that was sent in by Jim for a “bad” movie landed him the gig and Nathan got his start with Hans Zimmer. Lastly, Scott started out on the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva and then he landed work on The Event because he happened to know the show’s creator.
All of the composers agreed that instruments allow the composer to go to all kinds of places and the genre in which each of them works helps with that. Case in point, Nathan actually has an instrument made out of a bone from Tibet that he uses in the music he composes for True Blood. While Michael uses a dulcimer that he stretches and digitizes to make his music sound completely different. And, Sean used subliminal sounds in his music on 24 because that was popular with Executive Producer Joel Surnow. Marco mentioned that westerns used traditional instruments in not so traditional ways and he employed that in the music he composed for the box office film 3:10 to Yuma.
The panelists were not only asked who was their inspiration but also what made them want to be a composer with Scott sharing Stravinski was his inspiration and hearing the music in the box office film Matrix was what drew him to composing. Marco’s inspiration came from the music in the film Once Upon a Time in the West. John Williams was the inspiration for Sean and because of the music in Star Wars, he became a composer. Nathan was inspired by Bach and Jim became a composer because of the music by Danny Elfman in Batman. And, Michael became a composer because of the music in Star Wars and was greatly influenced by music in the film A Beautiful Mind and, oddly enough, the music of Alice in Chains.
Moderator Bryan Fuller and Composer Jim Dooley Photo Credit: Jennifer Schadel
Each of the composers have very hectic work schedules with Michael explaining he scores three shows simultaneously, but because of the trust he has in the executive producers of the show, it works out. Jim explained that when composing for the TV series Pushing Daisies he had a 6-day turn-around for each episode and there was specific sounds “assigned” to each of the characters so he could not cut music from other episodes, it had to be original, but the time pressure was what kept him focused.
The panelists were asked many questions by enthusiastic members of the audience, many of whom have aspirations of becoming composers themselves with the panelists each providing encouragement and words of wisdom.
In closing, perhaps the best message to take away from this WonderCon panel is that music is a key ingredient in television and film because what is heard during any given scene can leave a lasting impression with the audience. The next time you are at a movie or watching your favorite TV show try to imagine watching it without any music in the background, you just might be surprised how empty it feels. Composers have a special talent that makes a significant difference in the world of entertainment and we are all the better for it.
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