A film score refers to the original music that accompanies a film. In most cases, movie music is written by a film composer hired for the production. The movie score heightens the film’s emotion, creating an aural mood for each scene, along with sound effects and dialogue.
Succession is a witty satire, portraying the inner turmoil of a family-owned media empire, Waystar RoyCo. So it’s no surprise that the Succession theme song needed to be as tumultuous and grandeur as its scenes. Nicholas Britell’s opening theme and entire score perfectly capture the essence of wealth and power in a fresh and original way. But how? Continue reading Succession Theme Song — How the Soundtrack Tells a Story
Composer Claude Debussy said, “Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.” This struggle is especially true in the world of a cinematic score, where traditional orchestration dominates.Continue reading How to Design a Surreal Film Score like Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
We all know that a great soundtrack can stir emotions in the audience. But few genres have a direct line to the emotional centers of our brain than suspense and horror. Suspenseful music, when done right, can make all the difference. Great horror movie music doesn’t often win Oscars, but it does stay with us long after the lights have gone up. There's an art to using suspense music to create terror, dread, and fear. Here's how some of your filmmakers and composers create horror music by balancing two key elements: horror and revulsion. Watch: Suspenseful Music in a Film…
A lot of debate always surges about who should have won the Academy Award for Best Picture. But for this list, we’re turning our attention to the Best Original Song category. There have been plenty of classics and just as many duds over the years, but which one do you think should top the list as the best original movie song of all time?Does Lady Gaga’s performance in A Star is Born overtake that of Barbara Streisand’s? Which Disney song do you think ranks highest? When you look at the Best Original Song winners & nominees, is there a different…
Okay, is there anyone who doesn’t choke up when little Zuzu Bailey says, “Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its wings,” at the the end of It’s a Wonderful Life? The best Christmas movies vary in style and tone, but they tend to possess certain thematic elements such as forgiveness, charity and devotion. A film from the modern era that truly embodies these themes is Home Alone. In this post, we examine how Home Alone stands out amongst Christmas films due to its sound design, production design and cinematography.Continue reading Mastering the Christmas Movie: Home Alone
John Williams once said, “Composing music is hard work.” From Jaws to Harry Potter, the composer’s ability to both enchant and captivate has made his sound one of the most recognizable in Hollywood filmmaking.Continue reading Mastering the Film Score: John Williams
