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Oscar-nominated experimental band/composing trio Son Lux joins Score after their breakout success on EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, and as their latest film, Marvel's THUNDERBOLTS*, releases in theaters.How the solo project from Ryan Lott led to working as a trio with Rafiq Bhatia, Ian Chang — incorporating unique electronic instrumentation with crafty sound design (including unique percussion approaches). What it's like living in three different cities as a band, working on albums, and coming off an indie project with The Daniels to help launch a new phase for Marvel — hence the asterisk in Thunderbolts*.Plus, getting the London Contemporary Orchestra to play “drunker” at Abbey Road, and finding the ideal balance of inner creative spark and broader collaboration on a major film.Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.Score: The Podcast is presented by Vienna Symphonic Library. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library's collection of innovating libraries and samples — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary's score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.atTo learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.comScore: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.
Scottish-born composer Paul Leonard-Morgan (Last Breath, Cyberpunk 2077, Tales from the Loop, Limitless) is a master of different mediums — from film/television to video games, concerts and working with recording artists like bands Belle & Sebastian and Snow Patrol, among many others.His latest, survival-thriller Last Breath starring Woody Harrelson, is his second score to this story — he also scored the hit documentary about the real people. Paul details how he evolved his approach for the narrative film, including his own wetsuit dive to record metallic clinks against boats in Malibu, California, in order to create a unique, journalistic feel to the music approach.How his collaborations with legendary composer Philip Glass came about for Tales from the Loop, after they both worked with documentary filmmaker Errol Morris. Plus, how the aggressive and dark sound of Cyberpunk 2077 came together, and why writing tunes — and staying passionate under grueling deadlines — is the magic that unlocks success.Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.Score: The Podcast is presented by Vienna Symphonic Library. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library's collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary's score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.atTo learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.comScore: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.Video Timecodes0:00 Intro1:49 Vienna Symphonic Library3:59 Paul Leonard-Morgan Interview6:51 Scoring Drama vs. Documentary9:29 ‘Last Breath' opening12:51 Recording Boats in Malibu17:28 Finding Unique Sounds19:58 Paulstretch Experimenting and ‘Dredd'20:52 Musical beginnings28:31 Punk-rock heart31:37 Finding a style35:54 Finding Inspiration40:22 Philip Glass collaborations42:00 ‘Tales from the Loop'51:21 ‘Cyberpunk 2077' & writing1:00:34 Three Things1:06:56 Charles Manson's music1:12:01 VSL Synchron Series1:13:46 VSL ‘Forrest Gump' Demo
At 34, UK-based artist and composer Daniel Blumberg is the youngest person nominated for this year's Best Score at the Oscars. His work on The Brutalist, nominated for 10 Academy Awards, is a continuation and evolution of Brady Corbet's directorial talent — a longtime friend and collaborator. Daniel talks us through his formative experience at Cafe Oto in London — a hub for eccentric and inventive musical talents, which has also inspired Daniel's own highly reviewed solo albums. Daniel explains why he had to visit Italy himself to calibrate the echoes of a marble quarry, why he and Brady always envisioned the opening as a balance of tension and payoff, and why he left in raw recordings of musical “sketches” on purpose to help convey the endless pursuit of creative perfection the film depicts. Why the rising awards buzz around his unique score makes him nervous, and the unlikely (but true!) admiration for Wallace & Gromit.Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. Recorded at A24 Studios in Los Angeles.For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.Score: The Podcast is presented by Vienna Symphonic Library. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library's collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary's score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.atUse promo code SCORESMART10 for 10% off Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0, valid until March 17To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.comScore: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.
Oscar-winning filmmaker (The Last Repair Shop) and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers details a series of life experiences that propelled him to a groundbreaking score on his first animated film, The Wild Robot. How his parents' nudge into music led to him developing a “life plan” he still employs today. Why his jazz origins are so useful in the way he approaches film music. Plus, how new emotions (unlocked from recently becoming a father himself) impacted his approach to the themes of The Wild Robot. Kris dives into how he discovered a sound and music palette to channels a vibrant “wilderness” alongside an orchestral approach (with a futurist vibe), and his fond memories of working with both Kobe Bryant and Quincy Jones who influenced and inspired his creative energy to new projects. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. Score: The Podcast is presented by Vienna Symphonic Library. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library's collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary's score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.at To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.com Score: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.
“Music that will bring Beethoven to his knees” We couldn't pass up the chance to record with BOTH visionary director Robert Eggers and composer Robin Carolan, whose period-horror NOSFERATU released on Christmas Day. (Robert confirms for the record it IS — sort of — a Christmas movie.) This interview done remotely, with Robert and Robin together in the same room in London. How Robert's breakout film THE WITCH led to a creative partnership with Robin, a UK-based music producer who had never scored a film before. Why he took 6 weeks to agree to take Robert's Viking epic THE NORTHMAN — and how it proved a trial by fire for his composing career. Robert talks about his history with NOSFERATU going back to high school (once thought of as an imitation of Dracula, but has achieved its own legendary mythological status). How Robert challenged Robin to “bring Beethoven to his knees” in the opening scene, and the decision to craft hypnotic “spirals” and haunting vocals to keep the danger close even when Nosferatu is not on screen. And why Robert's films — dripping with rich mythology — extend the traditional orchestral approach into unsettling, aleatoric music and modern sounds that carry the audience in and out of comfort. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. Check our Vienna Symphonic Library's collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary's score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.at To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.com Score: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions. Video Timecodes 0:00 Intro 4:05 Vienna Symphonic Library 7:16 Robert Eggers & Robin Carolan 21:00 'The Northman' 31:18 Starting 'Nosferatu' 40:28 Hypnosis of 'Nosferatu' 48:56 Most Difficult Scenes of 'Nosferatu' 1:01:53 VSL Synchron Series 1:03:47 VSL "Batman" Demo
Oscar-winning composer Volker Bertelmann (CONCLAVE, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) explains his unique approach to creating analog textures, themes, and layered complexity. How a church piano led him to a breakout hip hop album in Germany, and then into his own musical experimentation with “prepared piano” — including albums and live performances with ping pong balls in pianos. How his prepared piano techniques create sounds many believe are synths, but are actually recorded sounds carefully crafted. How his collaboration with director Edward Berger has led to a new exploration of sound. And why you should always prepare (even for an Oscars speech!) but be ready to go with the flow of the moment as a musician. Special thanks to Nate Gold and Soundbite Studios in Los Angeles. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library's collection of innovating libraries and samples at http://vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary's score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.at To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.com Score: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.
Score: The Podcast returns for a sixth season with in-person interviews filmed in 4K, and new original footage inside composers' studios. Presented by Vienna Symphonic Library In this season premiere episode, Benjamin Wallfisch breaks down his explosive blockbuster summer with TWISTERS and ALIEN: ROMULUS becoming sensations. The inside scoop on whether Glen Powell's romantic ending in TWISTERS was intended to have a kiss (which became a social media firestorm), and how Benjamin channeled Danny Elfman's iconic BATMAN theme in Michael Keaton's masked return in THE FLASH. Plus, how the score for the hit ALIEN sequel broke new ground with themes echoing sunlight in darkness and an experimental DNA strain that appropriate mutates the score for a powerfully haunting emotional reaction from audiences. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. For exclusive and 4K footage inside studios of your favorite composers, follow Score on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. Check our Vienna Symphonic Library's collection of innovating libraries and samples at vsl.co.at — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Bear McCreary's score to Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, and many more are recorded. Use code ScoreVienna through December 18 for 20% off five Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at vsl.co.at To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit synchronstage.com Score: The Podcast is a presentation of Epicleff Media and is produced by Holmes Productions.
No place to hide! No place to run (no place to run)! The mutant age (The mutant age)! has now begun! X-Men (X-Men)! This is the day (This is the day) X-Men (X-Men)! Coming your way! That's right...it's the 1989 X-Men animated pilot Pryde of the X-Men with cohosts Keith Justice Hayward, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader.
In which the team-up between the X-Men and our friendly neighborhood Spider-man reaches its dramatic conclusion! This episode has everything: A closeted mutant! A monstrous kaiju! Wolverine making jokes! And Spider-man learning an important lesson...about FRIENDSHIP. It's Spider-man: The Animated Series, Neogenic Nightmare: Chapter 5 - Mutants' Revenge! With cohosts Matt Schrader, Keith Justice Hayward, and Sarah Mucek.
The 90's X-Men guest-star on the Spider-man Animated Series! Rogue and Jubes are hot for Spidey. Wolverine is NOT. And Beast gets into hot water with an old colleague in Neogenic Nightmare: Chapter 4 - The Mutant Agenda! With cohosts Matt Schrader, Keith Justice Hayward, and Sarah Mucek.
In which Old London Town yields up something...SINISTER! (Ugh...we know.) And we pose such questions as: Where did old-timey James Xavier get those MOVES? Did Dr. Nathaniel Essex just demote HIMSELF? And most importantly, would a Victorian J. Jonah Jameson want daguerreotypes of Spider-man??? All this and so much more in Season 5, Episode 9, Descent - with cohosts Sarah Mucek, Michael Short, and Matt Schrader.
JUMBO EPISODE! In which there can be only ONE question: "How much do YOU love Charles Xavier?" The seeds for X-Men '97 were planted here, in the SERIES FINALE of X-Men: The Animated Series, Graduation Day! With cohosts Sarah Mucek, Michael Short, and Matt Schrader.
The episode where Rogue chucks Cap's shield into a mountain! And we consider such questions as: Does Mr. Sinister do ALL the science? How did Bastion get that sick WFH setup? Is Morph slurping Diet Pringo his finest work yet? All this and so much more in Episode 7, Bright Eyes, with Drew Kunas, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader.
Tolerance is Extinction, Part 2 races toward the season climax with such questions as: Hey, why ARE the sentinels still on? What percentage of Fatal Attractions is this? And is that...THE MUTANTCYCLE??!! Plus: Sinister doing backflips in his flappy tendril cape! All this and so much more, with cohosts Sarah Mucek, Matt Schrader, and Michael Short.
In this bonus interview episode, Andrew Gordon Macpherson talks about his music and TV editing skills leading to his career scoring video games and television documentaries, including the hit Vice series DARK SIDE OF THE RING, and WHO KILLED WCW?, produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. How the world of professional wrestling drama created a canvas for an epic soap-opera-esque musical approach, finding ways to blend spaghetti western with zen meditation bowls, and making a sub-culture of pro wrestling drama something for the average person to be able to appreciate. Plus, the influence of Jim Johnston on the iconic music all wrestling fans know. Bonus interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. (Note: Technical difficulties interrupted the interview several times. We have edited to trim out some of these interruptions.)
We catch up with composer extraordinaire Christophe Beck (UNFROSTED, ROAD HOUSE) for the first time in six years! Christophe shares how early piano lessons led to dreams of making his own album (now in the works). Plus, how years leading a composer team on major films refreshed his love of teaching and sharing, his creative rapport with director Doug Liman, and working with comedy icon Jerry Seinfeld in his directorial debut on the Netflix satire/“Pop Tart biopic” UNFROSTED. Interview by Kenny Holmes, Matt Schrader, and Robert Kraft.
Composer Chris Benstead talks about being Guy Ritchies' musical maestro on multiple projects, including THE GENTLEMEN on Netflix and THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE. How his musical education led him into music mixing and eventually working in the “sound” departments on major projects, before his work with Patrick Doyle, Steven Price, Alan Menken and Hans Zimmer brought him back into the “composer” role for Guy Ritchie. Why Guy sometimes asks him to be “braver” with a cue, and how to delegate (aka “let go”) of certain parts of the music composition process that you're good at. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.
NEW EPISODE! In which one Jean has earrings and a ponytail and one does not! Mr. Sinister does baby monitor horror! And what are Rogue and Magneto doing in the Danger Room ALL NIGHT??? It's X-Men '97 Season 1, Episode 3, Fire Made Flesh. With cohosts Sarah Mucek, Michael Short, and Matt Schrader.
YouTuber Rudy Mancuso has been following SCORE for years, as a musician and composer in his own right. He joins Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader to discuss his breakout hit film from SxSW ‘MÚSICA' — a semi-autobiographic film, years in the making, that pushes musical possibilities to refreshingly brilliant musical storytelling. Directed as only a composer could, MÚSICA (also starring Camila Mendes and J.B. Smoove) is an exploration of synesthesia, in which Rudy experiences real life in semi-musical form. Rudy discusses how his content creator life was the perfect practice for navigating his own feature film, why puppets (yes, puppets) are so integral to his film, and why he never had any doubt he would direct AND compose the music himself. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.
Title:Question. Rethink. And Redefine Greatness. (ft. Anna Mader & Matt Schrader | Heads of Creative and Client Experiences, XD Agency)Bio:XDA is an award-winning creative agency that takes brand stories and produces personal, insights-fueled experiences that deeply resonate with audiences. Anna Mader and Matt Schrader, Heads of Creative and Client Experiences, respectively, create brand-defining moments for the humans at the center of it all, who have the power to shift culture.Opening Quote:I think it starts with trust… building that collaborative relationship where we're almost on the same team, right? We have an amazing strategy team, and if we don't have that open line of communication with our clients to be like, hey, this is what we're seeing. Is this right? Or, hey, can we push you here? How does this feel? Can we challenge you? Can we continually look at and redefine greatness? Right? Like, what is that? Building that trust and those relationships is what, at the end of the day, makes the idea so much better.Summary:This episode of No More Bad Events explores the cutting-edge approach of XDA in revolutionizing event experiences. Alongside guests Anna Mader and Matt Schrader, host Scott Bloom probes into XDA's ethos of "redefining greatness," which Anna articulates as a commitment to continual improvement, creative risks, and solving problems. Matt reinforces this ethos, advocating for challenging the status quo to yield superior outcomes. They reflect on heightened audience expectations post-COVID, underlying the need for engaging and surpassing these anticipations. The conversation also delves into the philosophy of balancing kindness with boldness and how client relationships are formed based on shared values. There's more. The agency's approach to creating a sense of community and belonging through experiences is also discussed, as well as the value of integrating elements from fan events such as Comic Con into the corporate events. Leadership support, client collaboration, and shifting audience culture are also recognized as essential factors in successful event design.Lastly, storytelling is amplified, with a nod to the hero's journey as a compelling structure for audience engagement. This episode promises to be an engaging deep dive into the innovative strategies XDA employs to deliver events that are not just enjoyable but make an indelible mark on attendees' lives.CONNECT WITH THEM:Connect with Anna Mader: Anna's LinkedIn ProfileConnect with Matt Schrader: Matt's LinkedIn ProfileHire Scott Bloom: Scott's eSpeakers BioFollow eSpeakers: eSpeakers MarketplaceABOUT NO MORE BAD EVENTS:Brought to you by eSpeakers and hosted by professional emcee, host, and keynote speaker Scott Bloom, No More Bad Events is where you'll hear from some of the top names in the event and speaking industry about what goes on behind the scenes at the world's most perfectly executed conferences, meetings, and more. Get ready to learn the secrets and strategies to help anyone in the event industry reach their goal of putting on nothing less than world-class events. Learn more at: nomorebadevents.comABOUT THE HOST:A veteran comedian and television personality who has built a reputation as the go-to choice for business humor, Scott has hosted hundreds of events over two decades for big and small organizations alike. Scott has also hosted his own weekly VH1 series and recently co-hosted a national simulcast of the Grammy Awards from the Palace Theater.As the son of a successful salesman, he was exposed to the principles of building a business at an early age. As a comedian, Scott cut his teeth at renowned improv and comedy clubs. And as a self-taught student of psychology, he's explored what makes people tick and has written a book (albeit a farce) on how to get through life. He's uniquely positioned to deliver significant notes on connecting people and making business seriously funny. And who doesn't like to laugh? Learn more about Scott: scottbloomconnects.comPRODUCED BY eSpeakers:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals worldwide connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSHOW CREDITS:Scott Bloom: Host | scottbloomconnects.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | jheaps@eSpeakers.com
In which Beast and Warlock enlist the help of some unexpected friends to defeat the Phalanx, and we pose such questions as: Does Banshee just hang out in his Banshee outfit? Was Warlock coded in Python? How did Magneto get SO TOTALLY JACKED? And most upsetting: How did Beast know where to look at the camera?!! All this and more in Season 5, Episode 2, The Phalanx Covenant (Part 2) with cohosts Drew Kunas, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader.
Composer David Fleming (The Last of Us, Blue Planet II) talks about his inventive score for Prime Video's new Mr. & Mrs. Smith, working with Donald Glover, coming up through the Remote Control composer system with Atli Orvarsson, Steve Jablonsky and Hans Zimmer, and why the new Jim Henson documentary will melt everyone's hearts. Interview by Kenny Holmes, Matt Schrader and Robert Kraft.
Introducing everyone's favorite blue-furred swashbuckling mutant, NIGHTCRAWLER! And we explore: How many ways has Wolverine been Australian over the years? Did Nightcrawler grow up inside a production of Spring Awakening?? Is Paul Bunyan an American Kaiju?!! All this and Kurt Wagner tells the villages, "Do your wurst." It's Season 4, Episode 8, Nightcrawler, the most spiritual 20 minutes of Saturday morning television to ever hit the airwaves (remember airwaves??) with cohosts Aaron Gold, Drew Kunas, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader. Note: This episode was recorded before the revelations re: Kurt's heritage in X-Men Blue: Origins - check it out!
In which Morph returns to face off with Master Mold's giant head (literally)! Plus: Cyclops is caught off-guard by a party! Storm slays in fierce civilian duds! And our hosts get to the bottom of the greatest mystery in XMTAS: Why ARE Morph and Wolverin BFFs??? All this and so much more in Season 4, Episode 6, Courage. With cohosts Sarah Mucek, Matt Schrader, and Michael Short.
Score returns with composer James Newton Howard, who currently has four projects releasing this month, including the Hunger Games prequel that he says asked him not to use synths (“they haven't been invented yet”). Plus, how working with Hans Zimmer helped pull him out of a period of depression, when to fight for your musical opinion, and why he likes the rush of being asked to “save” blockbuster films in the final weeks before release. Interviewed by Robert Kraft and Matt Schrader.
In which we all remember the Marvel Swimsuit Specials of the 1990's! Plus: Professor X and the Shadow King fight as giant astral kaijus! Cyclops begs an unconscious Professor X not to leave him! We learn an important life lesson (Never Trust Space Face)! And...a LIGHTSABER BATTLE??!! All this and so much more in Season 4, Episode 5, Xavier Remembers, with cohosts Sarah Mucek, Matt Schrader, and Michael Short.
In which: Omega Red gets to phone a friend and his friend is...Wolverine?! Plus: Storm and Wolvie at the mercy of their enemy inside a submarine! Our cohosts do poorly in a game of "which cities are biggest"! And Drew coins the military campaign slogan, "Colonel for General!" All this and so much more in Season 4, Episode 2, A Deal with the Devil! Featuring cohosts Drew Kunas, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader.
In which Rogue's first love Cody emerges from his coma...completely jacked?! Plus: An unsuspecting Logan plays host to an insectoid alien race, Professor X gives Rogue s#$% for wanting to take PTO, and we meet the Acanti, giant space fish, the first curious sentients in the cosmos! All this and so much more in Season 3, Episode 19, Love in Vain with cohosts Sarah Mucek and Matt Schrader.
The conclusion of (probably) the greatest X-Men story of all time, THE DARK PHOENIX SAGA! In which: Our heroes face off with the Imperial Guard in the Blue Area of the moon! Jean leaves it all on the dance floor! And the Shi'ar cruiser "blasts 'er good"! All this and learn about the cohosts' collective tummy troubles and why Lilandra is the Boss Babe we all need right now. It's Season 3, Episode 17, The Fate of the Phoenix! With cohosts Natalie Lopez, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader.
NEW EPISODE! The Dark Phoenix Saga continues! In which Jean has a stuffed Cyclops in her childhood bedroom, Beast has a monkey bar in the X-Mansion dining room, and the Shi'ar have an Earth-produced fire extinguisher on their cruiser! All this and the Dark Phoenix gets EXTRA DARK in the episode first-time viewer Natalie Lopez calls "SO MUCH." Also featuring cohosts Sarah Mucek and Matt Schrader.
Season 3 Premiere! In which the X-Men are finally broadcast in Prime Time! There's a spaceship in the sewers under NYC! Wolverine comes face-to-face with his former love, the lethal Lady Deathstrike! And Wolvie and Gambit get oiled up for the ultimate thirst trap! It's Out of the Past, Part 1! With cohosts Marcus Bishop-Wright, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader.
Season 2 Finale (Part 1)! In which the Savage Land Jungle Bros storyline reaches its dramatic conclusion! Jean gets carried away on a plane with ribs! And Morph is in a play! All this and Cyclops yells the title of this podcast!! Featuring cohosts Matt Schrader, Sarah Mucek, and Ben Taylor.
New episode! In which the X-Men are TV-kidnapped through by none other than MOJO! Plus: Longshot takes a star turn, Spiral fold all 6 of her arms, and Wolverine and Jean headline 'I Dream of Jean'! All this and a review of our all-time favorite episodes of Looney Tunes! Featuring cohosts Sarah Mucek, Matt Schrader, and Ben Taylor.
In which the Ragin' Cajun heads back to the Bayou to save his brother! And Belladonna is 'desperate enough to become Mrs. Gambit' (again)! It's t'ieves vs. 'sassins + a big dose of X-Ternal tithing in Season 2, Episode 6, X-Ternally Yours! Featuring cohosts Rob Berliner, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader.
Answering such questions as: How did Wolverine get his adamantium skeleton? What does the ol' Canuck have in common with Disney's Belle? And would YOU back Jerry Orbach as Wolvie in the MCU??? The answers may surprise you in Ep. 2.5 - Repo Man. Featuring cohosts Rob Berliner, Sarah Mucek, and Matt Schrader.
Composer Colin Stetson (The Menu, Hereditary, Color Out of Space) talks about capturing a fresh sound for The Menu, trying not to collapse while playing saxophone, and why it makes for terrible bar tricks. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.
Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir talks about her 2019 success on JOKER and CHERNOBYL and how she responded to pandemic slowdown at the breakout moment of her career. Why becoming a mother is something she holds so dearly and credits for some of her approach. Plus, why WOMEN TALKING challenged her to find a quiet inner strength, and TÁR created a mirror opposite of Hildur's approach to her music. Interview by Robert Kraft and Matt Schrader.
Special Episode! Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle sits down with his composer Justin Hurwitz ahead of their new film, BABYLON. Why Chazelle involves his composer long before his script is "final," and how he uses it to create storyboards. How the music of WHIPLASH and LA LA LAND were informed by music, and the challenges of bringing to life the 1920s-era BABYLON with all its brilliant, raucous and cacophonous musical splendor. Interview by Robert Kraft and Matt Schrader.
Composer Pinar Toprak dives into her performance with Billie Eilish and Finneas at the Oscars, and her process creating a theme suite for the NFL and Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video. Then, why the music for SLUMBERLAND is some of the most personal she's ever written. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.
Composer Gabriel Mann talks through his decision to leave Pre-Med in college to become a musician — and why his parents fully supported him. Then, how working with David Schwartz led to him leaving composer altogether — and why David brought him back to collaborate on ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. Later, we talk about writing lyrical melodies for A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, why Disney's musical machine is so vast, and a top-secret musical stage play in the works now (based on an 1980s classic) from Gabriel's band, The Rescues, coming in 2023. Interview by Matt Schrader.
The great David Newman has been scoring memorable and iconic films since the mid-1980s, and after his own prolific career has found himself being a part of a unique world — live film music concerts. From conducting John Williams concerts at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl, to conducting orchestras live-to-picture at Walt Disney Concert Hall, David has stumbled into a world of new opportunities. We talk about why film music concerts feel more like rock concerts than classical ones, and why experimenting with the performances can trigger massive audience responses. This is everything you wanted to know about the experience of seeing a film music concert! Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.
Composer Henry Jackman joins to talk about THE GRAY MAN, his musical relationship with the Russo brothers, how the birth of his son during the pandemic changed his perspective, and what kind of obsession it takes to truly make something meaningful. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.
Composer David Buckley talks about his Netflix hit THE SANDMAN out now, finding the surreal, melancholy sound of a dream world. Plus, David talks about his unique start in film scoring (as a choirboy singing in a Scorsese film, then “toilet roll” ads), and how that led him to Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell (as well as Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer and Rupert Gregson-Williams) and finding his own breakout hit films like JASON BOURNE and the recent hit NOBODY, plus his TV work on THE GOOD WIFE and THE GOOD FIGHT. Interviewed by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.
Special episode of MORE SCORE on SCORE: THE PODCAST! (For year-round interviews like this one, and 49 bonus interviews to date, subscribe to our bonus show MORE SCORE using any of the links below. IN THIS EPISODE OF MORE SCORE: Dave Porter, the prolific composer of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, reflects on 15 years making what some (including Matt) consider to be the best television shows ever made. The bumps along the road, the phrases Dave hears in his head still from creator Vince Gilligan, whether the Breaking Bad universe is really over, and how his career's future is in the hands of his TV family built over the last two decades. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader. MORE SCORE is a fan-supported show available on Patreon, Apple Podcast and Spotify. To support for $10/month and get full episodes from inside the film score world, use the links below: Apple (iOS 15+): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/score-the-podcast/id1357882784 Spotify (via Anchor): http://anchor.fm/score/subscribe Patreon: http://Patreon.com/MoreScore
Composer Dave Palmer breaks down his Dallas-based recording artist career journey that culminated in his home studio in Ojai, California, and meeting Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Farrelly to score THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER starring Zac Efron. Dave talks about the key to a piano cue packing a heart-wrenching punch, meshing original score with songs of the Vietnam War era, and why this film feels different tonally than any other you've seen before. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.
Composer Siddhartha Khosla on his massive hit that is ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING (now midway through Season 2), where those incredibly catchy melodies came from and why he loves to write them. The thematic reason why Sidd says the show needed an orchestra — and how SCORE: THE PODCAST's own Carol Kuswanto ended up playing piano for the score! (She joins to break it down.) We also chat with Sidd about whether discovering true-crime podcasts in between seasons changed the tone of his music, working with top-notch editors, and the hidden clues in season 1's score. Interview by Robert Kraft and Matt Schrader, with Carol Kuswanto, only on MORE SCORE.
Theodore Shapiro is one of the emerging superstars of film and television composing, with a background in comedies and recent breakout hits such as Apple TV+'s SEVERANCE, directed by Ben Stiller. Teddy talks about getting started on another breakout hit YELLOWJACKETS before handing off the series to his friends Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker. Then, we dive into the intensely cinematic, deeply intimate and isolated music for SEVERANCE. Plus, how Teddy and Ben Stiller found their groove during pandemic lockdowns. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.
Icelandic composer Herdís Stefánsdóttir talks about crafting a modern score for the Victorian-era THE ESSEX SERPENT on AppleTV+, alongside co-composer Dustin O'Halloran, and her score to Y: THE LAST MAN on FX. How her path from law-school dropout to writing music for dance students worried her parents. Plus, how Herdís ended up working with the late Jóhann Jóhannsson (ARRIVAL, THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING) and meeting Hildur Guðnadóttir (JOKER) in Reykjavik — and what its like scoring films and television with Icelandic musicians. Interview by Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.
Composer Natalie Holt talks about her theremin-infused score for Marvel's LOKI, her first love of film music (John Williams' E.T.), and how incredible it was to be able to utilize a new theme from John Williams for OBI-WAN KENOBI. Plus, how her pop string quartet helped pay the bills and led her into film composing — and why she threw an egg at Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent in 2013. Interview by Matt Schrader on MORE SCORE.
Composer Mac Quayle (AMERICAN HORROR STORY, MR. ROBOT, GASLIT, AMERICAN CRIME STORY: IMPEACHMENT) talks about how he scaled up his music team to be able to take on multiple shows he loves. What he thought about Danny Elfman's Coachella performance and what it means for composers. Plus, how getting stoned in a college music theory class — he flunked the assignment — helped him discover the value of experimental music (with his NY-based band Fibre.) Interview with Matt Schrader and Kenny Holmes on MORE SCORE!