THORNTON SCHOOL OF MUSIC

SCORING FOR MOTION PICTURES AND TELEVISION USC

BRIAN KING PROGRAM DIRECTOR Under the direction of Brian King, “... the USC scoring program has paved the way for a variety of career paths and jobs in the scoring industry...”

The many facets of Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television - SMPTV

“Their education and training begins them quickly come to expect the unexpected screen credit less than 6 months after with composition but many of our when it comes to finding their niche in this graduation. And while Chris has gone onto very competitive marketplace. launch his own career as a composer he graduates achieve success in a number continues, on occasion, to co-write with SCORING ASSISTANT of areas related to the scoring business, James. In fact, they are about to go to London to record the score for the new including; music editing, software A logical next step for our students is to Michel Gondry film, The Green Hornet. development, score producers, scoring assist another working professional in any Another case in point to illustrate the number of ways; technical assistant, synth value of assisting another composer is Ludwig assistants, conductors, orchestrators, programmer, score coordinator and, in some Goransson (2008). Ludwig interned for A-list music copyists, songwriters for cases, as an additional music writer. Christian feature film composer, , Bacon graduated in May of 2005 and went while he was a student in the SMPTV television, jingles, video games, and right to work for as a program. This proved to be a good working performance rights organizations...” technical assistant and score coordinator but relation and Ludwig was hired on as a full- within the 1st few months James received a time assistant upon graduation. During the The prerequisite for admission to the last minute call to replace the score for the first year Teddy recommended Ludwig for a USC scoring program, also known as SMPTV, Peter Jackson film, King Kong, and Chris was television pilot with the understanding that is an undergraduate degree in composition. in the right place at the right time - James had Teddy would be able to mentor Ludwig, if And while composing music for film is the him write a number of music cues for the film needed. As it turns out, Ludwig came up with primary focus for all the students, many of and Chris received his 1st major feature film a brilliant score for the pilot - one which

SMPTV composition forum The expanded format of composition forum brings students in direct contact with working professionals like , Harry-Gregson Williams, Theodore Shapiro, Doreen in action, creating jobs ... Ringer-Ross (BMI), Charlyn Bernal (ASCAP), , as well as internship opportunities with , Christopher Lennertz, Rolfe Kent, John Powell and others. As a result, many of our students, upon graduation, work as full-time assistants and composers. Andrea Datzman (2005) with Michael Giacchino, Michael Mollo (2007) with John 2010 Powell, and Ludwig Goransson (2008) with Theodore Shapiro. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: LUDWIG GORANSSON (2008) During his studies in the program Ludwig interned for Theodore Shaprio, was subsequently hired full- time, and has gone on to score his own prime series for NBC, “Community”. In addition to getting ready for season 2 of “Community”, Ludwig is currently scoring the new ABC pilot , directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.

MICHAEL MOLLO (2007) Currently, Mollo composes full time for film, television and video game projects. He currently serves as CEO and director at Q6 Studios Inc. Michael also continues to work with legendary film composer John Powell. Recent projects include the Iraq war thriller, Green Zone, Dreamworks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon and Knight and Day for 20th featured a number of pop songs, also opportunities for this work can be seen in Century FOX. composed by Ludwig. The show, Community, commercial advertising, movie trailers and is now in its 2nd season on NBC and Ludwig music libraries. Some of our graduates, like MIKE SIMON (2005) just finished a new pilot for an ABC series, Veigar Margeirsson, have had considerable composes additional music for The Happy Endings. He continues to work in a full- success in, “Custom Score & Music Licensing”. Mentalist (CBS), which is in its third time capacity for Teddy Shapiro. Here’s a partial list of Veigar’s contribution to season. He also has written this marketplace; SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT MOTION PICTURE MARKETING (Partial List) additional music for the shows Custom Score & Licensed Music Eastwick (ABC) and Notes From The • Inception, Warner Bros. Underbelly (ABC), and scored Mike Patti (2003) and Mike Barry • The A-Team, 20th Century Fox • Armored, Sony several commercials for clients (2004) were childhood growing up on • Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Paramount including Canon and Guinness. Long Island, New York. While both of these • G-Force, Disney Michael's music has also been heard talented composers excelled during and after • Valkyrie, MGM • The Express, Universal on on American Idol, Dateline NBC, their studies at USC, they decided to form • Hancock, Columbia America's Most Wanted and WWE their own music software company, • Iron Man, Paramount • No Country for Old Men, Monday Night Raw. “CINESAMPLES”. Within a few short years, • Horton Hears a Who, 20th Centruy Fox CINESAMPLES has become one of the most • You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Columbia • Beowulf, Paramount SEAN DOUGALL (2004) popular sample library companies for • Fool’s Gold, Warner Bros. • National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Disney joined Figure 53 in 2009 after composers and music producers alike. For several years independently creating more information go to; MUSIC PREPARATION & EDITING applications for film scoring and post- www.cinesamples.com production. In addition to his Another graduate of SMPTV, Sean The SMPTV program provides each student development work, Sean is an Dougall (2004), initially went to work as a with training in music editing and music instructor in USC's Scoring for Motion full-time assistant to award winning SMPTV preparation. After graduation, many of the Pictures and Television program, alum, Christophe Beck but, with his deep students work in music prep. for Juliani Music. where he torments students with the interest in developing software, Sean created Some of these recent grads include; David arcane details of music technology. a number of applications for film music, Volpe (2010), Sherri Chung (2009), Layla including; “Streamers” and “Cue Tracker” as Minoui (2008) and Nick Fevola (2007). THE STANTON BROTHERS - BEN part of his own company, ElectroMonkey Projects include,” The Proposal”, “Sex and (2006) & DAVID (2007) Media LLC. Most recently, Sean decided to the City”, “Marmaduke”, “Miracle at St. That’s right, these two composers are offer his software in a merger with another Anna”, and Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus”. brothers and have since formed their company, Figure 53. For more information go Alice Wood (2004), in addition to her writing own production company, Stanton to; http://figure53.com/company/ projects, has been working as a music editor Studios. Production credits include; SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT since graduation for composers like, Rolfe “The Other War”, “Last American MOVIE TRAILERS - MUSIC LIBRARIES Kent, Joby Talbot and Philip Glass. Feature Cowboy”,”Sports Science”, and film credits include; “The Illusionist”, “The “Crime 360”. Music production companies are always Wedding Crashers”, “Thank You for looking for good original music to license for Smoking”, “The Men Who Stare at Goats”, use in film and television. The most immediate and “Peaceful Warrior”. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: NICK FEVOLA (2007) Nick worked with Elia Cmiral as music editor and synth programmer on Pulse 2. Shortly thereafter he began work at Christopher Lennertz's studio as an arranger and programmer for . Over the last several months he has worked with Lennertz in a similar role on Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore and Adam, as well as the WB's . He has also been part of the team at Steven Juliani Music, where he has contributed in music preparation for projects including The Proposal, Sex and the City, and Clint Eastwood’s MUSIC FOR VIDEO GAMES Invictus. Nick Fevola has written over 20 scores and has served in the music departments of over 50 projects. Over the past few years the USC scoring No other program provides its students with program has expanded the curriculum to include more opportunities to compose and JAKE MONACO (2007) a greater emphasis on video games, including orchestrate for live ensembles, including a In addition to his own projects opportunities to work directly with the Media Arts session with a 65 piece . With this (www.jakemonaco.com), Jake has high level of training and practical application Division in the USC School of Cinematic Arts. The worked with Christophe Beck on the the student composers are positioned to work results - SMPTV grad, Austin Wintory (2008) following projects; Good Grief (2010) (score as orchestrators in the film industry. Some of scored a USC game project, FlOw which mixer) the top orchestrators working today have come eventually became a major acquisition and Death at a Funeral (2010) (composer: additional through the USC scoring program, Pete music) (score producer) release by SONY entertainment. Jesse Harlin Anthony, Jeff Atmajian, Mark McKenzie, Jon (2010) (composer: additional music) (2002) has been a staff composer at LucasArts Kull, Dana Niu, and Marcus Trumpp. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) (composer: since 2003, his list of credits include; additional music) (score producer) Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Star Wars: The Force Unleashed SYNTH. PROGRAMMING (2010) (additional orchestrator) (score coordinator) Star Wars "Holonet News" Waiting for 'Superman' (2010) (music scoring mixer) Thrillville: Off The Rails With the current trends in technology the All About Steve (2009) (additional orchestrator) Thrillville (score coordinator) SMPTV program offers education and training The Marc Pease Experience (2009) (additional Star Wars: Republic Commando in synth. programming, protools editing and score recordist) (score coordinator) Incoming Forces audio production - skills which pave the way Post Grad (2009) (composer: additional music) Space Debris for success in this creative niche. Grads who I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) (score coordinator) The Hangover (2009) (additional music) (score Other SMPTV grads scoring video games include; have excelled in this area include; Matt programmer) Gareth Coker (2010), Kenny Wood (2009), Igor Koskenmaki (2001), “American Chopper”, Make the Yuletide Gay (2009) (original songs) The Pink Panther 2 (2009) (composer: additional Nemirovsky (2008), Andrea Chang (2007), “Apocalypse Island”, “Street Customs”, “The Ultimate Fighter” Jake Monaco (2007), “Hot music) Panu Aaltio (2006) and Wataru Hokoyama The Greatest (2009) (score coordinator) Tub Time Machine”, “All About Steve”, “Death (2000). What Happens in Vegas (2008) (additional at a Funeral” and “The Hangover”.

The success stories outlined in this report are a direct result of Brian King’s abilities as a musician, educator and program director to; •redesign and modernize all aspects of the SMPTV program, including the curriculum and production workflow •attract the best working professionals to teach in the SMPTV program •establish key relationships between USC and the scoring industry, a direct connection to numerous job opportunities in this marketplace •collaborate with various programs and departments on the USC campus, including the School of Cinematic Arts and the TSOM

For more information about Brian King, including his work as a musician, composer and producer go to;

http://www.briankingmusic.biz/workbench