Hi reddit! I'm Will Bates, film composer. I've composed original music/scores for DUMB MONEY, IMMACULATE, IMPERIUM, THE LOOMING TOWER, ANOTHER EARTH, THE BETTER SISTER, DEVIL IN OHIO, ROSEMEAD, BLISS, amongst others.
My next project, TUNER, is out in theaters on 5/29 and stars Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu, and Dustin Hoffman. Directed by Oscar-winner Daniel Roher.
Synopsis: A talented piano tuner's meticulous skills for tuning pianos lead him to discover an unexpected aptitude for cracking safes, turning his life upside down.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdlOZhl-nSA
I'll be answering your questions on Thursday 5/21 at 12 PM PM PT/3 PM ET.
Ask me anything!
by TunerAMA
12 Comments
If you had to pick a Guardian Owl to stay by your side for the rest of your life, would you rather pick a Hoot-Hoot owl or a Screeching Owl???
How do you work with directors? What’s your relationship to them and how can a director make life easy for someone like you?
Hey Will! What’s the most tedious non-music part of your job that you wish you could automate or delegate tomorrow?
How did you go about composing for Tuner? Do you usually read the script of the movie ahead to start composing for that genre?
For Tuner did you have to capture how Niki experiences sound?
I’ve seen Tuner and loved it, good job on the score… my question is, how was it working with the conceit of the film being sound related? How did that play into your choices when scoring it?
what are your opinions on the aftermath of the Syrian Civil War?
I’m a small time film composer trying to get to the level you’re at. One thing I can struggle with sometimes is striking the balance between finding a musical “through-line”, without falling into repetitiveness or tedium in the score. what are some steps you take to ensure a score is cohesive, but also stays fresh for 2 hours? by the way I think you did an exemplary job of this in Immaculate, and I just saw a preview screening of Tuner and loved it! great work.
What composer is your biggest inspiration? What made you interested in scoring films?
Is Hans Zimmer as much of a charlatan as people say he is with an army of ghostwriters that far exceeds anything ever seen in the history of film composing?
Hi Will, I loved your Immaculate score. My questions for you are: how did you “make it” to and in Hollywood, how did you come about your first bookings, did you have a mentor who introduced you into the scene, and finally do you have any interest in mentorship yourself?
Looking foward to Tuner, I wish you all the best!
Need an assistant?