Making Music for Movies with Shawn Sutta and Adam Robl
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Shawn Sutta
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Topics discussed
Host note
Shawn Sutta and Adam Robl score film and TV together. We get into how they actually build a cue: starting from a temp score already cut into the picture, learning when a scene works better with silence than music, and the mic choices that make an orchestral recording sound real rather than just loud.
Shawn talks about scoring as something that gives him structure and inspiration precisely because an open brief, any instrument, any purpose, no deadline, is the hardest thing to write to. Adam gets into what composing for someone else's story lets him do: step into emotional territory that isn't part of his own life. Both of them walk through their home studio build and the gear decisions behind it.
The conversation closes on where they want to take it next: bigger ensembles, choirs, and building a new studio to record them in.
Selected moments
- Melding loves for film and music 1:51 Shawn discusses his passion for both music and film, and how scoring a film provides structure and inspiration for creativity.
- Stepping into new stories 3:09 Adam elaborates on how composing for films allows them to explore different emotional landscapes that are not part of their personal narratives.
- Understanding temp scores 5:42 The duo explains the concept of temp scoring and how it influences their creative process.
- Mixing for the medium 7:09 They talk about the importance of leaving space in the score when the film works well without music.
- Recording techniques 10:03 Shawn and Adam share insights into their approach to capturing sound and utilizing various recording equipment.
- Future aspirations and challenges 31:26 Shawn and Adam discuss their dreams for larger ensemble projects and the excitement of building a new studio.
Selected excerpts
I find it really hard to write when it's open to just write anything on any instrument for any purpose of any length with no deadline.
Each movie has its own world and it's interesting to see how it affects us and the aesthetics too.
Most of the time we get a film that's been edited and we use temp music to help pace out edits.
If the thing works really well without music, then I think leaving more space is the answer there.
The main goal is to make it sound real, so our mic choices play a big role in that.
We're excited about the future, especially working with larger ensembles and recording with choirs.
FAQ
What is indie film composition?
Indie film composition involves creating music specifically for independent films, typically with smaller budgets and more creative freedom.
How do Shawn Sutta and Adam Robl collaborate as composers?
Shawn and Adam collaborate by combining their unique skills and ideas, often starting with a piano piece and building it into a full score.
What are temp scores in film music?
Temp scores are temporary pieces of music used in film editing to help shape the pacing and emotional tone before the final score is composed.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. The episode itself is on the listen links above.