Michael Giacchino scores Tomorrowland
Posted on May 26, 2015 by Dan Goldwasser
Earlier this year, Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino recorded his score to the new Brad Bird film, Tomorrowland. The movie, starring George Clooney, marks the fourth collaboration between Giacchino and Bird, and was written by Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof, and opened this past Friday (May 22, 2015). Recording took place at the Sony Pictures scoring stage, and ScoringSessions.com is excited to bring our readers exclusive photos from the sessions!
Tim Simonec conducts the score to Tomorrowland
For the music to Tomorrowland, Giacchino had his longtime orchestrator and conductor Tim Simonec leading an epic 96-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony. Giacchino wrote over 100-minutes of score, and we were there when they recorded the thematic and heroic end titles, as well as the exciting and energetic "house attack" sequence, among other bits. For one sequence, Giacchino wrote the music backwards, with the intent to be played-back in reverse, giving it an otherworldly sound.
The violins
The cello section
The French horns show off their Wagner tubas
The brass section
Composer Michael Giacchino confers with conductor Tim Simonec as orchestrator Jeff Kryka watches
The trumpets
Guitarist George Doering
The large percussion team
The woodwinds between takes
Gloria Cheng on piano
Mark Gasbarro on piano
Legendary Disney composer/songwriter Richard Sherman, who along with his late brother had written the classic tune "There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" for the 1964 World’s Fair, visited the session during one of the dates. They re-recorded the tune for the film, using the original orchestration (but a much larger ensemble) which was then paired with the original 1964 vocal track – it appears in the final film as background source.
Richard Sherman talks to the orchestra as conductor Tim Simonec and composer Michael Giacchino watch.*
In the booth, score mixer Joel Iwataki was handled the recording duties, joined at the console by Giacchino and director Brad Bird. The rest of the music team was also in the booth to give feedback, along with ProTools recordist Vinni Cirilli, music editor Alex Levy, assistant music editors Mae Crosby and Warren Brown, orchestrator Jeff Kryka, and music librarian Marshall Bowen.
Inside the booth at Sony
Composer Michael Giacchino and scoring mixer Joel Iwataki
Michael Giacchino and director Brad Bird listen to a cue
Music Editor Alex Levy, assistant music editor Mae Crosby and ProTools recordist Vinny Cirilli
Director Brad Bird and composer Michael Giacchino give tribute to actor Leonard Nimoy, who passed away the day this photo was taken
Tomorrowland opened in theaters this past weekend, and Brad Bird personally recommends you see the film in Dolby Vision capable theaters. The soundtrack is available from Walt Disney Records.
*Photo courtesy Maria Giacchino
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