Aaron Zigman scores The Martian Child

Composer Aaron Zigman is in the middle of recording his score to New Line Cinema’s The Martian Child, at the Sony Scoring Stage in Culver City, CA. Directed by Menno Meyjes, the film is about a widower author (John Cusack) who adopts a son who believes himself to be from Mars. This touching drama required an emotional score, which Zigman recorded today, and will finish recording tomorrow.

Aaron Zigman conducts on The Martian Child

Zigman, who orchestrated the score along with Jerry Hey, conducted an 85-piece orchestra in during the morning session. The music was full of high emotion, with strong brass. In the afternoon, the orchestra was smaller, and the pieces recorded were soft and beautiful, with heavy strings accentuated with piano, harp and guitar.

New Line Music Executive Bob Bowen, Composer Aaron Zigman, and Scoring Mixer Dennis Sands

In the control room, scoring engineer Dennis Sands was mixing the music, which included a spattering of prerecorded elements for textures as well as Zigman himself on piano, and George Doering on guitar. Music editor Johnny Caruso, Mike Stern, and ProTools Recordist Larry Mah were also busy working to make sure things went smoothly. To ensure as much coverage as possible, Zigman would have every take recorded, including the rehearsals.

Johnny Caruso, Mike Stern and Larry Mah

The Martian Child will be released in theaters on February 9, 2007.

Aaron Zigman conducts the Hollywood Studio Symphony