Saturday, June 29, 2024

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel [Media Notes 134]

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel is a 2022 documentary about the life and accomplishments of the famed film composer, who’s known for his ability to combine electronic music with natural instruments. Zimmer has composed music for over 150 films, winning Oscars for The Lion King and Dune (2021). He’s also done the scores for Rain Man, Driving Miss Daisy, The Thin Red Line, Gladiator, The Last Samurai, The Dark Knight, 12 Years a Slave, Planet Earth II, Blade Runner 2049, and others. 

From my point of view the single most interesting thing about Zimmer is that he’s changed the way film scoring can be done. Traditionally, the composer is brought in when the film has been shot and edited. The way Zimmer works with electronic instruments allows him to be brought in at the beginning of the process, even before there is a shooting script. Give him an idea of what the film is about and what kind of music the director wants and he can start producing musical sketches, when then influence how the film evolves. This film gives us glimpses of this process and glimpses of his piles of equipment.

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