The Boy

The Boy, directed by Jonathan Gibney, is an animated senior film from SCAD, class of 2022. When I first saw the pitch for this project, my initial thought was, "I MUST compose music for this film." I believed my musical style (and perhaps some ethereal vocals) could contribute perfectly to the feeling of the project. Fate stepped in, and Jonathan, reached out and asked me if I was interested in scoring the film. I was so excited, and that feeling carried throughout the scoring process!

VOCALS

I knew immediately that if I got the chance to compose music for The Boy, the score would be based on a vocal melody that I would hum. The main melody was created as I looked over the concept paintings and storyboards from the film, and I just began singing different melodies to see which one would fit the feel of the film best. The motif I chose ended up providing a mysterious dark feel, and I was excited about using my voice to create it in order to contrast the dark melody with a high female voice.

STRINGS

Strings have the ability to tie all the instruments together within a composition, and that is how I implemented them in this score. Since the vocals and piano carried the lead melodies, the strings provided a washing bed that was fluid enough to pull all the pieces together. However, the strings do take over the lead melody when danger appears within the narrative, allowing for a contrast from when there was no conflict within the story.

BIG DRUMS

The Boy is the first film that I've ever used drums to compose the score. The middle of. the story is driven by action, so I figured it would be a perfect opportunity to work on matching the drum beat to the action of the film. I find it impactful, especially in the quiet moments that lead to more action after, because the drums emphasize a heartbeat effect that makes the character seem more alive in the face of danger.