If you had the opportunity to watch Unbroken: The Path To Redemption, then you are well aware of the allure of that film and the inspirational story it tells. I was honored to receive an early viewing of the film, and I was literally blown away! One of the people who contributed to the success of that film is Brandon Roberts, the composer of the music for that faith-based film. Of course, Brandon’s skills extend far beyond that movie, and I am honored to feature this man and his talents on my site today.

RH: What inspired you to pursue a career in music/composition? What kind of training have you had to prepare you for this career?

BR: I grew up in the Monterey/Carmel area, and music is a huge part of its history. The Monterey Pop and Monterey Jazz Festivals are legendary. I got involved with jazz early on and had the great fortune of finding some wonderful teachers and music programs to partake in. The Monterey Jazz Festival Youth Honor Band was a great example of this. We got to travel to Australia to tour and get a sense of the life of a professional musician. After high school, I attended the jazz guitar program at USC and eventually segued into film music when I fell for composition. There were amazing teachers there, including David Raksin, Christopher Young, and Elmer Bernstein.

What was the first TV or movie project for which you composed music? What was most memorable about that experience?

Ha! Good question. I would say the first film out of USC that I did was a Chinese feature film called Hi, Frank. I had randomly sent a demo to an address listed in Variety and got a callback. When I met with the filmmakers, we had translators and they expressed they liked one track in particular. After the contract negations, I went to work on the score and had practically zero communication with the filmmakers until I flew to China to conduct and record the orchestra. I had no idea what would happen, but it turned out great. It was a testament to both sides having faith in one another that we would get our jobs done, and was a valuable lesson regarding trust. I’m not sure if the movie was ever released in China, but that was a wonderful experience.

You have composed music for a wide variety of styles. What is your process for writing film music? Where does your inspiration come from?

My process starts with an idea for the score’s concept, followed by a day of panic over how to pull it off. After some comfort food, I dig in and start experimenting. In general, I try to create a sound palette unique to each film to accompany the musical themes. Then, I will create a suite or two to play for the filmmakers to see if they like the musical direction. I spot the film with the director and producers to establish which scenes need music, and the vibe for each scene. Finally, I start composing those individual scenes using my musical material.

Most recently, you wrote the music for Unbroken: Path To Redemption.  How was that process rewarding and different from the other projects you’ve worked on?

Composing the music for Unbroken: Path To Redemption was rewarding in many ways. First off, it was a chance to help musically convey the rest of Louis Zamperini’s inspiring life story. I was already a huge fan of the first film and of Alexandre Desplat’s score. I loved the challenge of forging a new musical path while maintaining the continuity of the original film. Since Louis Zamperini’s journey becomes more about the internal struggle in the second film, it was an opportunity to go very deep into his psyche and emotions from a musical standpoint. Another rewarding aspect was getting to work with new filmmakers. Director Harold Cronk, producers Matt Baer and Lisa Gooding, and Music Executive Mandy Mamlet were so supportive of my music, and so enthusiastic about the film, that it was addictive and made me push harder.

How was the film different…well, the musical approach was more traditional than the last few projects I had worked on. We harkened back to classic film scores for inspiration and that was a welcome change.

Any other upcoming works you can mention?

Yes! I just completed a film called Underwater, directed by William Eubank, with co-composer Marco Beltrami. The whole movie takes place on the ocean floor and is very cool. I’m presently composing for a TV pilot called Motherland, which revolves around witches in the military. The premise sounds bizarre, but it works well.

Music in film and TV is essential, but rarely a high-profile career. How do you define success in your career in this field? 

If I’m proud of the music, and the filmmakers feel that the score lifts the scenes to a new emotional level, then I am a happy camper.

Do you have aspirations to work in other portions of the industry? What about writing music for other mediums besides film and TV?

I’d really like to explore the video game world more. I saw the trailer for Death Stranding and it blew me away with how creatively epic it felt. There are such great opportunities to build an entire sonic/musical world.

What is your advice to other young musicians who may wish to follow a similar career path?

Be patient, because the path is different for everyone. One thing seems to be consistent and that is, it takes time. Also, find composers you admire to work for and learn from. I was lucky enough to collaborate with some very talented people including Marco Beltrami, Buck Sanders, Chris Lennertz, and Bear McCreary over many years. That experience was invaluable.

When not composing music, what do you like to do for fun?

I don’t understand the question… just kidding! In seriousness, I spend most of my free time with my wife and my 1½-year-old son. He’s a blast right now so we’ve been exposing him to anything he seems interested in. In the rare event I have more time than that, I surf or do yoga to help clear the brain or catch up with friends and family.

I absolutely relish having the opportunity to highlight people like Brandon who labor tirelessly behind-the-scenes and rarely receive the recognition for their contributions. In the case of Brandon, he has such a fantastic attitude, and that is one attribute that is affording him a plethora of opportunities. In fact, I have no doubt this will continue to be the case as he shares his passions with the world of film and television in his own inimitable fashion. Moreover, the fact that he appears to have a charming sense of humor coupled with an incredible work ethic is something that demonstrates his willingness to be a team player and excel within his profession. If you have not had the opportunity to watch Unbroken: Path To Redemption, it is my hope that you will consider watching this film, whether in the theater or ordering it at your favorite retailer or streaming site (I believe it is available for pre-order). Additionally, if you are so inclined, I invite you to visit all of Brandon’s links below and follow him where applicable. As a musician myself, I am always drawn to exceptional artists like Brandon, and I greatly anticipate all his future projects in addition to the rediscovering of some of his past works.

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