Past NYU: Bopping to the beat of blockbuster scores

NYU alum Ching-Shan Chang started her profession writing modern music. Now, she writes movie scores which have appeared in films and movie festivals internationally.

Steinhardt alum Ching-Shan Chang composes music for movie scores and orchestras. Though she primarily targeted on modern music as an undergraduate on the College of Rochester’s Eastman College of Music, she later realized that her ardour lay in writing music for movie. She is credited in blockbuster hits comparable to “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “Teen Wolf: The Film.”

Chang got here to NYU’s Steinhardt College of Tradition, Schooling, and Human Improvement to earn her grasp’s diploma from the two-year Display Scoring program, which she graduated from in 2019. She was then chosen as one in every of two individuals to intern for Tom Holkenborg, the composer of the scores for “Mad Max: Fury Highway,” “Deadpool,” “Tomb Raider” and lots of different movies. She has continued to work with Holkenborg all through her profession. 

In an interview with WSN, Chang spoke about her begin within the movie trade, how she took benefit of instructional alternatives at NYU, and her means of composing music.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.

WSN: What drew you to compose for movie as an alternative of writing modern classical music? 

Chang: Up to date music focuses an excessive amount of on sounding overly difficult. I simply had this sense that solely people who find themselves skilled in music can admire or perceive this sort of music, and I don’t need my music to be like that. I would like my music to be approachable, accessible and really simply understood. Whenever you play the music, it communicates with the viewers. 

Chang’s capacity to forge connections with administrators as an NYU scholar helped her understand she wished to proceed to jot down music for the movie trade. Whereas at NYU, she composed the music for a brief movie, “A Flor Azul,” directed by Tisch alum Guilherme Pedra. The movie premiered on the 2018 Cannes Movie Pageant. She stated that attending the competition was her first expertise with skilled filmmakers.

WSN: What do you consider a rating brings to a film?

Chang: I don’t assume individuals understand how necessary background music is till you’re taking the music out. As a composer, all of us need to know that persons are watching the film and never listening to the music. We now have to tuck it away and ensure we’re serving to the film inform the story. It’s a tough stability to search out since you additionally don’t need the music to not be there, and nobody actually notices it, and in case you take the music out, nobody cares. All of us purpose to jot down music that folks wouldn’t get distracted by when watching the film, however shall be considering listening to the soundtrack after the film.

Earlier than she got here to NYU for graduate faculty, Chang took half in a college workshop for movie scoring in the summertime of 2016. There, a fellow participant despatched her a hyperlink to use as an intern for Holkenborg, a famend movie rating composer. After being chosen to intern with the composer, Chang moved to Los Angeles to satisfy with administrators, and attended recording classes at studios comparable to Warner Brothers as a part of her work with him.

WSN: What did it really feel wish to be chosen to work with Holkenborg?

Chang: There have been plenty of surprises like this all through the journey of turning into a movie composer. You’ll be able to’t plan something, however I used to be glad that [the other participant] reached out to me and stated to do that. Initially, I stated, “I don’t assume I’ll get it,” and he stated, “Simply strive it gained’t damage.” It was unbelievable as a result of I come from a background in classical music, and even all through my two years at NYU, I wasn’t snug or assured sufficient to be helping an enormous composer like my boss.

As Chang continued the internship, she felt extra assured in her rating composing skills, however the expertise was reduce brief as a result of pandemic. In 2020, Chang left the studio in Los Angeles and moved again to New York Metropolis to collaborate on a musical play with the Nationwide Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. She saved in contact with Holkenborg all through the pandemic, and, in 2021, he employed her full-time. 

WSN: How have you learnt when you may have created the ultimate rating to make use of for a movie?

Chang: It relies on the director, as a result of if the director doesn’t prefer it, even whether it is an incredible masterpiece, it’s simply mistaken. Composers all need to observe what the director needs, what their visions are after which attempt to accomplish that. I’ve met so many gifted composers who write unbelievable music, however typically it doesn’t work for movie or is inappropriate for the scene, which is a disgrace. I attempt to remember that music is a service for its image. 

Chang started to assist write the rating for “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” a couple of months after she was employed. Earlier than she begins composing a movie rating, Chang is granted early entry to the movie and receives a brief music pattern. She stated the pattern offers her a common thought of the kind of music the movie’s director is on the lookout for. 

WSN: How do you make audiences really feel totally different feelings by way of your music?

Chang: It’s difficult as a result of everybody interprets feelings in a different way, and we kind of need to belief our intuition. I believe an important factor is that we now have to assume like our boss, and we are able to’t simply write as whether it is our personal film as a result of, ultimately, it’s his film. I’ll be considering, “What would Tom do right here?” and if it doesn’t work, then Tom is often very direct with us.

Chang plans to proceed to work with Holkenborg, however hopes to ultimately freelance and write music for different composers so she will study from them. 

WSN: What was it like listening to the ultimate rating of your first industrial movie venture? 

Chang: My first expertise of seeing the whole movie was in IMAX, and I used to be moved to tears. I did a cue that was performed within the climax of the film, and simply sharing feelings — laughter, tears and screams — which the viewers all collectively was a wild expertise. It’s simply loopy to see how many individuals hearken to your music.

Contact Adrianna Nehme at [email protected]