MET @ Alleyn's: Chris Barnett and Composing for the Big Screen

This year, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of our Film and Media Studies program, we are honored to host a series of guest speakers at Alleyn's. These distinguished individuals will share their insights into the film industry. Our inaugural guest was Chris Barnett, who presented his 'Monday Evening Talk at Alleyn's' to an eager audience. His discussion centered on the fascinating world of documentary and film composition.

Chris began by showcasing his showreel, highlighting how music profoundly influences the tone and emotions within a film or documentary. He emphasized the diverse range of musical styles that composers must master for various genres. This was vividly demonstrated through a comparison of his work on two documentaries: 'Getting Away with Murder(s)' (which focuses on the Holocaust) and another documentary centered around an Olympic-bound gymnast.

According to Chris, successful composers possess a broad knowledge of film and television, drawing inspiration from various sources. Effective communication skills and an aptitude for understanding a film's needs, akin to psychology, are essential. Chris also emphasized that composers often need to revise their work to align with the director's vision, urging fellow composers not to be overly protective of their compositions.

During the Q&A session that followed, an intriguing question arose: how AI might impact the music industry. Chris expressed the need for legislation to regulate AI's role in music creation, safeguarding the industry's integrity.

For students embarking on their journey to write, direct, and produce their own films as part of their studies, Chris offered the following advice for creating compelling music scores:

1. Have a clear message in mind.
2. Consider how you want your audience to feel.

We hope that Chris's enlightening discussion left our students inspired to compose music fit for the silver screen.

Our upcoming event in the series of talks about the film industry, Ideas@Alleyn's, will feature Julian Glover (Roper's 1952). If you haven't secured your ticket yet, there is still time to do so here: https://tinyurl.com/yc3bjrj3