Creating the Symphonic Score for:
When I was approached to create the symphonic score for a short comedy film by a friend of mine, I knew I wanted to capture the whimsical and lighthearted tone that the film embodied and give the scored section a ridiculous 80’s themed Cop Drama Styled action piece. The project was both a challenge and a joy, pushing me to write the music a little on the fly while delivering a polished orchestral score in a short time frame.
The Challenge It needed a playful yet sophisticated score that would perfectly complement the comedic narrative. The director wanted the music to highlight the intense, anxiety driven adventure of the main character, Cheeseburger, adding both tense emotional weight and comedic flair to the film. With a tight deadline and a requirement for a rich, symphonic sound, I jumped into the creative process with excitement.
The Process Over the course of a three-day recording session, I set up my studio with a wide array of instruments, including:
- Electric Drums – for all the various percussion sounds, like Timani
- Upright and Electric Bass Guitar
- Guitars
- Cellos
- Violins
- Piano
- Trumpets
- And don’t forget the Shaker
This project allowed me to play these instruments myself, layering and blending them to create a lively orchestral texture that would suit the film’s comedic moments perfectly. I wanted the score to feel spontaneous, so I often wrote music on the fly, allowing the scenes to guide the direction of the composition.
Day 1: The first day focused on recording the foundational instruments: drums, bass guitar, timpani and a lot of cello. These provided the rhythmic backbone, driving the playful energy forward.
Day 2: On day two, I added melodic layers with guitars, more cellos, violins, and piano. This gave the score its whimsical, adventurous feel, enhancing the comedy on screen.
Day 3: The final day was all about the brass and finishing up the guitars. Trumpets added a touch of grandeur, providing moments of comedic exaggeration that perfectly matched the visuals.
The Result The finished score brought The Secret Life of Cheeseburger to life, creating a sonic landscape that mirrored the quirky journey of our cheeseburger protagonist. Once the score got into the film it gave it the punch that it was craving, and, if I do say so myself, it did an amazing job to make the scene intense!
I’ve documented this creative journey in my latest instructional video, where I break down the entire process, share my thoughts behind the creative decisions, and demonstrate how I recorded each instrument. If you’re interested in film scoring, or simply want to see how a score is crafted from start to finish, check out the video on my YouTube channel. You can also find exclusive behind-the-scenes content and downloadable project files on my Patreon.
