Composer Chris Benstead talks about being Guy Ritchies’ musical maestro on multiple projects, including THE GENTLEMEN on Netflix and THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE. How his musical education led him into music mixing and eventually working in the “sound” departments on major projects, before his work with Patrick Doyle, Steven Price, Alan Menken and Hans Zimmer brought him back into the “composer” role for Guy Ritchie. Why Guy sometimes asks him to be “braver” with a cue, and how to delegate (aka “let go”) of certain parts of the music composition process that you’re good at. Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader.

YouTuber Rudy Mancuso has been following SCORE for years, as a musician and composer in his own right. He joins Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader to discuss his breakout hit film from SxSW ‘MÚSICA’ out now on Prime Video — a semi-autobiographic film, years in the making, that pushes musical possibilities to refreshingly brilliant musical storytelling. Directed as only a composer could, MÚSICA (also starring Camila Mendes and J.B. Smoove) is an exploration of synesthesia, in which Rudy experiences real life in semi-musical form. Rudy discusses how his content creator life was the perfect practice for navigating his own feature film, why puppets (yes, puppets) are so integral to his film, and why he never had any doubt he would direct AND compose the music himself.

The Miami-based Carlos Rafael Rivera with two series releasing now (Griselda, Monsieur Spade) joins to talk about his massive breakout with The Queen’s Gambit, followed by Hacks and Lessons in Chemistry. Why Sofia Vergara's dramatic turn as a drug kingpin in Miami deserved an operative approach. How he manages to maintain his Miami location for an industry that is largely located in Los Angeles. Plus, he revisits his 2017 adventure to go see Score: A Film Music Documentary in New York, and how he’s brought some of his teaching skills (and musicians) into his music work.

Before that, Kenny and Matt break down the Oscar nominees, as Robert joins a few minutes later to explain why Oppenheimer’s score (by Ludwig Gorannsson) is so groundbreakingly original.

One of the original members of the indie band Arcade Fire, Richard Reed Parry (THE IRON CLAW, EILEEN) discusses his jump into film scoring, the importance of finding “mojo” and “vibe,” and how the wrestling biopic The Iron Claw nearly stumped him musically — until he unlocked the rich, layered sound that carries the film. How Spike Jonze’s film “Her” prepared him for the next stage in his career, and why he believes it’s important to be as musically dynamic with other musicians as possible.

Geoff Zanelli makes his long-awaited Score debut after one of Netflix’s most watched animated films of all-time, the Adam Sandler-produced LEO. In this episode, Kenny and Robert discuss the long-awaited arrival of MAESTRO, the Leonard Bernstein biopic, which we discussed on the 2nd episode of SCORE: THE PODCAST back when it was to be directed by Spielberg. Then, Robert and Geoff reminisce about drinking absinthe in Paris, before jumping into the challenge of making Adam Sandler laugh, and the paradox of writing “funny” music in animation. Plus, Geoff talks about his path from music school to being an intern at Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions in the early (Lion King era) 1990s, sitting in on Alan Meyerson mixes, and getting his first opportunities while working for John Powell on the movie Face/Off. 

Composer of the new historical epic NAPOLEON Martin Phipps joins Score for the first time! How he located a piano once owned by Napoleon himself for the score. Plus, his path to film and television music, his work on Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror and The Crown, and establishing trust with the great Ridley Scott. How Martin overcame his early doubts about musical approach for NAPOLEON to meet its spectacular giant sets, and musically signaling Napoleon as an ambitious outsider rising to power.

Interview by Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes.

Score season 5 returns with composer James Newton Howard, who currently has four projects releasing this month, including the Hunger Games prequel that he says asked him not to use synths (“they haven’t been invented yet”). Plus, how working with Hans Zimmer helped pull him out of a period of depression, when to fight for your musical opinion, and why he likes the rush of being asked to “save” blockbuster films in the final weeks before release. Interviewed by Robert Kraft and Matt Schrader.

Live podcast recording with composer Colin Stetson from Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards in Belgium.

Composer and musician Colin Stetson is a nominee for the WSA Discovery of the Year Award, and sits down with Robert Kraft to talk about how he keeps his music fresh, his musical mind healthy and his performing career exciting. They also discuss his recent work, including THE MENU and HEREDITARY.

Recorded on location by Film Fest Gent in front of a live audience in October 2023.