Brandon Moore (composer) explained

Brandon Moore
Birth Date:25 November 1976
Birth Place:Arlington, Texas, U.S.
Occupation:Film composer
Years Active:2000–present
Genre:Film score, orchestral

Brandon Moore (born November 25, 1976) is an American composer known for Universal's Aliens Ate My Homework (2018) and the sequel Aliens Stole My Body (2020) featuring the voice talents of William Shatner and George Takei. He’s also known for the comedy-horror series Killer Sisters' Midnight Hour (2012) for Hulu, and the IFS Festival's Best Drama winner The Year I Did Nothing (2019). Brandon has been a musician since an early age and a life-long film music fan. Upon completing his undergrad in music theory and composition in Fort Worth, TX, he moved to Los Angeles to attend USC's Film Scoring program. Brandon has composed a wide range of scores for a variety of film projects and genres. His music has played in film festivals all over the world for as long as he's been an active composer in Hollywood.

Biography

Early life

Brandon Moore grew up listening to film scores and performing music in his native Arlington, Texas. His father John Moore (1942-2011) was an architect and his mother Cheryl Ford-Mente, a communications director for non-profit organizations, was heavily involved in Dallas-Fort Worth community theater as an actress and fundraiser and host of a local cable talk show "Around Arlington." Brandon's parents encouraged him to start playing music at an early age. He switched from piano, viola, and finally settling on the trombone in high school. Brandon credits his dad for his introduction to film music:

My dad would buy these soundtrack albums. He had a wide range of vinyl, but he occasionally had a pop soundtrack album and a score album here and there, but there were three that I remember listening to a lot: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi and Superman: The Movie. And I wore these records out, scratched them and everything. I was probably about 11 years old when I realized they were all written by John Williams.[1]

Education

In 1999 he graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Music degree in music theory and composition. That same year he moved to Los Angeles to study film scoring professionally at the University of Southern California's Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program. At USC, Brandon had the privilege of studying under accomplished film composers Elmer Bernstein, David Raksin and Christopher Young.

Discography

Soundtracks

TitleRelease DateLabelFormat
Aliens Stole My BodyJuly 31, 2020Back Lot Musicdigital download
Aliens Ate My HomeworkMarch 2, 2018Back Lot Musicdigital download
Ray Bradbury's ChrysalisAugust 15, 2009Independent releaseCD, digital download

Works

Films

YearTitleDirectorTypeNotes
2023Where The Dead GoAlberto G. RodriguezFeature2023 South Texas International Film Festival pre-festival showcase, 2024 Golden State Film Fest official selection and West Coast premiere [2]
2022Motion At Your DoorJared RivetShortLA Screamfest official selection and premiere [3]
2020Alma's PondRoger Lay Jr.ShortHollywood Just4Shorts Best Drama Short award winner [4]
2020Aliens Stole My BodySean McNamaraFeature
2019The Year I Did NothingAna BarredoForeign Language (Philippines)IFS Film Festival 2019 Best Dramatic Feature Film award winner,[5] Cebu International Film Festival Best Long Form award winner,[6] TWIFF Best Narrative Feature award winner,[7] GIFF Best Feature and Best Female Director awards winner,[8]
2018Aliens Ate My HomeworkSean McNamaraFeature
2013Our Urban WildernessJohn WinninghamFeature
2012Toy MastersCorey Landis, Roger Lay Jr.Documentary
2011The TableAna BarredoDocumentarySoCal Independent Film Festival award winner
2008Ray Bradbury's ChrysalisTony Báez MilánFeaturePhoenix International Horror & Sci-Fi Festival award winner [9]
2007Return To VietnamCharles DomokosDocumentarySilver Telly Award winner [10]
2007Ackerman on BradburyRoger Lay Jr.Documentary Short
2006Forest Lawn: The First Hundred YearsJeremy WeissDocumentary
2005A Piece of WoodTony Báez MilánShort
2004The Gentleman Don La ManchaTed RoachFeatureMexico International Film Festival award winner [11]

Series

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2023The PartyGeneva Willis, Margaret Borchert and Tori Chancellorweb series
2014Dysfunctionally OrganizedNimo Mathengeweb series
2012Killer Sisters' Midnight HourMike WilliamsonHulu original series[12]

Audio Dramas

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2018Tales From the Dead of NightJared RivetEarbud Theater Podcast. Original theme and end credits; Segment "Knife Flip" uses original track titled "Possession"[13]
2018The CurrentJared RivetEarbud Theater Podcast[14]

Concert Works

TitlePublisherNotes
Aura Collage for Solo Trombone and Brass EnsembleWorld premiere held at the 2024 International Trombone Festival in Fort Worth, Texas performed by Dr. Dave Begnoche and the Center Stage Brass on June 1st at Pepsico Hall on the campus of Texas Christian University.[15] Instrumentation: Solo Trombone, 4 Trumpets, 2 Alto Horns, Tenor Trombone, Euphonium, Bass Trombone and Tuba.
Firethorn for Trombone OctetWritten for the Red River Trombones "8x8x8" series and performed at the 2019 International Trombone Festival held in Muncie, Indiana at Ball State University.[16] The world premiere with its additional 2nd movement was performed by the TCU Trombone Choir for the 2021 TCU Trombone Summit concert.[17]
The Alien for Theremin, Clarinet, Trombone and NarratorInstrumental accompaniment to poem recitation, first performed in 2013 Los Angeles, California in dedication to author Ray Bradbury.
The Cylindrical Sea for Alto Saxophone, String Quartet and Xylophone
Nonet for Flute, Clarinet, French Horn, Bassoon, String Quartet and Percussion
Brass Quintet
Flute Duet No. 1
Triumvirate for 2 Trumpets and Trombone
Faith of Our Fathers hymn arrangement for Brass EnsembleLive Oak House

Awards, nominations and recognition

Wins

2024 Hollywood Blood Horror Festival Winner - Best Original Score, Brandon Moore - Don't Raise The Dead (The Board Game) [18]

Nominations

2018 Audio Verse Awards Finalist - Original Compositions for Self-Contained Productions and Original Compositions for Dramatic Productions - episode The Current for Earbud Theater[19]

2012 Park City Film Music Festival Award Nomination for Best Impact of Music in a Documentary - The Table[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Romanelli, Kristen. "Aliens Ate His Film Score". Film Score Monthly Volume 23, Issue 2. February 22 2018. Pages 60-65. FSM Online
  2. Golden State Film Festival Program 2024 Page 77 - Where The Dead Go, https://www.goldenstatefilmfestival.com Retrieved on February 29, 2024
  3. LA Screamfest 2022 Official Selection Short Block 8 - Motion At Your Door, LA Screamfest Retrieved on June 13, 2023
  4. Hollywood Just4Shorts Short Film and Screenplay Competition Official Winners - Best Drama Short - Alma's Pond, Hollywood Just4Shorts Short Film and Screenplay Competition Retrieved on July 31, 2020
  5. IFS 2019 Program Guide - Best Dramatic Feature Film and Nominee - Best Picture: The Year I Did Nothing, Independent Filmmakers Showcase Film Festival Retrieved on April 26, 2019
  6. Cebu IFF Facebook Post - WINNERS FOR THIS YEAR'S CEBUIFF 2019, BEST LONG FILM-PH FOCUS: The Year I Did Nothing, Cebu International Film Festival Retrieved on November 26, 2019
  7. Congratulations to the TWIFF 2019 Winners - Best Narrative Feature: The Year I Did Nothing, The World's Independent Film Festival Retrieved on November 26, 2019
  8. GIFF 2019 Award Winners - Best Feature and Best Female Director: The Year I Did Nothing, Glendale International Film Festival Retrieved on November 26, 2019
  9. Sci-Fi Awards List - Best Feature Film 2008: Ray Bradbury's Chrysalis, International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival Retrieved on October 17, 2018
  10. Telly Awards 2007 - Silver Telly Winner Film/Video-TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces - Documentary - Return to Vietnam The Telly Awards Retrieved on October 17, 2018
  11. Awards 2007 Winners - Best Student Film The Gentleman Don La Mancha, International Mexico International Film Festival Retrieved on October 17, 2018
  12. Miska, Brad. "Bloody Disgusting Presents Killer Sisters’ Midnight Hour On Hulu and Hulu Plus!". Bloody Disgusting. October 12, 2012.
  13. "Tales From the Dead of Night" Cast and crew bios: Brandon Moore Composer, Earbud Theater Podcast Retrieved on October 17, 2018
  14. "The Current" Meet The Team: Brandon Moore Composer, Earbud Theater Podcast Retrieved on October 17, 2018
  15. International Trombone Festival Schedule ITF 2024 Full Schedule - Saturday - Center Stage Brass, International Trombone Festival Retrieved on July 11, 2024
  16. International Trombone Festival Schedule ITF 2019 Full Schedule - Friday - Presenter Recital: Red River Trombone Octet 8x8x8, International Trombone Festival Retrieved on August 27, 2019
  17. TCU Trombone Summit Schedule 13th Annual Trombone Summit Schedule - Sunday - World Premiere of Firethorn, https://finearts.tcu.edu/music/events-and-programs/festivals/trombone-summit/ Retrieved on May 5, 2021
  18. 2024 Hollywood Blood Horror Festival - Winners List Retrieved on February 29, 2024
  19. 2018 Audio Verse Awards - List of Nominees - Music - Audio Verse Awards Retrieved on November 2, 2018
  20. 2012 Award Winners - Past Awards List - Best Impact of Music in a Documentary Finalists, Park City Film Music Festival Retrieved on October 17, 2018