Michael Giacchino scores Mission: Impossible III
Posted on March 24, 2006 by Dan Goldwasser
Over the past few weeks, one of the most anticipated films of 2006, Mission: Impossible III, has been scoring at the Sony Scoring Stage in Culver City, CA. Composed by Michael Giacchino, the score for the film contains pulse-pounding action-heavy music, tempered with dramatic and even tender moments.
That's a very large orchestra!*
Director J.J. Abrams pulled together the same crew that he had worked with on the television show "Alias", and the result - from writing, to editing, to the music - is that everyone has really been working together for almost six years - much longer than the average film. Giacchino and Abrams started working together on "Alias", and the comfort and trust that they have with each other was evident throughout the writing process.
Director J.J. Abrams discusses the music with composer Michael Giacchino
Giacchino has been using the same music team for the past few years as well, and the short-hand and camaraderie made things run smoothly and fun at the sessions. Conducting a substantial 112-piece orchestra was orchestrator Tim Simonec. Score mixer Dan Wallin was handling the sound - which was tricky considering the size of the orchestra.
Tim Simonec conducts a 112-piece orchestra
The orchestra is so large that some musicians needed televisions to see the conductor!
The Mission: Impossible III control room team
Orchestrator Chris Tilton, orchestrator Larry Kenton, music copyist Booker White, and music editors Paul Apelgren and Stephen Davis
According to music editor Stephen Davis, there are over 100-minutes of score in the film. Fans of Lalo Schifrin's immortal theme to the original television show will be delighted to know that Giacchino not only lends his own take on "Mission: Impossible", but also his own version of "The Plot". Additionally, Giacchino wrote a new IMF (Impossible Missions Force) Theme, which will be heard in the score, and complements Schifrin's.
Mark Gasbarro on piano
Yes, there are bongos in Mission: Impossible III !
Don Williams hits a beat on the timpani
People have their good-luck charms, even film composers!
J.J. Abrams was present for many of the sessions, and even had a computer set up where he was working on a visual effect. In the end, three visual effect shots in the film were done by Abrams himself. Cruise himself visited the scoring stage a few times, and even came out to talk to the orchestra. He then conducted the 112-piece orchestra playing the "Main Title" cue.
Tom Cruise conducts the 112-piece orchestra playing the "Mission: Impossible" theme
Michael Giacchino, Tom Cruise and Tim Simonec
This is Abrams' first feature film as a director, and many people came to the session to check out the music and the film, including "Alias" stars Jennifer Garner and Merrin Dungey.
"Alias" star Jennifer Garner visits the scoring session (talking with J.J. Abrams) as score preparers Chad Seiter and Andrea Datzman observe Michael Giacchino giving feedback on a cue
It's also Giacchino's biggest film, and The Incredibles actress (and author) Sara Vowell showed up, as well as The Family Stone director Thomas Bezucha and star Dermot Mulroney. Interestingly enough, Mulroney is in the AFM musicians union, and even performed cello on the sessions for a day!
Actor Dermot Mulroney played cello on Mission: Impossible III for a day!**
With the constant picture changes, due to visual effects and editorial tweaks, Stephen Davis and his team (including Alex Levy, Alan Schlaifer, Paul Apelgren) were very busy keeping up with everything.
Music editors Alex Levy, Stephen Davis and Alan Schlaifer
Michael Giacchino gives Tim Simonec feedback on a take
Score mixer Dan Wallin celebrates his 79th birthday during the mix at Paramount
Director J.J. Abrams examines a change to a scene as editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey look on
The music was orchestrated primarily by Tim Simonec, with additional orchestration done by the legendary Jack Hayes, as well as Larry Kenton, Harvey Cohen, Mark Gasbarro, Peter Boyer, Chris Tilton. Chad Seiter and Andrea Datzman handled score preparation.
Score preparers Chad Seiter and Andrea Datzman, with music supervisor Danny Bramson
With the huge orchestra, and the large number of cues, there was a lot of music copying to be done. Booker White, Marshall Bowen and Jennifer Hammond were in charge of copying all of the parts.
Jennifer Hammond and Marshall Bowen copy music parts for the orchestra
There was even a moment where a last minute rewrite had to take place, and so Giacchino went out to the stage with Abrams, and worked through the problem.
J.J. Abrams looks on as Jennifer Hammond transcribes music for Michael Giacchino
Michael Giacchino makes some changes to a cue
J.J. Abrams loved attending the sessions, and even was so generous as to set up a screening for the musicians, as well as buy Coldstone Creamery ice cream for the entire orchestra during one of the days.
The whole orchestra got ice cream, courtesy of director J.J. Abrams
Dan Greco plays vibes on Mission: Impossible III
Jim Sitterly and concertmaster Clayton Haslop
The trumpet section
J.J. Abrams thanks the orchestra for all their wonderful work
Mission: Impossible III will be released in theaters on May 5, 2006.
Special thanks to Michael Giacchino, Chris Tilton and Chad Seiter.
All photos by Dan Goldwasser except (*) by Andrea Datzman and (**) by Chad Seiter
You've only seen 31 images - click here for 53 more scoring session images for this film!
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Related Composers: Michael Giacchino |
Related Movies: Mission: Impossible III (2006) |
