How SXSW Film Composers are Redefining Cinema: Featuring Bear McCreary

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      "details": "Award-winning composer Paul Leonard-Morgan has written music for the concert hall, the theater, public events, worked with pop and rock bands, and composed for the screen, both large and small. His experience and range are the epitome of the skill, versatility, and appeal of a 21st century composer—in a world where genres are less and less important, he’s a conservatory trained composer with a punk rock heart. Leonard-Morgan is one of the most notable contemporary soundtrack composers, in demand for his seamless use of the orchestra with electronics. Writing music for a variety of visual media, his credits include his collaborations with Philip Glass for series The Green Veil, Tales from the Loop, and The Pigeon Tunnel; the feature films Limitless, Best Sellers, Dredd, and The Tomorrow Man; Errol Morris’ series Wormwood and the documentary American Dharma; and the video game Cyberpunk 2077. He has garnered a BAFTA award for his first film score, Reflections Upon the Origin of the Pineapple, and Emmy, Ivor Novello, and World Soundtrack Award nominations.",
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      "details": "Nicole George-Middleton is the Executive Vice President & Head of Creative Membership at the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) - where she oversees songwriter, lyricist and composer relations and leads the Creative Membership Department. Most recently, George-Middleton held the positions of Senior Vice President of Membership as well as Executive Director of The ASCAP Foundation. \r\rGeorge-Middleton has been at ASCAP since 2008, and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Membership, in 2016, responsible for the oversight and daily operational management of ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul and Symphonic and Concert Membership Departments.  \r\rIn her previous role as SVP of Membership at ASCAP, she was instrumental in signing and retaining top ASCAP talent including Cardi B, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, Sexyy Red, Migos, Mustard, Big Sean, Swizz Beatz, Tyla, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Victoria Monét, Lil Baby, G. Herbo, Muni Long, Raphael Saadiq, Theron Thomas, Timbaland, 50 Cent, Kid Cudi, The-Dream, Andre 3000, Alicia Keys  and Tommy Richman, among others.  She successfully launched a number of member programs to celebrate and foster the careers of our members, including the ASCAP Grammy Brunch, Women Behind the Music, Country/Urban Song Camp as well as elevating ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Awards and ASCAP’s Aspire Internship Program to develop the next generation of music industry talent.\r\rIn 2021, Nicole added the new role of Executive Director of The ASCAP Foundation to her already existing responsibilities. In this additional role, she ensured that The ASCAP Foundation successfully fulfilled its mission of nurturing the music talent of tomorrow and sustaining the creative incentive for today’s music creators through a variety of educational, professional and humanitarian programs and activities. The ASCAP Foundation’s music programs reach over 300,000 people annually, including 60,000 students at 700 K - 12 schools nationwide who do not have access to music education.\r\rBefore coming to ASCAP, Nicole was Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Zomba Music Group, and prior to that she practiced entertainment law at The Middleton Law Group PC.  She received her B.A. from University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.  She is a member of the American Bar Association, Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, the Executive Committee of She Is The Music, and has been honored on Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Power Players List multiple years in a row. ",
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      "details": "Marius de Vries is a British composer, producer, and music director whose career spans multiple decades and encompasses work across recorded music, film, and live performance. Known for his ability to bridge musical genres and mediums, he has contributed to some of the most acclaimed and innovative projects in contemporary popular culture.\n\nHe began his career in London, working with a broad range of artists including Björk, Madonna, Massive Attack, Annie Lennox, and Neil Finn. His approach often blends technical sophistication with a strong sense of narrative and emotional context, making him a sought-after collaborator in both the recording studio and the scoring stage.\n\nIn film, de Vries is widely recognized for his contributions to Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, serving as music director and co-composer alongside Nellee Hooper and Craig Armstrong. His work on these films helped establish a distinctive musical language that fused pop sensibility with dramatic storytelling. Subsequent film credits include La La Land, Annette, Kick-Ass, CODA, Sucker Punch, Navalny, and The End, among others.\n\nAlongside his work in cinema, de Vries has forged and maintained enduring creative relationships with notable recording artists, including David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright, FKA twigs, David Gray, Chrissie Hynde, and Robbie Robertson. His role in these collaborations often extends beyond production to include arrangement, songwriting, sonic concept development, and long-term artistic direction.\n\nRespected for his discretion, taste, encyclopedic knowledge of music across multiple genres, and versatility, Marius de Vries continues to work at the intersection of music and image, contributing to projects that challenge conventional boundaries and emphasize originality, craftsmanship, and emotional impact.",
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      "details": "Golden Horse Award–winning composer Charles Humenry is a French-born, Los Angeles-based composer, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose work lives at the intersection of story and sound. He won Best Original Score at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards for his work on Lucky Lu, directed by Lloyd Lee\rChoi - a defining moment that reflects his instinct for emotional clarity and cinematic depth.\rA story-driven composer at heart, Charles builds each score through experimentation and egoless collaboration with directors and artists. Most recent work includes Callback from director Matthew Puccini, Motherwitch from director Minos Papas, and Downbeat, premiering at this year’s SXSW, directed by Danny Madden. Whether crafting a sweeping orchestral landscape or restrained, textural minimalism, he composes with one purpose: to articulate what words and images cannot. His music doesn’t just accompany a film - it\rreveals its inner life. His work has premiered at major international festivals including Cannes,\rSundance, Berlinale, SXSW, Busan, and TIFF, resonating with audiences across\rcultures.\r\rDrawing from a rich musical background that spans classical, jazz, and\rcontemporary traditions, Charles is currently at work on his debut classical\ralbum - an intimate reflection of the diverse influences that continue to shape\rhis evolving voice.",
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      "name": "Bear McCreary",
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      "details": "Award-winning composer and recording artist Bear McCreary began his career as a protégé of legendary film composer\nElmer Bernstein, before bursting onto the scene scoring the revered series Battlestar Galactica in 2004. Since then,\nMcCreary has won three Emmy Awards, including two for Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and one for his theme\nfor Da Vinci’s Demons, a musical palindrome, and has won 12 International Film Music Critics Association Awards,\nincluding the award for Score of the Year in 2024, his second. Named the 23rd Most Definitive Bear in Popular Culture (The\nRinger), he’s also been the subject of a clue on Jeopardy! Top credits: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power; Foundation; Outlander; Godzilla: King of the Monsters; The Walking Dead; and Netflix’s Crip Camp.",
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