Want to watch?

Click "Buy Now" below to purchase access to this video.


Already have access to this video? Sign in

Go behind the scenes to learn from Sundance Advisors in our Conversations from the Labs series. This collection of videos will deepen your understanding of all the creative disciplines that are supported through our Labs including Feature Film Directing and Writing, TV Writing, Emerging/Interdisciplinary Media, Documentary, Producing and Film Music.

For filmmakers and musicians alike, a whimsical imagination is often the key to working through creative assignments. In this video from the 2021 Sundance Film Music Intensive, composer Christopher Willis talks about his educational background, his admiration for fellow composers and his artistic process, showing and discussing excerpts of his music from The Death of Stalin, The Personal History of David Copperfield and The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse. Demonstrating at the piano, Willis answers questions from fellows on writing music, collaborating with directors and the intersection of music and film.

Other conversations in this ongoing series include those with editors Michelle Tesoro, Joi McMillon, Teri Shropshire & Dylan Tichenor; cinematographers Stephen Goldblatt, Robert Elswit, Brad Young and Charlotte Bruus Christensen; writer/director Miguel Arteta, writer/director Walter Salles, writer/director Randa Haines and more.

Panelist
Christopher Willis (b. 1978) is a composer and songwriter, currently residing in Pasadena, CA. Originally from the UK, he attended Clare College at Cambridge University in England, earning a PhD in Musicology, and he trained as a concert pianist at the Royal Academy of Music in London. more...

Join the Discussion