Join us for an insightful conversation with Batu Sener, the talented composer behind Better Man, Harold and the Purple Crayon, and Ice Age: The Adventures of Buck Wild. Batu has collaborated extensively with Oscar-nominated composer John Powell, contributing to some of cinema’s most iconic scores. His work includes additional music for Wicked, an Oscar-nominated score, as well as contributions to How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

In this episode, Batu takes us behind the scenes of his incredible journey as a composer, from working at the renowned 5 Cat Studios in collaboration with John Powell to developing his own scores. We explore the art of composing across genres, from family adventures to musicals, and the unique challenges and joys of projects like Better Man and Wicked.

We also delve into the importance of a composer as a storyteller, uncovering how music enhances the emotional core of a film and connects audiences to the story on screen. Whether you’re a fan of film music, a budding composer, or just curious about what goes into crafting unforgettable scores, this episode is packed with inspiration and insight.

Highlights:

0:00 Intro

01:55 Inspiration to start composing

05:24 Working at 5 Cat Studios

09:13 Collaborating with John Powell

14:01 Working on the score for How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

17:38 Relationship with musicals - Working on Better Man and Wicked

19:41 Challenges composing for a musical

23:29 Proudest moment within filmography

25:36 Reaction to landing Ice Age: The Adventures of Buck Wild

30:35 Developing a score for family adventure films

38:10 Building a score within the cinematic language

43:11 Composer's decision about the absence of music in film

47:45 'Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music' - John Williams

51:10 Outro

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment with your favourite Batu Sener score or moment!

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Hosted by: Will Frost (will.frost_)

Guest Starring: Batu Sener (@BatuSener)