BMI Composers Rock Comic-Con 2015

BMI and its affiliates made a compelling case for music in every medium during this year’s Comic-Con, with featured composers talking about their music to the sold-out crowd of interested fans at a number of unique panels. First up was “Behind the Music – Crime, Death and Resurrection,” sponsored by CW3 PR, which explored the sounds that drive viewers to new emotional heights of shock, terror, and fear in some of Hollywood’s biggest shows. The panelists for this blockbuster discussion included Sean Callery (24, Homeland, Bones), Charlie Clouser (Wayward Pines), Fil Eisler (Empire, Revenge), Mac Quayle (American Horror Story: Freak Show, Scream Queens), Jeff Russo (Fargo, Tut, Power) and Mike Suby (Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries), while special guest Daniel Gillies (The Vampire Diaries, The Originals) moderated the panel.

Next up as a fitting follow-up was the 3rd annual “Musical Anatomy of a Superhero,” sponsored by Costa Communications, held later that same afternoon. This blockbuster offered a behind the scenes look at the music of today’s biggest superhero film and TV projects with unreleased film clips and never before heard music. Participating composers included Junkie XL (Mad Max: Fury Road, Batman vs. Superman), Christophe Beck (Ant-Man), Marco Beltrami (Fantastic Four), Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Lorne Balfe (Terminator: Genisys), and Blake Neely (Super Girl, Arrow, The Flash).

On July 10, the fans headed to “Behind the Music – SyFy Thrills and Chills” with composers Bill Brown (Dominion), Jason Gallagher (Z Nation), Reinhold Heil (Helix), FM Le Sieur (Being Human), Shawn Pierce (Haven), and Chris Ridenhour (Sharknado 1-3). The discussion focused on what it takes to create music for post-apocalyptic worlds, zombie, attacks and other out-of-this-world SyFy TV programs. With special guest moderators Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Gallactica) and DJ Qualls (Z Nation).

And wrapping up July 10 with another high point, BMI composers talked “High Score – Music for Videogames.” This special panel was an inaugural event for the first annual Bad Ass Music Festival, held in connection with San Diego Comic-Con and featuring leading composers in the videogames playing field with the discussion moderated by Victoria Atkin, the star of the October releasing videogame Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, in which she plays the first female assassin of the series, Evie Frye. Composers adding insights behind the music that propels the action and tension of games such as World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, Best Fiends and the new film Minions, included Jason Hayes, Jack Wall, Timothy Wynn, Christopher Lennertz and Heitor Pereira.

Last, but certainly not least in the eerie world of Comic-Con was BMI’s “The Character of Music: Classic Horror Special Edition,” which along with the highly unique discussion panel, featured a meet and greet with composers who signed exclusive Comic-Con posters for the fans who couldn’t wait to hear their music in their nightmares.