About
"I had to write. I had to write those songs. If I didn’t, I’d explode. I had get it out. And I still feel that way."
In his three-hour interview, John Debney talks about his early years, and becoming a gofer at Disney. He recalls his earliest composing work for The Wonderful World of Disney, and eventually working for television composer Mike Post. He describes composing for several series, including The Young Riders (for which he received an Emmy award), seaQuest DSV, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sisters, and Hatfields & McCoys. Debney discusses the craft of composing for television and features, detailing his day-to-day activities working on projects. He chronicles working on several feature films like Hocus Pocus, Elf, Liar Liar, and The Passion of the Christ, as well as his relationships with directors Garry Marshall, Robert Rodriguez, and Jon Favreau. Jon Burlingame conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Film Music Foundation on August 1, 2017 in Burbank, CA.
Highlights
John Debney on composing for The Young Riders
John Debney on working with composer Mike Post
John Debney on composing for various Garry Marshall feature films
John Debney on what music does for a television show or movie
John Debney on composing for the feature film "Elf," and other features for director Jon Favreau, including "The Jungle Book"
John Debney on going to work at Disney as a gofer, and on his mentor, Buddy Baker
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his father meeting and working for Walt Disney; on realizing he wanted to compose for film, and on meeting Disney songwriters
On going to work at Disney as a gofer, and on his mentor, Buddy Baker; on his first screen credit, for The Wonderful World of Disney; on working as a composer for the Disney Channel, and on meeting composer Mike Post
On composing for Fame; on conducting his music; on composing for animation, including The Flintstones and Scooby Doo
On composing for The Young Riders; on composing for seaQuest DSV for executive producer Steven Spielberg; on composing for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation
On composing for different genres; on composing the theme song for Sisters; on composing for Hatfields & McCoys, Texas Rising, and Bonnie and Clyde
Chapter 2
On composing for Flint; on what music does for a television show or movie; on using an orchestrator, and on visiting sets
On rituals he has when composing; on composing for various feature films
On the differences between composing for animation, for television, and for features; on composing for various Garry Marshall feature films; on composing for the feature film "Elf," and other features for director Jon Favreau, including "The Jungle Book"
On using a choir in film scores; on composing for "The Passion of the Christ"; on the business aspect of composing for films
On his style; on his proudest career achievement; on advice to an aspiring film and television composer
On his then-future; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
John Debney on winning an Emmy for composing for The Young Riders
Fame (1982-87)
John Debney on composing for Fame
Sisters
John Debney on composing the theme song for Sisters
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
John Debney on composing for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
John Debney on composing for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation
Wonderful World of Disney, The aka Magical World of Disney, The
John Debney on his first screen credit, for The Wonderful World of Disney
Topics
Advice
John Debney on advice to an aspiring film and television composer
Creative Influences and Inspiration
John Debney on going to work at Disney as a gofer, and on his mentor, Buddy Baker
Emmy Awards
John Debney on winning an Emmy for composing for The Young Riders
Pivotal Career Moments
John Debney on going to work at Disney as a gofer, and on his mentor, Buddy Baker
Television Industry
John Debney on advice to an aspiring film and television composer
Professions
Composer
John Debney on conducting his music
John Debney on composing for different genres
John Debney on what music does for a television show or movie
John Debney on using an orchestrator, and on visiting sets
John Debney on rituals he has when composing
John Debney on the differences between composing for animation, for television, and for features
John Debney on using choirs in his work
John Debney on the business aspect of composing for films
John Debney on advice to an aspiring film and television composer
Music Professionals
John Debney on conducting his music
John Debney on composing for different genres
John Debney on what music does for a television show or movie
John Debney on using an orchestrator, and on visiting sets
John Debney on rituals he has when composing
John Debney on the differences between composing for animation, for television, and for features
John Debney on using choirs in his work
John Debney on the business aspect of composing for films
John Debney on his style
John Debney on advice to an aspiring film and television composer
Musician
John Debney on his style
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
John Debney on composing for seaQuest DSV for executive producer Steven Spielberg
Animation
John Debney on composing for animation, including The Flintstones and Scooby Doo
Children's Programming
John Debney on his first screen credit, for The Wonderful World of Disney
Drama Series
John Debney on composing for Fame
John Debney on composing the theme song for Sisters
John Debney on composing for Hatfields & McCoys and Texas Rising
John Debney on composing for Bonnie and Clyde
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
John Debney on composing for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation
Western Series
John Debney on composing for The Young Riders
People
Buddy Baker
John Debney on going to work at Disney as a gofer, and on his mentor, Buddy Baker
Walt Disney
John Debney on his father meeting and working for Walt Disney
Garry Marshall
John Debney on composing for various Garry Marshall feature films, and on composing for "Cutthroat Island"
John Debney on composing for various Garry Marshall feature films
Mike Post
John Debney on working with composer Mike Post
Steven Spielberg
John Debney on composing for seaQuest DSV for executive producer Steven Spielberg