Exclusive: Music Composer Ethan Gillespie discusses his journey so far in the film industry.

Over the Shoulder met with Ethan Gillespie, a film composer who at still a young age has made his mark in the world of movies and music.

Working under composer Lorne Balfe, Ethan has contributed to the score on films such as “Dungeons and Dragons” and blockbuster “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”.

He started working in the industry about two and a half years ago, so we discussed his journey and inspirations as well his future projects.

What inspired you to become a film composer/technical assistant?

Ethan:

Music has always been my first love. Especially when growing up in school it was something that I was really encouraged to do.

It was a requirement to learn an instrument. I could play half decently the trumpet and I did that for a term.  That then let me discover the world of music and as my whole family is in film, it combined these two loves of mine.

I was surrounded by film, but I loved music, so it was the ideal thing to do.

What type of music inspires you?

Ethan: 

That’s a question that I always find people ask. What do you listen to? If you look at my playlists, it’s the most eclectic mix of music.

I think it’s important to embrace different styles of music because you never know what’s going to be asked for professionally. You have to take on as much as possible from all these different genres.

What genres are the most challenging to compose for?

Ethan:

I think everything has its own challenges. It’s about how do you do something different. You mustn’t be a copycat of what’s already been done. I think the difficult part is finding your own sound. 

What makes you, you, is applying your own sound to different genres… putting your twist on classical music or on an action project so people go, “Oh it’s that composer!” from just listening to it.

Have you found that sound yet?

Ethan: 

I don’t think so. I think that comes with practice and doing it. I haven’t been in the industry long enough to find out what makes me. 

What is the piece of music that you’re most proud of to date that you’ve done?

Ethan: 

I was given the opportunity to write about 40 seconds for a scene in a Michael Bay film called “Ambulance”.

That was my first bit of music that I saw on the screen. It was the first screen credit I got as well. That was special and touched me. It was seeing your name on the screen and hearing your music, pinching yourself and going, “wow, am I’m here right now?”.

Who would be your favourite director to work with?

Ethan: 

Favourite Director, gosh! Obviously I’d love to do a Spielberg or Chris Nolan film. But there’s so many up-and-coming Directors who are going to be the future of the industry.

Who’s your favourite Director that you’ve worked with?

Ethan: 

I haven’t personally worked with many Directors yet because I’m in the additional music stage now. 

But we did a film recently called “Luther” and I had a really nice time with the Director Jamie Payne. Also, Dexter Fletcher on “Ghosted”. They’re just great and good people to work with.

How did you start working for Lorne Balfe? 

Ethan: 

I managed to get his email, and I pestered him until he caved in and invited me out onto “Mission Impossible – Fallout”. He invited me to sit in at the recording session, that was nearly five years ago.

I’m so grateful that he let me sit in and be a fly on the wall for two weeks. That eventually turned into me starting to climb the ladder.

I hadn’t heard from him in six to eight months as COVID hit, I was moving back to London because my university was closed, and he contacted me. He said, “I need someone to work nights in the studio for the new Mission Impossible”. I was like yes, I’m there!

I did a six-month internship over the summer with him and then went back to university for my third year and then he offered me a full-time job.

How is it working under him? 

Ethan:

He’s an incredible mentor. I have learned so much working for him. It’s an education you can’t get at school, you can only get it working in the industry. It’s not only learning about film music, but also about the industry itself. Also, getting the opportunity to be in the room with Directors and Producers and seeing how it’s done.

What is coming up next?

Ethan: 

The new Matthew Vaughan film, “Argylle” that is coming out in February next year. It is a super fun action film. It was a real blast to record and it was another fun project.

Over the Shoulder thanks Ethan Gillespie for the opportunity to add the film music composing genre onto its site. His insights into this most creative aspect to movie making were entertaining and informative and we are excited to see how his contribution to music unfolds in the future.

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