Meet Sam Mohart | Composer for Film, Television, and Video Games

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Mohart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I was growing up, I was always known as a singer. I would perform in talent shows, plays, musicals and choirs, so at this point music and the performing arts just feels like it is part of me. I was the lead singer in a Rock / Metal band in High School, and later studied Opera performance for my undergraduate degree. In addition to all that, I have been addicted to soundtrack scores. My family and I would watch a rented film every Friday night and I would always pay close attention to the music score. The acting on screen was always amplified by the score and the music would often make me very emotional and inspired. I would buy movie soundtrack CDs instead of listening to the current pop hits and listen to the soundtracks non-stop. I would often try to replicate the music by creating orchestral mock-ups in my spare time. I mostly thought of making music as a hobby. I did not realize creating music for media (Film, Television, and Games) was something I personally would ever be able to do as a job, but luckily I was able to start my official studies of Film Scoring in my final year of my undergraduate, which piqued my interest in considering this as a full time gig, and later I was accepted to attend the USC Screen Scoring program here in Los Angeles.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have always been a computer geek, tinkering with custom PCs since I was 9 years old. After graduating with my Masters in Screen Scoring from USC, combining my knowledge of film scoring and tech, I have had the privilege of working for and with some high profile composers as their tech assistants, or part of their staff. I think because of my specific knowledge of computers combined with my expertise in scoring for film, that has given me many opportunities to work for composers such as David Schwartz, Benjamin Wallfisch, Christophe Beck, and Brian Tyler. I think each job I have had has built upon each other, teaching me valuable lessons on how to be a good assistant, and also, learning all of the different technical setups each composer has had. I believe being an assistant or on a composers music team can open doors into the industry. It brings opportunities for building relationships with composers and other professionals that can lead to future gigs, whether in working on projects as part of the team or, at some point, getting the chance to compose my own scores. The assistant gig requires a lot of patience and resilience. There are often times a need for very long hours to reach demanding deadlines. In my experience, It can definitely become stressful, but being able to overcome obstacles, no matter how great, and being as reliable as possible are some of the most important traits you need to have in order to succeed. I am lucky to be able to experience these things on someones team, so that when I am composing on my own, I will have ample experience to draw from. In addition to that, I have had the honor of seeing these amazing composers work their craft, and have learned a lot from them.

In addition to assisting and composing scores for film, tv and games, I also run a tech support company called Scoring Systems, which provides services like bespoke system(s) setups, data management, mockups, and other support services for composers and music creatives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a big foodie.. There are a few spots that I consider a must visit. My go to night out restaurant is called ‘Fire My Pasta’ (previously Supremo Ristorante). This is a small pasta place located in Culver City. The Brevi Costole is a must have and in my opinion, it’s the best thing on the menu.

While it may involve a bit of a drive, eating at the In-N-Out Burger near LAX airport turns a simple meal into a cool experience. You can enjoy a tasty burger and fries while watching planes take off and land.

Whenever my family visits, we always go down to the Santa Monica pier for dinner and a walk on the beach. I love standing in the sand next to the dock staring out into the almost pitch black ocean. If you want to try out a different beach, perhaps give the Malibu Lagoon State Beach a try!

One of my favorite things to do when people visit is to take them to an amusement park. Disney Land is my first choice! Spending a day there always fills me with so much joy and hearing all the iconic music is a great source of nostalgia and inspiration.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First of all, I have to thank my family, my parents and my sister, for all the support and love they have given me. Without them, I don’t know if I would be here in Los Angeles pursing my dreams. My parents have always been staunch supporters of every aspiration I’ve had. Moving here to Los Angeles on my own was one of the scariest things I have done, but they gave me the nudge that I needed to take this big step in starting my career here in L.A.

Additionally, I must thank my other half, Olivia, for being one of the strongest people I know. We have been together for 6 years now and she is STILL putting up with my long hours, loud repetitive music making, and all the other crazy antics that came stock with me.

Lastly, I would not be where I am today without all the support and mentorship(s) from friends, Lex Stout, Peter Golub, Patrick Kirst, Pete Anthony, and my early music teachers Dan Roberts and Paul Rudy. Because of these wonderful people, I have learned so much about making music, and also the business of film and being a composer. These people have pushed me to be a better musician, person, and a seasoned professional.

Website: https://www.samuelmohart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smohart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelmohartmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StoutHartMusicForge

Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13435310/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_in_0_q_samuel%2520mohart

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Olivia Gregory