Meet Alain Emile | Film & Media Composer // Creative Director

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

Hi Alain, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk for me is directly tied to my age and that is something I have to continuously work on. I need to remind myself how the risks I took when I was younger are what made me. Not just career wise but as a person. It’s very easy for me to hide behind my age when considering similar moves. In my early 20s I dropped out of music school, moved out of Puerto Rico with a half assed plan, and moved to NYC with no money. That forced me to work incredibly hard to learn and start a career and improvise when things didn’t work out. Now, while pursuing music again, I find myself scared of similar risks. Thinking at this age they have stronger repercussions if I fail. That’s when I have to look back almost 20 years and kick my own ass into gear.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My goal was always to be a composer for film and tv. After being in bands back in Puerto Rico I studied recording arts at Full Sail and moved to New York. Once in NYC, I realized how insanely difficult it was to get any job in audio post. In order to have some additional income, and afford the city, I started learning more about Graphic and Web Design. This lead to a 15 year career in advertising which pretty much convinced me that my goals as a composer were finished. I started experimenting again in 2016 and found a new voice. I finished my first solo album and used that to start reaching out to directors and applying to every composer job opening. Moved to LA shortly after and I’ve been working hard ever since in the indie circuit, building relationships with directors and scoring as many films as time allows. It has been incredibly hard to get here, mentally and emotionally, but now I feel nothing but excitement that I am pursuing what I love. And even though I started much later than expected, I feel I have my whole life in ahead of me in this field.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Given that my best friend has yet to visit me, I will use this as a pitch to get him here. I am however, pretty easy going when it comes to this. Possibly cause I haven’t done much myself. Food wise, Breakfast at S&W Country Diner in Culver, a burger and beer for lunch at Hinanos and dinner at either Hama Sushi or La Cubana in Glendale if we’re home sick. Obligatory LA hike at Will Rodgers State Park, a visit to the LACMA and try to catch a show at the Hollywood Bowl. Lastly, Late Breakfast which is a show featuring experimental musicians frequently held at Ham & Eggs Tavern downtown.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The emotional support I received from my Mom until her last day is what helped me get through everything. It would’ve been very easy for her to support me when I wanted to quit and move back to the island. But she always stood her ground. She believed in me in a way that I didn’t believe in myself. I would call with good news, bad news, terrible news and she always knew what to say to keep me going. She is no longer with us so now I continue to replay her words and her love whenever I need to keep going. I wouldn’t be here or anywhere if it wasn’t for her and the support of my friends, Luis Guigo Sanchez and Salvador Velez. We have been pushing each other since we were teenagers to this day on a weekly basis.

Website: http://alainemile.tv

Instagram: @aemile, @pabloswiss

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/alainemile/

Other: https://imdb.me/alainemile

Image Credits
Quique Cabanillas Dan Sok