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

Hi Chris, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
To succeed in writing film scores, it is assumed and often guaranteed that the person scoring is talented at music and charismatic with people. Those who aren’t either very rarely rise in this trade. What is needed to succeed that isn’t guaranteed, and what I feel helped me succeed is organization and efficiency. To keep track of a hundred moving parts and a team of collaborators is a job in and of itself- without careful planning and getting everything said in writing, the process can come apart at the seams. Efficiency is also a key factor- filmmaking is a world of tight deadlines and precious funding- neither time nor dollar can afford to be wasted, and learning to balance my art with my craft is what helps me succeed as well.

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 write music for films, television, and video games, as well as work in other parts of the music production process such as orchestrating, and proofing. My work week often involves me using my home studio to work on my music, with lunches and dinners out with producers, directors, composers, and friends to keep a finger on the temperature of current projects. The most rewarding part of the whole process is live recording- most often I am recording remotely or at my own studio, but on some occasions I get to experience live recording in studios like Silent Zoo Studios, Warner Brothers, United, and more!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I like to eat simply if not just cook at home! In ‘n Out will always be a favorite, especially to friends and relatives not native to SoCal. I’d without a doubt take a trip to the Hollywood Bowl- the LA Phil has a summer series they do, and works of all types, including movie music, are played in concert! Seeing a concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall is another highlight- one of the most gorgeous halls in the world, and one of the most acoustically pristine environments you can get!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Walter Murphy (Composer of Family Guy, Ted) is the reason I do what I do. In my high school years, he was kind enough to introduce me to the subject of film and television scoring and without his encouragement, I don’t know if I would have had the tenacity to go “all in” and devote myself to this craft. Thank you, Walter.

Website: www.chrismcelroymusic.com

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

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

Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcelroymusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrismcelroymusic

Other: (IMDB) https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm11581498?ref_=hm_prof_name (SoundCloud) https://soundcloud.com/chrismcelroymusic

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