Deviate

Hollywood composer Rolfe Kent on the joys of throwing out quality work


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“You should write down what you would like your future to look like, because otherwise you will be on autopilot.” – Rolfe Kent

In Episode 3 of Deviate, Rolf discusses music and the creative process with accomplished Hollywood film composer Rolfe Kent (@rolfekent), whose recent project, The Zen Effect, is available on iTunes.

To download a free track from The Zen Effect, visit Rolfe’s website.

Links:

Tools:

  • FS Binaural Microphone
  • The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield
  • The Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal, by Julia Cameron
  • Ketogenic diet
  • Oblique Strategies, created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt
  • Pomodoro Technique (time management)
  • Melodica (instrument)
  • Mixtapes as a Lost Language: A Brief Cultural Primer
  • Rolfe’s film and TV scores discussed in the interview:

    • Dexter theme (television series)
    • Sideways (film)
    • Up in the Air (film)
    • The Hunting Party (film)
    • Mexico City (film)
    • Reign Over Me (film)
    • Mean Girls (film)
    • Wedding Crashers (film)
    • Legally Blonde (film)
    • Notable film music discussed:

      • James Bond theme (by Monty Norman)
      • Star Wars theme (by John Williams)
      • Mission Impossible theme (by Lalo Schifrin)
      • Blade Runner theme (by Vangelis)
      • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly main theme (by Ennio Morricone)
      • Lawrence of Arabia main theme (by Maurice Jarre)
      • Paris, Texas theme (by Ry Cooder)
      • Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ remix (which uses music from The Social Network)
      • Notable people mentioned:

        • Alexander Payne (director)
        • Richard Shepard (director)
        • Jason Reitman (director)
        • Brian Eno (music producer)
        • Mike Binder (director)
        • Thomas Newman (composer)
        • Rick Rubin (music producer)
        • The tune “Hippie Christmas” from Rolfe’s song-shop, as heard in the episode, was written by Craig Richey
        • Show Notes:

          • Purpose of a movie score (11:45)
          • Career path and early influences (23:22)
          • Rolfe’s muscial style (27:18)
          • Collaborating with filmmakers (37:30)
          • Letting go of completed work (43:40)
          • Accidental versus intentional creativity (47:50)
          • On different instruments offering different opportunities to convey a message (50:32)
          • On inspiration (52:30)
          • Organization and focus techniques (54:20)
          • Creative process (59:25)
          • Mid-career creativity and “success management” (1:12:10)
          • Restrictions as a catalyst for creativity (122:19)
          • Immersive music theater (1:24:30)
          • Scoring one’s own life (129:40)
          • Musical structure and its function in everyday life (1:30:55)
          • Free download from Rolfe’s Kent’s Zen Effect.

            This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe.

            The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

            Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

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            DeviateBy Rolf Potts

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