Hans Zimmer - Cast Study

1 – Word Count: 3459 Student no. 15735

Name: Jack Morgan Student no: 15735 Case Study: Hans Zimmer

2 – Word Count: 3459 Student no. 15735

Case Study – Hans Zimmer This case study will explore the life and works of one of the most prominent and inventive film and music composers of modern times, Hans Zimmer. His extraordinary ability to span an extensively wide range of genres and formats with extreme competence is extremely influential and inspiring. Zimmer is a pioneer in his field, with his use of both electronic and orchestral elements within film scores. Zimmers success in creating the scores for some of the most celebrated films, and his ability to encapsulate in the music the overriding themes, and personalities of the characters in modern day cinema is what makes him so special. I have chosen to write on this subject as it is completely relevant to my interest in the field. This case study includes a discussion of the early life of Hans Zimmer, his entrance into the world of Hollywood composition, his influences and growth as a composer and leads to a more in-depth discussion of the work on his most current films, as well as a brief look at the studio and equipment he uses. Born in Frankfurt, Germany on September 12th 1957 Hans Florian Zimmer is acknowledged as one of the most pioneering, innovative, successful, influential and sought after composers in Hollywood today (IMDB, no date). His interest in music began at a very early age and he began playing the piano at the age of three, although he had little or no formal music education or training throughout his early life (Gillespie, 2001). Despite his lack of training, Zimmer knew he wanted to be a composer by the age of six and this coincided with an important event in the young Zimmer’s life; the death of his father. He is quoted as saying in an interview with CNN Worldbeat; "My dad died when I was six, that 's when I decided I was going to become really serious about music, because it was my

Bibliography: Abodos, (no date), ‘Hans Zimmer: Where Symphony meets Synthesizer’, Available at: http://abodos.hubpages.com/hub/hans-zimmer-where-symphony-meets-synthesizer (Accessed: 24/2/2012) Ankeny, J, (no date), ‘Hans Zimmer Biography’, Available at: http://www.starpulse.com/music/zimmer,_hans/Biography/ (Accessed: 23/2/2012) BBC, (2008), ‘Talking Shop: Hans Zimmer’, Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7526033.stm (Accessed: 24/2/2012) Gillespie, J, International Dictionary of Films and Filmakers (2001), ‘Zimmer, Hans’, Available at: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/hans_zimmer.aspx (Accessed: 22/2/2012) Hans-Zimmer.com (no date, a) ‘Making of Gladiator Soundtrack 1/3’, (video interview) Available at: http://www.hans-zimmer.com/index.php?rub=media (Accessed 24/2/2012) Hans-Zimmer.com (no date, b) ‘Hans Zimmer – Studio Gear’, Available at: http://www.hanszimmer.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=6398 (Accessed 25/2/2012) IMDB (no date), ‘Hans Zimmer- mini-bio’, Available at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001877/bio (Accessed: 22/2/2012) Itzkoff, D (2010), New York Times, ‘Hans Zimmer Extracts the Secrets of the ‘Inception’ Score’, Available at: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/hans-zimmer-extracts-the-secrest-ofthe-inception-score/ (Accessed: 25/2/2012) Shelton, S, (no date), ‘Zimmer, Hans’, Available at: http://www.enotes.com/zimmer-hansreference/zimmer-hans (Accessed: 23/2/2012) Stuck in Customs.com (2011), ‘Hans Zimmer in His Studio’, Available at: http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2011/02/22/hans-zimmer-in-his-studio/ (Accessed: 25/2/2012) Wherry, M (2002) ‘Media Adventures’, Available at: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct02/articles/hanszimmer.asp?session=20dc696d9a5e453fa6 c98ea962ac5163 (Accessed: 24/2/2012) Wikipedia, (no date), ‘Hans Zimmer’, Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hans_zimmer (Accessed: 24/2/2012) Young, J, (2008) ‘Hans Zimmer reflects on 15 of his Memorable Film Scores’, Available at: http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20216261,00.html (Accessed: 24/2/2012) YouTube.com (no date) ‘Hans Zimmer – The Dark Knight Making Of’, (video interview) Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-l1rctgtoe 9 – Word Count: 3459 Student no. 15735 Filmography ‘Moonlighting’ (1982) Directed by: Jerzy Skolimowski ‘Success is the Best Revenge’ (1984) Directed by: Jerzy Skolimowski ‘Insignificance’ (1985) Directed by: Nicolas Roeg ‘My Beautiful Launderette’ (1985) Directed by: Stephen Frears ‘Terminal Exposure’ (1987) Directed by: Niko Mastorakis ‘The Last Emperor’ (1987) Directed by: Bernado Bertolucci ‘Going for Gold’ (1987-1996) Produced by: Reg Grundy Productions ‘A World Apart’ (1988) Directed by: Chris Mengez ‘Rain Man’ (1988) Directed by: Barry Levinson ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ (1989) Directed by: Bruce Beresford ‘Power of One’ (1992) Directed by: John G. Avildsen ‘The Lion King’ (1994) Directed by: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff ‘Crimson Tide’ (1995) Directed by: Tony Scott ‘Gladiator’ (2000) Directed by: Ridley Scott ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008) Directed by: Christopher Nolan ‘Inception’ (2010) Directed by: Christopher Nolan