We got a chance to interview scoring powerhouse Sebastian Evans. He currently works on the Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show. Please view his video interview in his lab, our separate interview is below.
Hello Sebastian. How are you today?
I’m good, how are you?
I’m doing good. So Sebastian Evans you are the composer for the Nick Turtles , correct?
Correct!
Do you work at Nickelodeon studios?
Oh no I work at my studio. I normally conference call with everyone at the studio. I’m usually just sending them stuff, getting reviews, and then mixing and mastering.
At what age did you realize that music would be your profession?
Yea I thought about that. I had to check my age but I was actually 7 and when I went to see Return of the Jedi. There’s a spot in the movie where Admiral Ackbar goes “It’s a trap!” and the music gets really big . Right when I heard that, I don’t know, something, like my whole being turned on. That’s the moment I remember. I heard it and was like “what was that all about?” That just kind of set me on this path of music and it was just this one experience.
That is truly amazing and Ackbar is an interesting character in Star Wars universe. That is a young age but I guess you must of been really been drawn to it!
Yea I think it had to do with the score in general. Up to that point, they’re about to blow up the death star. You know, “It’s a trap!” I’m fine with it now, but at the time I’m like, “IT’S A TRAP!” (laughing)
Epic moments hits every fan differently. When you were young did you have a favorite cartoon growing up? Like the Ninja Turtles, or a movie like Star Wars?
For cartoons I’d say Turtles was definitely at least top 3. I grew up on Turtles just like everyone else my age. I don’t know I used to watch Bionic 6, Mask, Real Ghostbusters, Dennis the Menace. Those are all things that stand out in my head from my childhood, but Ninja Turtles was definitely among those.
Ninja Turtles from the classic to the current rendition, they did a good job with Nickelodeon trying to keep the origins and making a few small changes. Everything from beginning to finish has been great. Do you agree?
I’d have to agree. I mean I work on the show, but I do watch the show. The person heading up the show Ciro Nieli, he is the ultimate TMNT fan, so he’s really true to it and every episode is advancing the story and has an homage to every single TMNT iteration.
So how exactly did you land the job as a high profile composer working on this show? Was it tough? Maybe you can help educate some young composers that might be interested in following your path.
I mean I have to say that high profile is subjective. I don’t know if I consider myself a high profile composer. As far as getting into composing in general? Was it tough? I guess so. It is kind of tough. After learning how to compose now you have to be able to find the people who want you to compose things for them. My path was basically moving to LA and passing my stuff around. I finally got a job with Warner Bros. They were doing an online pilot program called Cartoon Monsoon and I scored all those. But I got my professional start with Ciro. Ciro was doing a show called Super Robot Monkey Team for JetX for Disney. I met Ciro in the Star Wars line for Phantom Menace in LA at Mann’s Chinese Theater and we kind of became friends. 4 years later he got the deal with Disney to do his show and he called me up and said, “I think I can get you in for a trial, do you want to do this?” And I was like, “of course, I want to do this.” I did it and got the job and he was like “Alright do the job” and I’m like, “I don’t really know what you’re supposed to do it. I haven’t done it for reals. He’s just like, “you know how to make music. You’re good at it, you told me you’re good at it. Do it. Everything else you learn as you go”. He treated me very professionally. He said “Dude just give me the music. Do what you do and we’ll go from there.”
Were you nervous going into it?
Yea I was throwing up all the time. I kind of told myself I was a composer already, but I didn’t know. I know how to make music and theory and everything about it, but I never really on that scale put it all in place, like doing it for real. I was kind of faking it to make it. But Ciro was really cool. He said, “Just concentrate on the music.” And you do learn everything as you go.
I’m really happy Ciro pushed you into it! The music that I hear in the show is great and Ciro has a great eye (or ear). As a composer, do you have a dream performance or something you’d like to compose?
A dream performance? I guess a dream performance that I’ve always dreamed about, that would be to do this huge orchestrated rendition of the Chronic with Dre. But totally redone in a classical accompaniment way. That would be a dream thing. As far as a project, I’ve always wanted to do a huge a Star Wars epic series, whether that be Game of Thrones or Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. Something that has volumes to it but it’s music. A canon of music that goes with the project. It has it’s own sound. That’s a huge dream for me as well.
I truly believe that music moves people. You get something right at the right time, it’s moving. Your rendition of The Chronic from Dre would be really cool to hear one day. But maybe some of the others, like Game of Thrones would be cool. I hope you get your dream performance one day dude!
Thank you! Me too! Or something along those lines. The composer’s that work on those shows are actually very good. They did a great job.
Sebastian, did or do you have a role model who inspired you into music? Someone that captured you into the whole business?
I don’t know. Like role model, I’ve never had one person where it’s like, “they smoke, I should smoke too!” type of thing, as far as music goes. I definitely have a lot of influences. I guess my main influence is Tchaikovsky…it’s not all classical music though. I really take a lot from hip hop music. Like Timbaland, Mos Def, Wu Tang, Beastie Boys. There’s also Danny Elfman, is a huge influence. John Williams of course, but I guess that’s for everyone. Edward Grieg. I have a lot of composers I like now that I’m into. But I guess it’s always like, you get influences from these what’s around you, that you incorporate into your style. I don’t think I’m old enough that I’ve stopped doing that. Maybe I am. The guy who does all the Pixar stuff. To me, he’s amazing. So as far as role models I don’t know, but as far as inspiration, a lot. Radiohead, Tool. Everywhere.
A wide variety, but that’s good. You take it all and some of the best moments that inspire you to do more for your personal work.
Yea it gets hard for me to narrow it down.
For myself, when I listen on the radio sometimes, some artists say we recorded this music in this country, or we went abroad. As a composer, do you have a preference on location?
No not really. But that could be because I don’t have that luxury. These guys they’re like, oh yea we’re going to record in a church in Ireland. I can’t just be like, oh I’m going to go to a cathedral in Scotland. I can’t do any of that anyway. I guess the location isn’t as important as the equipment I have with me. That’s really important to me. If I always have my Mac computer, Cubase, some samples, then that’s all I really need. As far as location I’ll do it in a basement if I need to. I don’t care where I do it.
The internet doesn’t have much information about you. Would you like to let us know more about you?
I guess I would, I don’t know what people would care about really. I’m kind of a closet recluse really. I really do try my best to stay under the radar, I’m not out there so to speak. I don’t know what anyone would care about – I love Lego…That’s my favorite thing to do, you know? But then again I just said that out loud and no one cares, you know?
I think you have an IMDB page, if I’m not mistaken , correct?
Yea that’s correct. As far as projects, I’ve done Super Robot Monkey Team for Disney, Transformers Animated for Cartoon Network, Drinky Crow for Adult Swim, just finished up Ben 10 Omniverse last year for Cartoon Network, now I’m still in the middle of Ninja Turtles for Nickelodeon.
The show is running strong. I would expect four more seasons, something of that nature, for your work.
Oh yea, I will do it as long…if it’s Ninja Turtles, whatever it is I will do.
I don’t blame you, I would do the same.
Like I don’t care if I’m working on something huge, really big movie or whatever, ok I will do..if I can, I am doing Ninja Turtles, whatever you want. I always want to be a part of it.
Have you had a chance to see the new film that just released?
No not yet. I’m probably going next week though.
I definitely encourage you to watch it. It’s really funny Sebastian!
Yea that’s what everyone says. That they really get the humor. I didn’t have a problem with the first one really. Everyone’s talking about the second one having a lot of humor that the first one didn’t really have a lot of. I am excited to see it.
Well that concludes the questions I have.
Awesome! I did it! You’re only my second interview!
We would love to have you again one day if that’s ok with you!
That’s totally fine with me!
Sebastian thank you for your time. We really appreciate it!
Ok. I appreciate too. Thank you very much!
Have a great day!
You too!
Recently we announced Kawaii Cubes from Wish Holdings. Now, their lovely company offered our fans a fun giveaway. A lovely lady by the name of Mona provided eight (8) Ninja Turtles Kawaii Cubes just for the spirit of giving, isn’t that wonderful? It sure is!
Each fan will receive either a small or medium size Kawaii Cube. We encourage you relish this abnormally cute figure and show the world. Luckily, these little cubes of love are not expensive, so you can easily purchase a few if you don’t win. They retail for $4.99 and $7.99 in Walmart and Target stores, it’s not selling online yet. You will be astonished by their licenses, they carry major characters from Nickelodeon, DC Comics, and Warner Brothers. Ultimately, their design team went to new heights with these licenses.
To enter this contest….
- Place a comment below explaining when you became fan of the turtles. You can fill in the blank with “I knew I loved the turtles when _____”
- Include your favorite turtle in your comment.
- Optional – Include an image of any memorabilia or collection you own. It can be any Ninja Turtles item(s) you own.
Rules:
- Must have a valid address in the United States.
- Must be 13 years of age or older.
- Your comment must be entered by Monday 1/31/17.
Note: We will contact the winners on Tuesday 2/1/17. Please check back on Tuesday to see if you won.
You wouldn’t think plush dolls can continue to melt hearts after years of production. but in recent months, Wish Holdings created Kawaii Cubes. This series of licensed characters produced in heart melting plush doll cubes are perfect for decoration. I literally hugged these cubes once they entered my arms! Over the years, plush dolls have come in every imaginable shape, color, and size. Who would of thought your favorite character re-imagined as a cube would be cute? Apparently the design team at Kawaii Cubes did, kudos!!
The new stackable Kawaii Cubes comes in different sizes, in conclusion allowing you to create an adorable combination. They are designed with tiny arms and legs, consequently making them perfect for the edge of a shelf. Each character has their own unique facial expression. For example: Raphael has angry eyes with grinding teeth, Michelangelo has anime closed eyes with a happy smile, Donatello has wide observant eyes with a semi smile, and Leonardo has serious eyes with a grave mouth. These designs are not specific to any television series or movie, they’re simply just adorable.
Price details:
Kawaii Cubes are designed perfectly. All contain plastic beads for added weight, therefore allowing them to stack perfectly. The little size cube is 2″ and retails for $4.99. Larger size is 3.5″ and retails for $7.99. You can find them in Walmart and Target stores, they are not being sold online yet. Kawaii Cubes are oficially licensed by Nickelodeon.
We are giving one lucky fan a Blu Ray copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Out of the Shadows. If you have not watched it and you’re a Ninja Turtles fan, we strongly recommend you do! This film scored better than it’s previous counterpart and truly shared more comedic scenes with the turtles themselves.
To enter this contest, simply comment below and tell us your favorite Ninja Turtles quote from any movie, tv show, or comic.
Winner: Nick Burner
Winner will be chosen shortly after contest ends. Stay tuned. Below is a press release for the film…
———————————————————-
“The Turtles rule again”
–Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun-Times
THE NINJA TURTLES ARE BACK IN THE BEST FAMILY ACTION MOVIE OF THE YEAR
The All-New Adventure Arrives on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD September 20, 2016 with Two Reversible Turtle Masks in All Four Colors!
Action-Packed Film Will Also be Available in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack,
Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Pack and Limited Edition Collectible Turtle Van Lunchbox
Get it on Digital HD Two Weeks Early on September 6
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Your favorite pizza-loving heroes return in an epic new adventure loaded with wall-to-wall laughs that critics are calling “the best Ninja Turtles movie ever” (Eric Walkuski, JoBlo.com). TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS comes to Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on September 20, 2016 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The Heroes in a Half-Shell also will be available in a limited edition two-movie Blu-ray giftset with collectible metal lunchbox. The movie debuts two weeks early on Digital HD September 6.
Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo are back to battle bigger, badder villains, alongside April O’Neil and a newcomer: the hockey-masked vigilante Casey Jones. After supervillain Shredder escapes custody, he joins forces with two dimwitted henchmen, Bebop and Rocksteady, to unleash a diabolical plan to take over the world. As the Turtles prepare to take on Shredder and his new crew, they find themselves facing an even greater threat with similar intentions: the notorious Krang. Hailed as “fun from start to finish” (Brian Medina, Movie Pilot), TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS stars
Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Laura Linney, Stephen Amell, and Tyler Perry in the live action film that is fun for the whole family.
The TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Packs include more than 40 minutes of action-packed bonus content. Peek under the shell at the film’s eye-popping special effects, take a look inside the Turtles’ tricked-out van, go behind-the-scenes to explore the Turtleverse and much more! The film additionally features a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack* remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.
Plus, the DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack comes with reversible Turtle Masks in all four colors, for a limited time while supplies last. The TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS Blu-ray Combo Pack will also be available in a collectible metal lunchbox that includes the Blu-ray Combo Pack of 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Digital HD copies of both movies, and the two reversible masks.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows Blu-ray Combo Pack
The TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film as well as the following:
Blu-ray
Feature film in high definition
Bonus Content:
We Are Family
Whoa! Expanding the Turtleverse
House Party
It’s Tricky: Inside the Van
ILM—The Effects Beneath the Shell
Did You Catch That? Turtle Eggs!
Deleted Scenes
DVD
Feature film in standard definition
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack
The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack includes all of the above, as well as a Blu-ray 3D presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The Blu-ray 3D disc includes the feature film in high definition and 3D. The Combo Pack also includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Fans can enjoy the ultimate viewing experience with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes the Blu-ray detailed above, as well as an Ultra HD Disc presented in 4K Ultra HD with English Dolby Atmos, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The Combo Pack also includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film.
Two-Movie Blu-ray Giftset with Collectible Metal Lunchbox
The TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Two-Movie Giftset with Collectible Lunchbox includes Blu-ray Combo Packs with access to a Digital HD copy of each film as well as the following special features:
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS (2016)
Blu-ray
Feature film in high definition
Bonus Content:
We Are Family
Whoa! Expanding the Turtleverse
House Party
It’s Tricky: Inside the Van
ILM—The Effects Beneath the Shell
Did You Catch That? Turtle Eggs!
Deleted Scenes
DVD
Feature film in standard definition
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (2014)
Blu-ray
Feature film in high definition
Bonus Content:
Digital Reality
In Your Face! The Turtles in 3D
It Ain’t Easy Being Green
Evolutionary Mash-Up
Turtle Rock
Extended Ending
“Shell Shocked” Music Video
Making of “Shell Shocked”
DVD
Feature film in standard definition
The Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack available for purchase include a Digital Version of the film that can be accessed through UltraViolet™, a way to collect, access and enjoy movies. With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them—reliably and securely—to a variety of devices.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows Single-Disc DVD
The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The disc includes the feature film in standard definition.
http://www.TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMovie.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TMNTMovie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TMNT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TMNTMovie
iTunes: http:// http://j.mp/GetTMNTOOTSNow
Amazon: http://j.mp/BuyTMNTurtles
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present a Platinum Dunes production, a Gama Entertainment/Mednick Production/Smithrowe Entertainment production: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.” Music by Steve Jablonsky. Executive producers Denis L. Stewart, Grant Curtis, Eric Crown, Napoleon Smith III, Josh Appelbaum, and André Nemec. Produced by Michael Bay, pg.a., Andrew Form, p.g.a., Brad Fuller, p.g.a., Galen Walker, and Scott Mednick. Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. Written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec. Directed by Dave Green.
About Paramount Home Media Distribution
Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), home to premier media brands that create television programs, motion pictures, consumer products, and digital content for audiences in 180 countries and territories. The PHMD division oversees PPC’s home entertainment and transactional digital distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles. PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and transactional distribution across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.
For artwork please visit: https://arc.paramount.com
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Street Date: September 6, 2016 (Digital HD)
September 20, 2016 (Blu-ray, DVD, 4K UHD, Blu-ray 3D, Two-Movie Giftset with Collectible Metal Lunchbox and VOD)
U.S. Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Canadian Rating: PG, not recommended for young children, violence
* To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar; however, Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.
Newer Posts
