Angel

37 Questions With Robert J. Kral - Part II

18. Subjugationsux: Where do you turn for inspiration on musical selection for Angel?

I really try to turn to the episode itself, to hear what’s going on in the scene and what is coming out of it. When in a rush, I turn to the temp track! This is a temporary music track put together by the editors, made up of cuts of the last 4 years of Angel music.

The best scores, however, are written by hearing what’s coming to you in your head. Composers experience music that is "given" to them, if you will. This is always the best stuff; however, it’s not always what the director wants. For this reason, the temp track must be taken into consideration as it is very carefully worked on — even reworked up to three times — until approved. So, often the temp now gives the direction on Angel.

19. Nicholas: You have written such wonderful music for Angel. Will there be a soundtrack of either your score or songs?

Wiseblood: I love the music you create for Angel; for me, it’s an integral part of the show’s power and appeal. What can we as fans do to help you get a soundtrack of AtS music made?

In Season Two there was a lot of interest from fans and three — three! — record labels to do a soundtrack album of the score for Angel. Unfortunately, the big dogs at FOX didn’t want that to happen. There were some at FOX who really, really wanted it, but they were unable to convince the powers that be. FOX owns the music, so nothing can be released without them, even if it’s not costing them a cent to produce it. I think it’s sad that you can have up to three [record] labels ready to go with it, but the big studio won’t allow it. Their reasons sometimes [were] weird too: For example, they thought a soundtrack album for a TV show signified that the TV show was canceled. This just makes no sense.

Write to FOX TV if you feel strongly about wanting an album. Jacquie Perryman very much wanted to get an album going; perhaps she could forward such mail to the powers that be.

Note: E-mail Jacquie Perryman at askfox@foxinc.com or write to:

Ms. Jacquie Perryman
Vice President of TV Creative, Fox Music
Twentieth Century FOX Television
10201 West Pico Blvd., Bldg. 88, Room 29
Los Angeles, CA 90035

20. Flamedrake: What brought on the idea to segue the episode music into the opening credits in a few of last season’s Angel episodes? And are there any plans to do so more in the upcoming year?

Yes, there is much more of this coming up!! This type of thing is lots of fun. Chris Beck was the first to mention the idea to me at the beginning of Season One. I’ve kept it in mind ever since and sometimes it’s just the greatest thing to do. I am fortunate that we "own" the "black" that appears between the teaser and the opening credits (main title). Often, though, it does work better to not bridge that gap. But it sure is fun when I can.

21. Dianna B: I love your scores because they bring a lot to an episode. I especially like the themes you’ve written for individual characters like Darla and Fred that really fit them, so my question is what’s the first thing you do when coming up with a theme for a character?

Glad to hear you like the themes! Darla’s theme is one of my big favorites and it appears in many different ways. Her theme first appeared during a fight scene in a bar. Angel was drunk and fighting and she was just sitting back watching and admiring. Rather than play fight music, I have the first appearance of her theme — which is laid back and seductive — on viola. It contrasts the fight, but captures her mood, her mind. I guess the inspiration for the themes comes form the characters. Darla’s my favorite character. She actually has three themes, or one theme and two other "ideas" that play throughout different situations with her, e.g., the "Dream" motif when she’s seducing Angel through his dreams.

Fred’s theme was also lots of fun but it appeared only in the Pylea episodes, and maybe once thereafter. Tim Minear loved it, but David Greenwalt wasn’t so keen on it once we were out of Pylea.

22. Guenevere: Since Angel is often so melodramatic (in a good way) does that make it easier or harder to write music for? In other words, do you have to make sure you don’t overdo a scene so that the balance is right?

The bigger scenes that are melodramatic [are] very easy to write for — I can pull out all the stops. In fact, I was just thinking the other day how fortunate I am to be working on this show where I can write the type of music that I have always wanted to...the big, epic sweeping stuff, the exciting action orchestral stuff....the, well, Angel, stuff! I am very lucky to have the type of show where I can do that. A sitcom would be somewhat more limiting!

It can be easily overdone though, as your question asks. Jeff Bell has been a little pickier about the fight scenes for example. He keeps it to the degree that he feels is warranted for the particular fight and situation. With David, I was able to go more hell for leather every time. But David was certainly in control of the melodrama when it came to underscore. Sometimes I’d write something a little too sweet or sugary, and he’d make sure the level of "subtleness" was correct.

Tim Minear asked for "BIG WAGNERIAN HORNS" in "Darla". He got them. He loved them.

23. Matt: Earlier on Angel, more along the first season, there were songs from the band VAST-songs with vocals in the scenes. I was wondering if any rock with vocals will be used in upcoming Angel episodes?

Recently there was an episode with a lot of dance music because it’s a Halloween party. It’s also the funniest, most outrageous Angel episode ever! In Season One the show was still finding itself. I like the VAST material and its use on the show. But the show has found its groove I guess, and songs aren’t a big part of it. I do feel there could be more songs in the show at special times. There have been times when the idea has come up. Finding the right song at an affordable price is tricky, however, [but] there are some more songs coming up.

Episode 9 of this season featured a closer look at a day in the life of Harmony, and featured some songs that work great for her getting ready for her day at work, for example. In an earlier season — when Angel took the elevator to "Hell", when [Angel] exited the elevator after talking with Lindsay, there was a song that worked great there in the temp over the collage of our main characters — all feeling depressed! But we opted out of that because the song was used in a recent movie.

24. Angel Fan: Are the rumors true that "Angel" is going to have its own musical episode this season, as Buffy did with "Once More with Feeling" in Season 6? If so, are you working with Joss Whedon on the score or songs for that episode, and what are the biggest challenges you face?

Hmmm, I haven’t heard about this at all!

25. Taran: Do you have a favorite movie, and what kinds of movies do you typically enjoy and why?

I have different favorites. I just cannot deny that I enjoy the first Star Wars movie (Episode IV) immensely — it works every time. That thing is timeless! My favorite comedy is an Australian GEM of a movie called The Castle. I love that movie so much; it is hilarious, but has TONS of heart. It’s all about the little guy standing up to the big guns. In Australia we call that person a "Battler," in the USA I guess he’s called the "underdog." My favorite musical is Moulin Rouge. I thought it was immensely powerful. My favorite stage [production], however, is Les Miserables — again, immensely moving and powerful. I guess I like to be moved, I like to feel the emotion. Even with the comedies — The Castle, Muriel’s Wedding, Better off Dead, I like these because [in addition to] being hilarious, at the end of these films you want to stand up and cheer! There was a wonderful feeling of triumph when I saw The Castle in Santa Monica on opening weekend. Here’s this movie with a "little" feel — about a little family that has no power, ordinary people with tons of beautiful quirks, but at the end of the movie there’s this triumph and the entire packed out audience in the theater burst into applause.

I have often felt that movies are the successful pulpit for the masses. I don’t mean blatant preaching, but in movies these huge audiences are brought skillfully and artfully to a place — a point in the film where you can hear a needle drop - [where] the plot comes to fruition and the masses are moved, experiencing a life changing event along with the characters. Hollywood is often blasted for producing "Hollywood" rubbish, but Hollywood and movie-makers around the world have produced wonderful material, responsible for uplifting thousands of lives.

26. Rageon: Aside from music, what are your other interests and hobbies? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Snow skiing. I check the snow reports in winter and the lead up to winter several times a day. It reminds me of the world out there beyond the studio, and planning a ski trip really helps pull me through when the workload piles up! Skiing is an incredibly freeing experience.

I’m also a nut for photography, and the computer programs available and cheap high-speed photo-printing at home creates a lot of divergence from work from time to time!

27. 1chameleon: Rob, who are your musical heroes?

Jeff Wayne’s musical version of War of the Worlds inspired me when I was young. I listen to it now and even [with] the dated sounding parts, I still appreciate the mountain of work that must have gone into it. It’s brilliant!! John Williams [Star Wars trilogies, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, E.T.] simply astounds me, and James Newton Howard [Hidalgo, Signs, The Prince of Tides] amazes me.