Teddy Shapiro /// Organized Sounds /// Season3:E086

Theodore Shapiro was born Washington, DC and is a composer who has delivered memorable music for some of the funniest movies of the past 10 years from the upbeat, jazzy sounds of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA to the jungle-adventure send-up of TROPIC THUNDER and the sentiment of last MARLEY & ME.

 

He has scored a long list of amazing movies covering the spectrum from his work on the 2003 hit Old School, to the 2019 motion picture 'Bombshell'.  He has created the music for other amazing films such as 'Destroyer' directed by our past guest Karyn Kusama, 'Last Christmas', and 'The Devil Wears Prada'.

 

And we can't skip mentioning his amazing work on the HBO T.V. show "Game Change" for which he was nominated for an Emmy!  

 

His careful touch has made him a sought-after collaborator for some of Hollywood’s leading directors.

 

Shapiro is a classically trained composer with a bachelor’s degree from Brown and master’s from Juilliard who, despite commissions for classical works, decided he’d rather be working in film. “

 

"Ask yourself the question, are you being kind to yourself, and take up that struggle to do it as much as you can." - Teddy Shapiro

 

Topics we discuss:

• Asking young people "what are they listening to"
• Taking the leap to Movies
  • Difficulty of making the decision
  • Turning down a huge Opera opportunity
• Being better
  • His view that his work isn't good enough
  • Using the next project to get better
• Being a composer for Comedy Films
  • His aspirations
• What Creation is to him
  • His process
• The instillation of confidence and belief
  • His dad
  • The people he collaborates with
• Early childhood musical influence
  • What support looked like for him
• Managing Family with Success
  • Impact of having Children

 

References:

• Theodore-Shapiro.com
• Iconoclasm
• John Adams and Thomas Ades (composers)
• John Williams
• Daily Chronicle

 

Credits:

Lead editor + Producer: Ruf Holmes

 

Music:

Main Theme: "Eaze Does It" by Shye Eaze and DJ Rufbeats, a More In Common Podcast Exclusive.

Guest theme:  "Light Keys" by DJ Rufbeats created as a More In Common Podcast Exclusive.