Forrest Gump (1994)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

I think I was still in fifth or sixth grade when I first saw this film. I remember watching the film with my family one night and being proud of renting a film that both of my parents enjoyed watching although I didn't quite understand the meaning of the story at that time. Of course, I pretended that I also liked the film and understood the story... I saw this film a couple more times since then.

When I watched the film this time, I was fascinated with the music. So, I read an interview about Alan Silvestri, a composer of this film. And, in the interview, he talks about what his dream project will be like.

"I've now done ten movies with Bob Zemeckis. One of the things involved in a dream project for me is having a tremendous level of love, support, and trust from the director. I always view the composer as an actor in the film - they need to be directed, they need an environment created around them that allows them to do their creative work. They also need the support. They need all of that in order to go hang it out there. Because like any other performer, if it is threatening, if it is tenuous, they will do what everyone does in that situation, which is play it safe. I think that is a component of the dream project - having that kind of tremendous communication and support from the director.
I think another aspect is to have a director of the capability as someone like Bob who through their artistry can go ahead and create a standard that one feels a calling to measure up to. [...] I always liked working with Bob to being on a relay race, where you're the last guy to go. Here it is - here's Cast Away. Here's Gump. Bob Zemeckis runs his lap, breaks the world record. Tom Hanks runs his lap, breaks the world record. And then they hand you the baton. It's like, "We're done, pal, you gotta take the stick around the course now." You absolutely feel some kind of moral imperative to dig and search for the best you can possibly do. So that is part of the dream project."

He also talks about his approach to films that he works on.

"I've thought about it (what it is to be a film composer) , and I see myself as a filmmaker first, who happens to write music. So what I really love about this is I love working with a story and using music as an instrument to tell the story. [...] I always try to look for what the film needs, and then I do the storytelling aspect that has a musical component through the music. The better the story, the better it is told, the more of a dream project it is for me on that level."

I've recently been thinking about a collaboration in art. Music & moving visual images. What a great way to collaborate. Thanks.