What’s everyone’s favorite holiday film score and why? I have a few that I want to discuss in next weeks final newsletter of the year but I’d love to know what resonates with you during the holidays.

Just finished the IT: Welcome to Derry finale and wow! The show just got better and better as it went on! I’m so blown away by this season and how much they were able to expand on the lore. Just incredible! Not to mention the score. We’re lucky to have so much music across 4 volumes to listen to!

With the ThinkSpace Orchestral Composition Bootcamp coming to a close for the year, it made me reflect on momentum, inspiration, & staying creative especially heading into the new year! Be sure to check out my newest OdysseyNotes post available tomorrow morning Dec. 11th @ 8:00am ET

Finally all caught up on Stranger Things and I’m just blown away. It all felt like the last few episodes of a season and it’s literally just the first half! I’m not ready for this show to end. In a way I’m kind of glad it’s been dropped over the next month even though I need to watch more now!

Finally starting the new Stranger Things season and 2 things: 1. They used the Kids theme!!! It’s popped up every season but really evolved and grew over the years. I love it so much! 2. I can’t stop smiling. They all still got it 😍

Happy Stranger things day to everyone who celebrates! This show’s score is one that will always stick with me. The way it’s developed over the years has been incredible to hear! 🥹

Stranger Things is easily one of my favorite shows. Every time I question if it’s just hype, I’m reminded what made the show so impactful for me personally. This is by far the most in-depth thing I’ve written. I spent hours doing research and would love for you to check it out!

Less than 8 hours until this behemoth of an OdysseyNotes Pro post is released! Full post exclusive for paid subscribers. Preview available for free subscribers. As a composer obsessed with the score, I poured my heart into this 😍

If you want a little tease for my Stranger Things post coming up, I’m gonna absolutely gush over Rob Simonsen’s main title orchestral arrangement for season 4’s final scene!! Perk of being an OdysseyNotes Pro member!!

Composers! Your inbox is probably filled with an an endless scroll of ALL CAPS and 🏷️🤯‼️💥 You don’t need another VST You need practice I know it’s fun to explore something new but, I’d rather WRITE with what I know instead of buying more vsts! Libraries won’t fix your music. YOU can!

I’ve been working on a Stranger Things post for this month’s OdysseyNotes Pro!! I truly love this show and the music behind it. It’s a love letter to the history of the score and the composers who put it all together. 😍

Currently watching The Island starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson! Steve Jablonksy’s score sounds SO much like Transformers! It’s wild! EDIT: right as I posted, I saw it’s directed by Michael Bay!!! 😂

New OdysseyNotes coming out tomorrow morning! It’s for composers who are tired of all the emojis and ALL-CAPS in their inbox this year. Don’t miss it: open.substack.com/pub/robertro...

If you want to get a solid understanding of good orchestration, listen to some classic holiday music! Always gorgeous wind writing 🥹❄️

My wife and I are on the Purple Monkey in a Bubblegum Tree side of TikTok

I’m trying to find the best movie/show tracking apps! I want simplicity with the option for more advanced features & a clean UI. So far my favorites are: - Movie Tracker - Sequel - Sofa Time *Not the Sofa app* I love MT/Sequel. A few features I wish to see but great options. ST is growing on me!

Composers…before you buy a cart full of sample libraries, open your DAW and make sure you know how to use what you already have! I made a video about this earlier this year and with Black Friday coming up, it feels super relevant! youtu.be/BjH1NCBJ04M?...

Clue is one of my absolute must-see murder mysteries every November! Such a ridiculous movie! 😂

I’m not saying my Dunkin iced coffee saved me from my vertigo… But it’s weird that the day I have my coffee again after days of dizziness, I finally feel more like myself?!?

Can we talk about that Hunger Games Sunrise on the Reaping teaser?!? I’m so excited!! Jesse Plemons! Ralph Fiennes! Glenn Close! They all look so good!

Been dealing with constant vertigo for 2 days straight… My entire life has been upended since I can barely stand up 🙃

The new MS NOW logo looks so awful. The red on blue is weird and honestly reminds me of some sort of far right conservative outlet

I’m such a believer in going to the movies instead of just waiting for it to be streaming! But since becoming a dad, I truly have no time and itch for all the movies I miss to finally stream. It’s rough especially since my work involves staying up to date with new releases 😭

The Pluribus main title music freaks me out in the best way possible!!

Oh wow I can’t get over how good Pluribus is! What a slow burn but I can already see so much of what made Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul so great shine through!

I’m not crying, you’re crying… 😭 Max Richter is by far one of my favorite composers. And every time I hear this track used in a tv episode, I can guarantee I WILL get emotional. #Composer #ComposerSky

I’ve been on Substack for just over a week & I feel so connected to music! I posted about Desplat’s Frankenstein score & it felt so good to share my thoughts. I’m working on a new Stranger Things post for paid subscribers! I’m blown away how much creativity stemmed from my excitement of Substack.

After nearly 10 years of composing, I’m finally taking actual piano lessons and I’ve never felt more connected to music 🥹

Sorry I can’t stop thinking about Frankenstein 😬

“As a composer, what really sells the “living, breathing” story of a world is when the music convinces us it exists inside that world.” Alexandre Desplat’s score for Frankenstein makes me feel like I could close my eyes and actually exist in this story! open.substack.com/pub/robertro...

I’m not sure if this is a hot take but… I actually really like the 20-30min of ads before the trailers and movie. I like Noovie, I like the “silence your cell phones” ads, and I just like being in the theater itself. Theaters are usually my big outing, so I take in every moment.

Just gave my usual presentation on thematic development particularly for music in film television! I absolutely love this session! It’s just so fun to explore some of my favorite tracks and discern the different techniques for developing your ideas! It’s so fun but my voice is now shot!!

Were you able to read my latest Frankenstein post?? What’d you think of the music!? I think it might be a personal favorite from Desplat!

I gotta put together a list of Thanksgiving episodes and movies!

I watched Frankenstein this weekend was blown away. As a son who lost his own father & a new father to his own son, this film meant so much to me. And Alexandre Desplat’s score for this film was one of my favorites of the year! The music was haunting yet emotionally resonant.

It’s 4am and I’m anxiously waiting for my Frankenstein post to go live in 5 hours! 😅

My Frankenstein OdysseyNotes post is scheduled and ready to go! I’m so excited to share this one with you all! I absolutely loved this film and have been listening to Alexandre Desplat’s score non-stop.

Frankenstein, Predator Badlands, Welcome to Derry, Pluribus…it’s been a great month of films and shows!!

Currently working on an OdysseyNotes newsletter on Alexandre Desplat’s score for Frankenstein! Also working on an OdysseyNotes Pro post on the music of Stranger Things leading up to the release of season 5 later this month! I’m working hard on both and can’t wait to share! 🤩

I’m only up to the opening credits of It: Welcome to Derry episode 3, but Benjamin Wallfisch made some crazy music for that chase! 👀

Frankenstein might not only be one of my favorite films of the year but also favorite score?! Desplat absolutely nailed this particular 19th century gothic horror sound!!

This might have some Pluribus SPOILERS but I can’t stop thinking about it: ———— I keep going back to Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series! The idea of a hive mind & humanity either succumbing to it or maintaining autonomy. My memory is a bit fuzzy but that reminds me of Galaxia as a single organism!

Pluribus is nothing short of phenomenal! What a wildly different show than Breaking Bad but Vince Gilligan’s creative DNA is all over and undeniable.

Just finished the first episode of Pluribus and I’m all in! Kind of reminds of the Twilight Zone? Just a really exciting and engaging start. I think it was such a good idea to leave the premise of the a bit of a mystery during all the promo!

Alexandre Desplat’s Frankenstein film score is out! I usually like to listen to the music in context with the film but I was really excited to just hear the style and theme. So good! Might do a score review as my next OdysseyNotes post!

Before becoming a new dad, I had no idea that I’d be this irrationally angry by those sticky diaper tabs finding a way to stick to ANYTHING at the most INOPPORTUNE times!

I can’t believe how good The Diplomat is! I love a good political drama.

In preparation for the final season of Stranger Things, I’m gonna be doing a deep dive into the music of the series leading up to season 5! This is my monthly OdysseyNotes Pro Substack post for November exclusive to paid subscribers. Starting my research now. I can’t wait to share this one!

I’m seeing the initial reviews of Plotinus come in and I’m so freaking excited!! As a new dad, I’m still trying to figure out when I can squeeze in uninterrupted shows and movies 😂

Can’t believe I gotta wait until Sunday for another Knicks game. 😭 Baseball is almost every day. Football is like once a week for a specific team. Knicks basketball was always a nice in between being like every other day or so. But I’m already itching for more and we gotta wait 2 more days!