Vanessa McMahon

Interview with celebrated composer Cyril Morin!!

Cyril Morin's latest score is for the documentary film Today is Better than Two Tomorrows (2009), a hair raisingly poignant film that takes a look into the lives of two 12 year-old Laoatian boys as they experience a rite of passage ceremony in a far off Buddhist land. Journey with them as they pass from childhood into ritualized and socially recognized adulthood, after which they will never be the same.  

ME: Hi, Cyril. Can you tell us what it is it like to be a film composer? Most of the people only ever hear from actors and directors but we rarely hear from the voice of the creators of 'voice' of the film, which is its music. Can you just tell us from your perspective what it's like to compose the music for a film?

CYRIL: A film composer has to bring a new dimension and a higher level in a film. We start usually when the shooting is over and when the editing is right in the middle. I like to think about a story and the music way before the post production start so I can work in the back of my brain, but there are no rules. Sometimes we start when the editing is finished and we have not a lot of time. My goal is to bring the movie one, two, or more level up... when it is possible.

ME: This is so intriguing. I mean, what a life! I imagine its hard work though! Can you tell us about what you want audiences to know about your film and what you really wanted to say with them?

CYRIL: I had a chance to work in many countries. It is like traveling over the world with music like an explorer. From India (Samsara/Valley of Flowers) to the middle East (Syrian Bride/ Human ressource) to the United States (Shamelove/ Church & Dodge), Africa (Zaina/Mansare, Captain of the darkness)... On the other side I like to do psychologicalthriller in a very contemporary world (Autumn/Mafiosa/ That day), or period movies (A simple heart/ Cartouche). There is no limit with a genre of music. I like to mix the classical orchestra, the traditional instruments from all over the world, and electronic. Depends of my feeling and the feeling of the film. Sometime I use 1, 2 elements, or three ....and this bring the musical color in a a film anyway....

ME: I have a director friend who said it right. He said, 'Man, I wish I'd studied music instead of film because I could live without film but never without music!' Well, fortunately we don't have to choose one over the other, and thank god as one would simply not be complete without the other. Can you talk about how hard it was to make a soundtrack to documentary film as opposed to a feature?

CYRIL: Documentaries usually have so much less funds to make than features but then are rarely seen. The Human Ressources Manager (2010) wasn't a difficult soundtrack. Only a pleasure (and some work). I've know Eran since a long time, and we understand each other very well. Sometimes you can have difficult moment because there is always tension in a film especialy at the end of the production. Doing a film and a music for a film is never simple, but sometime we have a good alchemy, and a great feedback... and this are the best moments. When you share the same idea and the same level for the music in a film with the director.

ME: I believe that the relationship and understanding must be very clear between composer and director. Must be why most directors stick with the same composer for most of their work. So, Cyril, what will you be working on in the future?

CYRIL: I'm starting a period movie for the French TV. But it will be like a thriller. Then I will start another film with Eran Riklis. I have several international series project, and I'm developing new features. So, alway s busy and exciting. I'm doing also Documentaries (Unmistaken Child/Berlin Wall), I love it! 

ME:  Can you speak to us about The Human Resource Manager? what is it about? And then do you have any last thoughts you'd like to pour out for us about your passion for music?

CYRIL: The Human Resource Manager is the next Eran Riklis movie. We did the Syrian Bride before, and this film was an amazing experience on many levels. This new film brought me to the Gypsy world in Hungary with great musicians (violin, voice, Cymbalum) mixed with a string orchestra. I always love to discover new sound, new mix, new colors... The soundtrack should be release soon.

MUSIC! Music is food of life, experience and bring us always to new worlds add new horizons... The greatest experience is to go far into an artist and his/her music life. I did this with some of them like David Bowie or Ravel or Stravinsky...the more you know about an artist, the more you understand his music. Because music is not always easy. you have to go deep sometime to catch the meaning of it.....

ME: Thanks a million Cyril!!! Thanks for making us feel with your words and your music. 

check our Cyril's sites here:

http://www.cyrilmorin.com/