Steve Jablonsky
{{Short description|American composer}}
{{Use American English|date = October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = October 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Steve Jablonsky
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|10|9}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| origin =
| death_date =
| genre = Film score, video game music, post-rock, alternative rock, electronic, classical
| occupations = Film composer,
video game composer
| instruments = Piano, keyboards, guitar, drums
| years_active = 1997–present
| label =
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Steve Jablonsky (born October 9, 1970) is an American composer for film, television, and video games, best known for his musical scores in the Transformers film series and The Sims 3.{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/327348/Steve-Jablonsky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313222012/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/327348/Steve-Jablonsky|archive-date=March 13, 2016|url-status=dead|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=The New York Times|date=2016|title=Steve Jablonsky}} Some of his frequent collaboration partners include film directors Michael Bay and Peter Berg, and fellow composer Hans Zimmer.
Early life
Jablonsky's mother was born in a Japanese internment camp.{{cite tweet|number=825449692582404096|user=jablonsky_steve|title=My mom was born in a Japanese internment camp. I almost did not exist because of policies similar to what's happening right now.|date=January 28, 2017}} He went to the University of California, Berkeley for college and studied computer science at first, but switched to music composition a year later.{{cite web |url=http://www.mstarz.com/articles/34612/20140731/exclusive-interview-michael-bay-transformers-composer-steve-jablonsky-music-movies-tv-video-games.htm |title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Michael Bay's 'Transformers' Composer Steve Jablonsky Talks Making Music For Movies, TV, Video Games And More! |publisher=Mstarz |date=2014-07-31 |access-date=2016-01-25 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031742/http://www.mstarz.com/articles/34612/20140731/exclusive-interview-michael-bay-transformers-composer-steve-jablonsky-music-movies-tv-video-games.htm |url-status=dead }} After graduation, he became an intern at Hans Zimmer's Remote Control Productions after cold calling the studio to ask if they needed any help.{{Cite web|url=https://www.score-movie.com/single-post/2018/04/24/Episode-6-Steve-Jablonsky-Behind-the-Score-Trent-Reznor-Atticus-Ross-Name-That-Score|title=Episode #6 {{!}} Steve Jablonsky, Behind the Score: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross & Name That Score|date=24 April 2018|website=SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY|language=en|access-date=2018-05-02}} During that time, Jablonsky met Harry Gregson-Williams, a fellow composer of Zimmer, and started working as his assistant. Later, he became more engaged with Zimmer and started composing for works such as Desperate Housewives and the Transformers film series.{{cite web|last=Newman |first=Melinda |url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/composer-steve-jablonsky-on-transformers-age-of-extinction-this-was-the-craziest-film-of-all/ |title=Composer Steve Jablonsky on Transformers: Age of Extinction: This was the craziest film of all |publisher=Uproxx |date=2014-06-26 |access-date=2021-10-29}}
Career
Jablonsky has composed the soundtracks to the films The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), Steamboy (2004), The Island (2005), Transformers (2007), D-War (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Battleship (2012), Ender's Game (2013) (replacing renowned film composer James Horner), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). He was also a contributor on Team America: World Police (2004) among many others. In addition, he helped compose some of the music to the video game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and composed the theme music for BBC's Seven Wonders of the Industrial World in 2003. He also has written music for the television show Desperate Housewives (2004 - 2012) since the fourth episode. His track "Trailblazing" served as the opening theme for WrestleMania X8 and WrestleMania XIX, as well as the soundtrack to the TNA Hall of Fame induction of Sting.
Jablonsky also wrote the music for Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, taking the place of the former Command & Conquer music composer Frank Klepacki who was unable to write the game's score due to his involvement with Universe at War: Earth Assault.
Jablonsky has worked for Harry Gregson-Williams at Media Ventures, the music production company which was conceived and founded by Jay Rifkin and Hans Zimmer, for seven years. His most recent projects include the scores for the South Korean film D-War, Gears of War 3 for the Xbox 360 gaming console, and music for The Sims 3.
Currently, Jablonsky is employed at Zimmer's studio, Remote Control Productions, having been mentored by the company's members Zimmer and Nick Glennie-Smith, as well as former members Harry Gregson-Williams and Klaus Badelt. Additionally, Jablonsky was very recently invited in September 2024 by rock band Weezer to write some of the music they performed in their Voyage to the Blue Planet Tour.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/jablonsky_steve/reel/C_3bERGyFTN/ | title=Instagram }}
In February 2015, Jablonsky was hired to compose the score for the film The Last Witch Hunter.{{cite news|title=Steve Jablonsky to Score 'The Last Witch Hunter'.|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2015/02/12/steve-jablonsky-to-score-the-last-witch-hunter/|access-date=April 30, 2015|publisher=filmmusicreporter.com|date=February 12, 2015}} He also composed the soundtrack for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the 2016 Peter Berg film Deepwater Horizon, starring Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell.
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| width="50"|Year
! style="width:330px;"|Film ! style="width:200px;"|Director ! style="width:200px;"|Additional Music ! style="width:200px;"|Studio / Developer ! style="width:350px;"|Notes |
|---|
| 1998
| Border to Border | Thomas Whelan | {{N/A}} | Stage 15 Productions | {{N/A}} |
| 2003
| Jay Flood | {{N/A}} |
| 2004
| Steamboy | {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2005
| Andrew Douglas | {{flatlist|
}} | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | {{N/A}} |
| The Island
| {{flatlist|
}} | Warner Bros. Pictures | {{N/A}} |
| 2006
| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning | Jay Flood | New Line Cinema | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="3"| 2007
| {{flatlist|
}} | Incidental music by Holeg Spies |
| Transformers
| {{flatlist|
}} | Paramount Pictures | {{N/A}} |
| D-War
| Jay Flood | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2009
| Marcus Nispel | {{flatlist|
}} | New Line Cinema | {{N/A}} |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
| {{flatlist|
}} | Paramount Pictures | Featuring original song by Linkin Park "New Divide" |
| 2010
| Jay Flood | Warner Bros. Pictures | New Line Cinema |
| rowspan="2"| 2011
| {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} |
| Transformers: Dark of the Moon
| {{flatlist|
}} | Paramount Pictures | {{N/A}} |
| 2012
| {{flatlist|
}} | Universal Pictures | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="4"| 2013
| {{N/A}} | Warner Bros. Pictures | {{N/A}} |
| Pain & Gain
| Clay Duncan | Paramount Pictures | {{N/A}} |
| Ender's Game
| Jacob Shea | Orchestra conducted by Gavin Greenaway |
| Lone Survivor
| Peter Berg | {{flatlist|
}} | Universal Pictures | Composed with Explosions in the Sky |
| 2014
| Transformers: Age of Extinction | {{flatlist|
}} | Paramount Pictures | Featuring original song By Imagine Dragons "Battle Cry" |
| 2015
| {{flatlist|
}} | Orchestra conducted by David Shipps and performed by Nashville Music Scoring Orchestra |
| rowspan="3"| 2016
| Keanu | Elgin Thrower Jr. | Warner Bros. Pictures | Composed with Nathan Whitehead |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
| {{flatlist|
}} | Paramount Pictures | Orchestra conducted by James Sale |
| Deepwater Horizon
| Peter Berg | Jon Jablonsky (Drums) | Summit Entertainment | Featuring original song by Gary Clark Jr. |
| 2017
| Transformers: The Last Knight | {{flatlist|
}} | Paramount Pictures | Orchestra conducted by Nick Glennie-Smith & James Sale |
| rowspan=3|2018
| Christian Wibe | Netflix | {{N/A}} |
| Skyscraper
| {{flatlist|
}} | Universal Pictures | Featuring original song by Jamie N Commons "Walls" |
| Morning Express II
| {{N/A}} | Mediacorp Onetree Pictures | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan=2|2020
| Peter Berg | Jared Fly | Netflix | {{N/A}} |
| Bloodshot
| David S. F. Wilson | {{flatlist|
}} |Orchestra conducted by Nick Glennie-Smith |
| 2021
| Rawson Marshall Thurber | {{flatlist|
}} | Netflix | Orchestra conducted by Jasper Randall |
| 2022
| {{N/A}} | Replaced Dominic Lewis{{Cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/11/20/steve-jablonsky-scoring-jared-sterns-dc-league-of-super-pets/|title=Steve Jablonsky Scoring Jared Stern's 'DC League of Super-Pets' | Film Music Reporter}} |
| rowspan=2|2024
| {{flatlist|
}} | {{N/A}} |
| Borderlands
| Eli Roth | {{N/A}} | Replaced Nathan Barr{{Cite web|date=2023-10-09|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/10/09/steve-jablonsky-scoring-borderlands-film-adaptation/|title=Steve Jablonsky Scoring 'Borderlands' Film Adaptation|website=Film Music Reporter|access-date=2023-10-15}} |
== Additional music credits ==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| width="50"|Year
! style="width:330px;"|Film ! style="width:200px;"|Director ! style="width:200px;"|Additional Music ! style="width:200px;"|Studio / Developer ! style="width:350px;"|Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 1997
| {{flatlist|
}} | Score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Hans Zimmer |
| Deceiver
| {{N/A}} | Score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams |
| rowspan="3"| 1998
| Border to Border | Thomas Whelan | {{N/A}} | Stage 15 Productions | {{N/A}} |
| Armageddon
| {{flatlist|
}} | Score composed by Trevor Rabin |
| Antz
| {{flatlist|
}} | Score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell |
| rowspan="2"|1999
| {{flatlist|
}} |Score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams |
| Deep Blue Sea
| {{flatlist|
}} | Score composed by Trevor Rabin |
| rowspan="3"| 2000
| {{flatlist|
}} |rowspan="2"| Score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams |
| The Magic of Marciano
| Tony Barbieri | {{N/A}} | Cape Atlantic Productions |
| Chicken Run
| {{flatlist|
}} | DreamWorks Pictures | Score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell |
| 2001
| {{flatlist|
}} | Touchstone Pictures |rowspan="2"| Score composed by Hans Zimmer |
| 2002
| Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron | Kelly Asbury | {{flatlist|
}} | DreamWorks Pictures |
| rowspan="3"| 2003
| {{flatlist|
}} | Score composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
| {{flatlist|
}} | Walt Disney Pictures | Score composed by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer |
| Bad Boys II
| rowspan="2"|Michael Bay | {{flatlist|
}} | Columbia Pictures | Score composed by Trevor Rabin |
| 2019
| {{flatlist|
}} | Netflix | Score composed by Lorne Balfe |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! TV Channel ! Notes |
|---|
| 1999
| {{N/A}} | Television film |
| rowspan="3"| 2002
| CBS | {{N/A}} |
| Live from Baghdad
| HBO | Television film |
| National Geographic Explorer
| Episode: "Lost Subs: Disaster at Sea" |
| rowspan="2"| 2003
| Seven Wonders of the Industrial World | BBC | 7 episodes |
| Threat Matrix
|rowspan="2"| ABC | 3 episodes |
| 2004—2012
| 157 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 2005
| NBC | {{N/A}} |
| Threshold
| CBS | {{N/A}} |
| 2006
| Him and Us | {{N/A}} | Television film |
| 2008
| 24 episodes |
| 2009
|rowspan="2"| History |rowspan="2"| Only composed "Trailblazing" |
| 2011 |
| rowspan="2"| 2013
| The List | {{N/A}} |rowspan="2"| Television film |
| Occult
| A&E |
| 2014
| TNT | Season 1 |
| 2015
| NBC | 10 episodes |
| 2021
| 3 episodes |
= Video games =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Publisher ! Notes |
|---|
| 2001
| Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | Konami | Additional music only |
| rowspan="2" | 2007
| Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars | Composed with Trevor Morris |
| Transformers: The Game
| Composed with Jonathan Flood, David Whittaker and Adam Hay |
| 2008
| {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="2"|2009
| Electronic Arts | Composed CAS, Map View, Buy and Build mode music |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
| Activision | Additional music by Julien-K and Bobby Tahouri |
| 2010
| Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands | Ubisoft | Main Title, Cinematics and Front Music |
| 2011
|rowspan= 2| Microsoft Game Studios | {{N/A}} |
| 2013
| Composed with Jacob Shea |
| 2014
| Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark | Activision | Composed with Jeff Broadbent, Bobby Tahouri and Troels Brun Folmann |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jablonsky, Steven}}
Category:American film score composers
Category:American male film score composers
Category:American musicians of Japanese descent
Category:American people of Polish descent
Category:American television composers
Category:La-La Land Records artists
Category:American male television composers
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni
Category:Varèse Sarabande Records artists