When dreams from our childhood collide with reality, magic happens. For acclaimed composer Jongnic Bontemps, that magic unfolded when he was approached to compose the score for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. The opportunity to contribute to a beloved universe that once captivated his pre-adolescent self left him overwhelmed with emotions.
From the exhilaration of being part of a monumental franchise to the daunting task of creating a unique musical voice, Bontemps embarked on a musical journey that would honor the legacy established by Steve Jablonsky and Dario Marinelli while infusing a fresh energy into the Transformers world. Bontemps shares his thoughts, inspirations, and collaborative process in crafting the electrifying score for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
ComingSoon: What were your initial thoughts and emotions when you were approached to compose the score for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts?
Jongnic Bontemps: I wish I could tell my pre-adolescent self that one day the toys that you’re having endless hours of fun with will become a movie series, and that you’ll write the music for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. That might have kept me out of a lot of trouble… I actually cried when I was hired for the film because I was so overwhelmed by the prospect of contributing in such a significant way to this beloved universe. Then that emotion was soon replaced by “oh crap… now I have to write this music!”
Previous Transformers films have had memorable scores by Steve Jablonsky. Did his work influence your approach to composing for this film, and how did you strive to create your unique musical voice within the franchise?
Steve birthed the sound of this theatrical world, and those themes mean so much to me and so many fans around the world. The heroic nobility infused in those themes were a constant source of inspiration for me. I hope that audiences will hear the DNA of those scores in this new chapter in the franchise and score, but re-imagined through the lens of the time, place, and journey of Rise of the Beasts.
How did you collaborate with Steve Jablonsky and/or Dario Marinelli, if at all, to ensure a cohesive musical continuity while still bringing your own creative flair to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts?
Steve came on as a mentor to me, and it was a wonderful collaboration. He gave me a rare insight into the previous scores for the franchise and helped me hone in on a sound that is both new and familiar to the Transformers Universe. For a few extremely important cues in the movie, we workshopped those together. I would write the cue and send it to him for his feedback. After several iterations of this, I would then play it for the director, and after several iterations of that, we would present it to the producers and the studio. Steve also attended several of the scoring sessions, and it was a blessing to have his experience and ear in the room. His suggestions were great and made the score that much better.
Can you share any specific inspirations or influences that guided your creative process for this particular film score?
The score needed to sound like a Transformers score, a hybrid synth and orchestral score that can support a wide range of emotions. I was already a fan of the scores from the past movies, but I did a deep dive into those soundtracks and used them as a guide. I also listened a lot to Ludwig Goransson’s Black Panther and Tenet scores. This is a hero’s journey, and the score would have to go on that journey with our characters, and I love how those scores achieved that.
What were the key elements you focused on to reflect the film’s themes and characters through your music?
The story is set in the 90s and starts in Brooklyn. For that section of the film, the score embodies the sound and bounce of Hip Hop, specifically with the use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. This is not a Hip-Hop score, but I hope audiences will feel the influence of Brooklyn and the era in the score. When our story goes to Peru, it was important to me that the score authentically reflected the sound of Peru, specifically the rhythms, meter, and syncopation of the Afro-Peruvian tradition. So audiences will hear that influence in the score during this part of the film.
Transformers films often blend epic action with emotional moments. How did you strike a balance between these two aspects in your score, and did you draw upon any specific techniques to capture both the excitement and the heart of the story?
I am a big believer in establishing themes early in the film and then taking those themes on a journey. So the melodies that we created for the film had to support family, loss, sacrifice, determination, threat, adventure, and of course action! Once I had themes that could work in all these scenarios, it was then about creating the right musical setting for those themes. So for action, you will hear pulsing rhythms, percolating synth arps, thunderous percussion, and low orchestra chugs. For the heart, you will hear lush harmonies and orchestrations as well as intimate passages with solo cello to communicate the emotions that drive the actions of our characters.
Were there any particular challenges you faced while composing the score for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts? How did you overcome them?
There were many challenges that my team and I had to overcome, and looking back, I am so pleased with all that we did to bring this score to life. One of the biggest challenges was coming up with a theme for the Maximals. I wrote a theme for them early on in the process and built a good part of the score around that theme. I was feeling very good about it, but as the movie took shape and the story solidified, my director Steven Caple Jr. knew I needed to come up with something new to meet his vision and told me, “I think you need to start over”! After I took my heart and spirit off the floor, I feverishly started thinking day and night about this new theme. Then one morning, it hit me, and after a few days of refining it, a new theme for the Maximals was born, and everyone loved it. Phew…
How did you work alongside the director and creative team to ensure your music aligned with their vision? Can you tell us about your collaborative process?
Collaborating for over a decade now, Steven has become one of my best friends, which allows us to be candid and brutally honest. He doesn’t need to pull any punches with me and can give me his honest reaction to the score. This candor and trust have become invaluable because after our playbacks, I know what I need to do. Also, having worked together so long, I can tell from his facial expressions and body language alone how he is receiving a piece of music. He doesn’t even have to tell me if it’s not working or if he is into it; I can feel it from him. There is a mutual trust and safety, so I can take big swings and try crazy things, and he knows I will keep working at it until I get it right for him and the story.
Are there any specific scenes or moments in the film that you feel particularly proud of in terms of your musical contribution?
Yes, but that would be a spoiler! There are 105 minutes of score in this movie, which is a lot of original score, and while I am proud of every note, the score for some of the most iconic moments in the movie are the cues of which I am most proud. One moment I can talk about is the aforementioned theme and music for The Maximals that you will hear when they are first introduced. I hope that fans love the theme for The Maximals; when it comes on the scene, it is massive, epic, and explosive!
Finally, what message or experience do you hope audiences will take away from your score in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and how do you see it building upon the musical legacy established by Steve Jablonsky and Dario Marinelli in previous films?
I am really honored to be part of the Transformers legacy. Writing this score has superseded my wildest dreams for my musical contribution to the world, and I am still in shock! I think the best way to answer this question is to use the words of Steven Caple Jr.: “We are excited to bring a new sound to Transformers: Rise of The Beasts. To the fans, our music will feel fresh, nostalgic of the 1990s, and it will achieve a reimagining of the musical composition these films are known for. With Jongnic Bontemps as this franchise’s first Black composer, we are proud and excited for audiences to connect with the film and culture through our music.”
