Chris Bacon is an American composer. His film scores include Alpha and Omega (2010), Source Code (2011), Gnomeo & Juliet (2011), Sherlock Gnomes (2018) and Men in Black: International (2019). He was the composer for all 50 episodes of the A&E drama series Bates Motel, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award, and also composed the music for 26 of the 32 episodes of the NBC musical drama series Smash.
Early life and education As a youth Bacon learned to play piano and saxophone, and from an early age he knew he wanted to be a film composer. He has said, "From the point that I could start thinking about what I wanted to do when I grew up... it was always to write movie music."
Bacon received a Bachelor's Degree in music composition from Brigham Young University and completed the Scoring For Motion Pictures and Television program at University of Southern California.
Bacon cites his internship with James Newton Howard as his most valuable musical training, "While I learned a ton from school, my real-world education came under James. It felt like I was on scholarship because I was being paid to learn what it means to be a film composer at the pinnacle of the industry. James gave me my first opportunities on projects that he couldn't fully take on for a variety of reasons, and his endorsement was very comforting to producers who appreciated the work still being performed under his 'umbrella'."
Career Bacon's solo debut as a film composer came with the 2007 Lifetime film Angels Fall, for which he composed the main theme. Bacon's first solo feature film score was the thriller Source Code. Bacon has also contributed music to many film and TV productions, including American Hustle, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Goosebumps. Bacon's next project is the Amazon reboot of The Tick, directed by Wally Pfister.
Bacon has been nominated for four Emmy Awards: one for his work on the NBC series Smash, two for this work on the A&E series Bates Motel, three for Amazon Prime series The Tick and four for Netflix series Wednesday.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Notes 2008 Space Chimps Kirk DeMiccoComposed with Blue Man Group First score for an animated film2009Waking Sleeping BeautyDon HahnDocumentary2010Love RanchTaylor HackfordAlpha and OmegaAnthony BellBenjamin Gluck2011Gnomeo & JulietKelly AsburyComposed with James Newton HowardSource CodeDuncan JonesBeethoven's Christmas AdventureJohn Putch2012High GroundMichael BrownDocumentaryAtlas Shrugged: Part IIJohn Putch2013Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday AdventureRichard Rich2015Being CharlieRob Reiner2016Patient SevenDanny Draven2017SnatchedJonathan LevineComposed with Theodore Shapiro2018Sherlock GnomesJohn StevensonThe Weight of WaterMichael BrownDocumentary2019Men in Black: InternationalF. Gary GrayComposed with Danny Elfman2022Immanence Kerry BellessaStrong EnoughJohn Foss202365Scott BeckBryan Woods2024Heretic2025M3GAN 2.0Gerard Johnstone
Composer of additional music Year Title DirectorComposer Notes 2005 King Kong Peter JacksonJames Newton HowardAlso score producer2006RVBarry Sonnenfeld2007EarthAlastair FothergillMark LinfieldGeorge Fenton2010Nanny McPhee and the Big BangSusanna WhiteJames Newton HowardInhaleBaltasar Kormákur2011Water for ElephantsFrancis LawrenceLarry CrowneTom HanksArthur ChristmasSarah SmithHarry Gregson-Williams2013American HustleDavid O. RussellDanny Elfman2014Mr. Peabody & ShermanRob MinkoffPaddingtonPaul KingNick Urata2015Avengers: Age of UltronJoss WhedonDanny ElfmanBrian TylerGoosebumpsRob LettermanDanny Elfman2016Alice Through the Looking GlassJames Bobin2017Tulip FeverJustin Chadwick2018The GrinchScott Mosier Yarrow Cheney2019DumboTim Burton2020DolittleStephen Gaghan2022Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessSam RaimiDisenchantedAdam ShankmanAlan Menken2024Beetlejuice BeetlejuiceTim BurtonDanny Elfman
Television Year Title Notes2007Angels FallTV film; composed with Stuart Michael ThomasBlue Smoke2009Northern LightsMidnight Bayou2011RicochetTV filmWonder WomanTV film2012Hornet's NestTV film2012–13Smash26 episodes; composed with Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman2013An Amish MurderTV filmRecklessTV film2013–17Bates Motel50 episodes2015Living with LincolnTV film2016Finding FortuneTV film2016–19The Tick22 episodes2017A Series of Unfortunate Events2 episodesWhen We RiseMiniseries; composed with Danny Elfman2022–presentWednesday7 episodes; composed with Danny Elfman
Awards and nominations Award Year CategoryWorkResultGrammy Award2024Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella"Paint It Black" Primetime Emmy Award2012Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)Smash 2016Bates Motel 2017Outstanding Original Main Title Theme MusicThe Tick2023Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)Wednesday World Soundtrack Award2023Television Composer of the YearWednesday
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