Brandon Moore (born November 25, 1976) is an American composer known for Universal's Aliens Ate My Homework (2018) and the sequel Aliens Stole My Body (2020) featuring the voice talents of William Shatner and George Takei. He’s also known for the comedy-horror series Killer Sisters' Midnight Hour (2012) for Hulu, and the IFS Festival's Best Drama winner The Year I Did Nothing (2019). Brandon has been a musician since an early age and a life-long lover of film music. Upon completing his undergrad in music theory and composition in Fort Worth, TX, he moved to Los Angeles to attend USC's Film Scoring program. Brandon has composed a wide range of scores for a variety of film projects and genres. His music has played in film festivals all over the world for as long as he's been an active composer in Hollywood.
Biography Early life
Brandon Moore grew up listening to film scores and performing music in his native Arlington, Texas. His father John Moore (1942-2011) was an architect and his mother Cheryl Ford-Mente, a communications director for non-profit organizations, was heavily involved in Dallas-Fort Worth community theater as an actress and fundraiser and host of a local cable talk show "Around Arlington." Brandon's parents encouraged him to start playing music at an early age. He switched from piano, viola, and finally settling on the trombone in high school. Brandon credits his dad for his introduction to film music:
My dad would buy these soundtrack albums. He had a wide range of vinyl, but he occasionally had a pop soundtrack album and a score album here and there, but there were three that I remember listening to a lot: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi and Superman: The Movie. And I wore these records out, scratched them and everything. I was probably about 11 years old when I realized they were all written by John Williams.Romanelli, Kristen. "Aliens Ate His Film Score". Film Score Monthly Volume 23, Issue 2. February 22 2018. Pages 60-65. FSM Online
Education In 1999 he graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Music degree in music theory and composition. That same year he moved to Los Angeles to study film scoring professionally at the University of Southern California's Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program. At USC, Brandon had the privilege of studying under accomplished film composers Elmer Bernstein, David Raksin and Christopher Young.
Discography Soundtracks Title Release date Label Format Aliens Stole My Body July 31, 2020 Back Lot Music digital download Aliens Ate My Homework March 2, 2018 Back Lot Music digital download Ray Bradbury's Chrysalis August 15, 2009 Independent release CD, digital download
Works Films Year Title Director Type Notes 2024 Which Hunt Adam P. Cray Short New Bedford Film Festival official selection and premiere New Bedford Film Festival 2024 Official Selection New Bedford Film Festival Narrative Short Retrieved on July 4, 2025 2023 Don't Raise the Dead (the Board Game) Michael Benni Pierce Short LA Screamfest official selection and premiere LA Screamfest 2024 Official Selection Don't Raise The Dead (the Board Game), LA Screamfest Retrieved on July 4, 2025 2023 Where The Dead Go Alberto G. Rodriguez Feature 2023 South Texas International Film Festival pre-festival showcase, 2024 Golden State Film Fest official selection and West Coast premiere Golden State Film Festival Program 2024 Page 77 - Where The Dead Go, Retrieved on February 29, 2024 2022 Motion At Your Door Jared Rivet Short LA Screamfest official selection and premiere LA Screamfest 2022 Official Selection Short Block 8 - Motion At Your Door, LA Screamfest Retrieved on June 13, 2023 2020 Alma's Pond Roger Lay Jr. Short Hollywood Just4Shorts Best Drama Short award winner Hollywood Just4Shorts Short Film and Screenplay Competition Official Winners - Best Drama Short - Alma's Pond, Hollywood Just4Shorts Short Film and Screenplay Competition Retrieved on July 31, 2020 2020 Aliens Stole My Body Sean McNamara Feature 2019 The Year I Did Nothing Ana Barredo Foreign Language (Philippines) IFS Film Festival 2019 Best Dramatic Feature Film award winner,IFS 2019 Program Guide - Best Dramatic Feature Film and Nominee - Best Picture: The Year I Did Nothing, Independent Filmmakers Showcase Film Festival Retrieved on April 26, 2019 Cebu International Film Festival Best Long Form award winner,Cebu IFF Facebook Post - WINNERS FOR THIS YEAR'S CEBUIFF 2019, BEST LONG FILM-PH FOCUS: The Year I Did Nothing, Cebu International Film Festival Retrieved on November 26, 2019 TWIFF Best Narrative Feature award winner,Congratulations to the TWIFF 2019 Winners - Best Narrative Feature: The Year I Did Nothing, The World's Independent Film Festival Retrieved on November 26, 2019 GIFF Best Feature and Best Female Director awards winner,GIFF 2019 Award Winners - Best Feature and Best Female Director: The Year I Did Nothing, Glendale International Film Festival Retrieved on November 26, 2019 2018 Aliens Ate My Homework Sean McNamara Feature 2013 Our Urban Wilderness John Winningham Feature 2012 Toy Masters Corey Landis, Roger Lay Jr. Documentary 2011 The Table Ana Barredo Documentary SoCal Independent Film Festival award winner 2008 Ray Bradbury's Chrysalis Tony Báez Milán Feature Phoenix International Horror & Sci-Fi Festival award winner Sci-Fi Awards List - Best Feature Film 2008: Ray Bradbury's Chrysalis, International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival Retrieved on October 17, 2018 2007 Return To Vietnam Charles Domokos Documentary Silver Telly Award winner Telly Awards 2007 - Silver Telly Winner Film/Video-TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces - Documentary - Return to Vietnam The Telly Awards Retrieved on October 17, 2018 2007 Ackerman on Bradbury Roger Lay Jr. Documentary Short 2006 Forest Lawn: The First Hundred Years Jeremy Weiss Documentary 2005 A Piece of Wood Tony Báez Milán Short 2004 The Gentleman Don La Mancha Ted Roach Feature Mexico International Film Festival award winner Awards 2007 Winners - Best Student Film The Gentleman Don La Mancha, International Mexico International Film Festival Retrieved on October 17, 2018
Series Year Title Director Notes 2023 The Party Geneva Willis, Margaret Borchert and Tori Chancellor web series 2014 Dysfunctionally Organized Nimo Mathenge web series 2012 Killer Sisters' Midnight Hour Mike Williamson Hulu original seriesMiska, Brad. "Bloody Disgusting Presents Killer Sisters’ Midnight Hour On Hulu and Hulu Plus!". Bloody Disgusting. October 12, 2012.
Audio Dramas Year Title Director Notes 2021 Tales From the Dead of Night 2 Jared Rivet Earbud Theater Podcast. Original theme and end credits; Segments "Night Moves" and "The Bellows""Now Hear This: Tales From the Dead of Night 2" Morbidly Beautiful Retrieved on April 17, 2025 2018 Tales From the Dead of Night Jared Rivet Earbud Theater Podcast. Original theme and end credits; Segment "Knife Flip" uses original track titled "Possession""Tales From the Dead of Night" Cast and crew bios: Brandon Moore Composer, Earbud Theater Podcast Retrieved on October 17, 2018 2018 The Current Jared Rivet Earbud Theater Podcast"The Current" Meet The Team: Brandon Moore Composer, Earbud Theater Podcast Retrieved on October 17, 2018
Concert Works Aura Collage for Solo Trombone and Brass Ensemble World premiere held at the 2024 International Trombone Festival in Fort Worth, Texas performed by Dr. Dave Begnoche and the Center Stage Brass on June 1st at Pepsico Hall on the campus of Texas Christian University.International Trombone Festival Schedule ITF 2024 Full Schedule - Saturday - Center Stage Brass, International Trombone Festival Retrieved on July 11, 2024 Instrumentation: Solo Trombone, 4 Trumpets, 2 Alto Horns, Tenor Trombone, Euphonium, Bass Trombone and Tuba. Firethorn for Trombone Octet Written for the Red River Trombones "8x8x8" series and performed at the 2019 International Trombone Festival held in Muncie, Indiana at Ball State University.International Trombone Festival Schedule ITF 2019 Full Schedule - Friday - Presenter Recital: Red River Trombone Octet 8x8x8, International Trombone Festival Retrieved on August 27, 2019 The world premiere with its additional 2nd movement was performed by the TCU Trombone Choir for the 2021 TCU Trombone Summit concert.TCU Trombone Summit Schedule 13th Annual Trombone Summit Schedule - Sunday - World Premiere of Firethorn, Retrieved on May 5, 2021 The Alien for Theremin, Clarinet, Trombone and Narrator Instrumental accompaniment to poem recitation, first performed in 2013 Los Angeles, California in dedication to author Ray Bradbury. The Cylindrical Sea for Alto Saxophone, String Quartet and Xylophone Nonet for Flute, Clarinet, French Horn, Bassoon, String Quartet and Percussion Brass Quintet Flute Duet No. 1 Triumvirate for 2 Trumpets and Trombone Faith of Our Fathers hymn arrangement for Brass Ensemble (Live Oak House)
Awards, nominations and recognition Wins 2024 Hollywood Blood Horror Festival Winner - Best Original Score, Brandon Moore - Don't Raise The Dead (The Board Game) 2024 Hollywood Blood Horror Festival - Winners List Retrieved on February 29, 2024
Nominations 2018 Audio Verse Awards Finalist - Original Compositions for Self-Contained Productions and Original Compositions for Dramatic Productions - episode The Current for Earbud Theater2018 Audio Verse Awards - List of Nominees - Music - Audio Verse Awards Retrieved on November 2, 2018
2012 Park City Film Music Festival Award Nomination for Best Impact of Music in a Documentary - The Table2012 Award Winners - - Best Impact of Music in a Documentary Finalists, Retrieved on October 17, 2018
References/Notes and references
External links Official Website Brandon Moore on IMDb Brandon Moore Music Official YouTube Brandon Moore on Vimeo Brandon Moore Music on SoundCloud Brandon Moore on Spotify Brandon Moore on Pandora Film Score Monthly 2018 Interview with Brandon Moore on composing Aliens Ate My Homework Film Score Monthly 2020 Interview with Brandon Moore on composing Aliens Stole My Body