Steve Jablonsky

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.[1] Some of his frequent collaboration partners include film directors Michael Bay and Peter Berg, and fellow composer Hans Zimmer.

Steve Jablonsky
Born (1970-10-09) October 9, 1970 (age 53)
GenresFilm score, video game music, post-rock, alternative rock, electronic, classical
OccupationsFilm composer,
video game composer
InstrumentsPiano, keyboards, guitar, drums
Years active1997–present
Websitesteve-jablonsky.com Edit this at Wikidata

Early life

Jablonsky's mother was born in a Japanese internment camp.[2] He went to the University of California, Berkeley for college and studied computer science at first, but switched to music composition a year later.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.

In February 2015, Jablonsky was hired to compose the score for the film The Last Witch Hunter.[6] 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

YearFilmDirectorAdditional MusicStudio / DeveloperNotes
1998Border to BorderThomas WhelanStage 15 Productions
2003The Texas Chainsaw MassacreMarcus NispelJay FloodNew Line Cinema
2004SteamboyKatsuhiro OtomoSony Pictures Entertainment
2005The Amityville HorrorAndrew Douglas
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The IslandMichael Bay
  • Ramin Djawadi
  • Clay Duncan
  • Trevor Morris
  • Blake Neely
Warner Bros. Pictures
2006The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The BeginningJonathan LiebesmanJay FloodNew Line Cinema
2007The HitcherDave Meyers
Rogue PicturesIncidental music by Holeg Spies
TransformersMichael Bay
Paramount Pictures
DreamWorks Pictures
D-WarShim Hyung-raeJay FloodFreestyle Releasing
2009Friday the 13thMarcus Nispel
New Line Cinema
Paramount Pictures
Transformers: Revenge of the FallenMichael Bay
  • Ryeland Allison
  • Lorne Balfe
  • Clay Duncan
  • Jay Flood
  • Tom Gire
  • Linkin Park
  • Matthew Margeson
  • William J. Parker
  • John Sponsler
  • Hans Zimmer
Paramount Pictures
DreamWorks Pictures
Featuring original song by Linkin Park "New Divide"
2010A Nightmare on Elm StreetSamuel BayerJay FloodWarner Bros. PicturesNew Line Cinema
2011Your HighnessDavid Gordon GreenUniversal Pictures
Transformers: Dark of the MoonMichael Bay
  • Andrew Kawczynski
  • Jacob Shea
Paramount Pictures
2012BattleshipPeter BergUniversal Pictures
2013Gangster SquadRuben FleischerWarner Bros. Pictures
Pain & GainMichael BayClay DuncanParamount Pictures
Ender's GameGavin HoodJacob SheaSummit EntertainmentOrchestra conducted by Gavin Greenaway
Lone SurvivorPeter Berg
  • Clay Duncan
  • Jacob Shea (Acoustic Guitar)
  • Jon Jablonsky (Drums)
Universal PicturesComposed with Explosions in the Sky
2014Transformers: Age of ExtinctionMichael BayParamount PicturesFeaturing original song By Imagine Dragons "Battle Cry"
2015The Last Witch HunterBreck Eisner
  • Gary Dworetsky
Lionsgate FilmsOrchestra conducted by David Shipps and performed by Nashville Music Scoring Orchestra
2016KeanuPeter AtencioElgin Thrower Jr.Warner Bros. PicturesComposed with Nathan Whitehead
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the ShadowsDave Green
  • Gary Dworetsty
  • David Fleming
  • Jay Flood
  • Corey Jackson
Paramount Pictures
Nickelodeon Movies
Orchestra conducted by James Sale
Deepwater HorizonPeter BergJon Jablonsky (Drums)Summit EntertainmentFeaturing original song by Gary Clark Jr.
2017Transformers: The Last KnightMichael Bay
  • Gary Dworetsky
  • David Fleming
  • Luke Richards
Paramount PicturesOrchestra conducted by James Sale & Nick Glennie-Smith
2018Game Over, Man!Kyle NewacheckChristian WibeNetflix
SkyscraperRawson Marshall Thurber
  • Jon Jablonsky (Drums)
  • Bryce Jacobs
  • Christian Wibe
  • Luke Richards
Universal Pictures
Legendary Entertainment
Featuring original song by Jamie N Commons "Walls"
Morning Express IIRandall MillerMediacorp Onetree Pictures
mm2 Entertainment
2020Spenser ConfidentialPeter BergJared FlyNetflix
BloodshotDavid S. F. Wilson
  • Sven Faulconer
  • Christian Wibe
Columbia PicturesOrchestra conducted by Nick Glennie-Smith
2021Red NoticeRawson Marshall Thurber
  • Sven Faulconer
  • Jared Fly
  • Roger Suen
NetflixOrchestra conducted by Jasper Randall
2022DC League of Super-PetsJared SternWarner Bros. PicturesReplaced Dominic Lewis[7]
2024The Tiger's ApprenticeRaman Hui
  • Elisa Alloway
  • Freddy Avis
  • Sophia Blake
Paramount+
BorderlandsEli RothTBALionsgate FilmsReplaced Nathan Barr[8]

Additional music credits

YearFilmDirectorAdditional MusicStudio / DeveloperNotes
1997Smilla's Sense of SnowBille AugustFox Searchlight PicturesScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Hans Zimmer
DeceiverJonas Pate
Josh Pate
Metro-Goldwyn-MayerScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
1998Border to BorderThomas WhelanStage 15 Productions
ArmageddonMichael Bay
Touchstone PicturesScore composed by Trevor Rabin
AntzEric Darnell
Tim Johnson
DreamWorks PicturesScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell
1999Light It UpCraig Bolotin
  • P.J. Hanke
  • Steve Jablonsky
20th Century FoxScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
Deep Blue SeaRenny Harlin
  • Tim Heintz
  • Steve Jablonsky
  • Paul Linford
Warner Bros. PicturesScore composed by Trevor Rabin
2000The Tigger MovieJun Falkenstein
Walt Disney PicturesScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
The Magic of MarcianoTony BarbieriCape Atlantic Productions
Chicken RunPeter Lord
Nick Park
  • James McKee Smith
  • Geoff Zanelli
  • Gavin Greenaway
  • Steve Jablonsky
DreamWorks PicturesScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell
2001Pearl HarborMichael Bay
Touchstone PicturesScore composed by Hans Zimmer
2002Spirit: Stallion of the CimarronKelly Asbury
Lorna Cook
DreamWorks Pictures
2003Tears of the SunAntoine Fuqua
Columbia PicturesScore composed by Lisa Gerrard and Hans Zimmer
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlGore Verbinski
Walt Disney PicturesScore composed by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer
Bad Boys IIMichael Bay
Columbia PicturesScore composed by Trevor Rabin
20196 Underground
  • Steve Jablonsky
NetflixScore composed by Lorne Balfe

Television

YearTitle[9]TV ChannelNotes
1999Swing VoteTelevision film
Additional music only
Score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
2002AFP: American Fighter PilotCBS
Live from BaghdadHBOTelevision film
National Geographic ExplorerNational Geographic ChannelEpisode: "Lost Subs: Disaster at Sea"
2003Seven Wonders of the Industrial WorldBBC7 episodes
Threat MatrixABC3 episodes
2004—2012Desperate Housewives157 episodes
2005The ContenderNBC
ThresholdCBS
2006Him and UsTelevision film
2008Amas de Casa DesesperadasUnivision24 episodes
2009WWII in HDHistoryOnly composed "Trailblazing"
2011Vietnam in HD
2013The ListTelevision film
OccultA&E
2014The Last ShipTNTSeason 1
2015You, Me and the ApocalypseNBC10 episodes
2021Why Women KillParamount+3 episodes

Video games

YearTitlePublisherNotes
2001Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyKonamiAdditional music only
Music composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Norihiko Hibino
E3 Best Original Score
2007Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium WarsElectronic ArtsComposed with Trevor Morris
Transformers: The GameActivisionComposed with Jonathan Flood, David Whittaker and Adam Hay
2008Gears of War 2Microsoft Game Studios
2009The Sims 3Electronic ArtsComposed CAS, Map View, Buy and Build mode music
Transformers: Revenge of the FallenActivisionAdditional music by Julien-K and Bobby Tahouri
2010Prince of Persia: The Forgotten SandsUbisoftMain Title, Cinematics and Front Music
PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 versions
2011Gears of War 3Microsoft Game Studios
2013Gears of War: JudgmentMicrosoft Game StudiosComposed with Jacob Shea
2014Transformers: Rise of the Dark SparkActivisionComposed with Jeff Broadbent, Bobby Tahouri and Troels Brun Folmann

References