About This Project
Student films offer some of the most creatively open scoring opportunities. Without the commercial constraints of studio productions, there is room to take risks — unconventional instrumentation, unusual harmonic choices, extended techniques — and the filmmakers are often eager to experiment. Toby composed the score for this short with that freedom in mind.
The music moves between orchestral warmth and ambient unease, using sustained string textures and sparse piano to build tension in the dramatic sequences. Where the story calls for restraint, the score pulls back to near silence; where it escalates, the instrumentation swells without overwhelming the dialogue or sound design.
Scoring for emerging filmmakers is also a mentorship opportunity. Toby values these collaborations because they allow younger directors to experience the scoring process — spotting sessions, temp music discussions, revision cycles — in a supportive environment that prepares them for larger productions down the line.