NICHOLAS BRITELL - Composer
Team Deakins
James Ellis Deakins
4.9 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 11 February 2026
⏱️ 76 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 180 - Nicholas Britell - Composer
In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with composer Nicholas Britell (JAY KELLY, DON'T LOOK UP, MOONLIGHT). "How can a score function within a film?" is the question driving most of our conversation with Nicholas, and throughout the episode he generously provides insight into his process and recalls several examples from his own work to demonstrate how he and his directors arrived at specific pieces of music. We also reflect on the varying natures of scores across film history, and Nicholas shares the challenges of composing for television. He also shares the types of conversations he has with directors after he's brought onto a project, and we learn how he developed the themes for JAY KELLY, DON'T LOOK UP, and THE BIG SHORT. In addition to composing full scores, Nicholas has also contributed music heard within a film's world—during the development of 12 YEARS A SLAVE, he was brought on to compose the songs played in individual scenes, and he reflects on how he balanced the music as both a dramatic element and a piece of history.
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Recommended Viewing: DON'T LOOK UP
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This episode is sponsored by Picture Shop & Aputure
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi and welcome to season two of the Team Deacons podcast, a collection of informal conversations |
| 0:10.1 | between Roger and James Deacons and a guest. |
| 0:13.7 | We never know where the conversation will take us, so listen in and see where it goes. |
| 0:22.0 | This episode is brought to you by Picture Shop, whose colorists have created looks for many of |
| 0:28.6 | the world's biggest films, acclaim series, and celebrated independent and festival projects. |
| 0:35.8 | Picture Shop is proud to be a creative partner |
| 0:38.4 | to the artists behind the camera |
| 0:40.2 | who trust us to help shape their final vision. |
| 0:44.2 | Visit PictureShop.com to get in touch |
| 0:47.2 | and mention Team Deacons for special rate consideration. |
| 0:55.5 | This episode is sponsored by Aperture and its new Storm XT-52, the industry's most powerful |
| 1:03.7 | LED point source light. |
| 1:06.1 | Brighter than a 6K HMI empowered by Aperture's revolutionary Blair light engine, |
| 1:12.6 | the Storm XT-52 is both a tunable white light |
| 1:16.6 | and also the brightest ever adjustable color LED. |
| 1:20.6 | Storm XT-52, unrivaled output, only from Aperture. |
| 1:31.3 | Today, we're speaking with the composer. |
| 1:36.5 | His credits are many and include Moonlight, Don't Look Up, and Jay Kelly. |
| 1:39.8 | We're pleased to welcome Nicholas Bertel. |
| 1:41.9 | Nick, thank you for doing this. |
| 1:43.3 | We're really excited. |
| 1:44.7 | So honored to be here. |
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