Music is an integral part of most movies, and a local man knows that if done well music significantly enhances storytelling.
Zack Leffew is the composer who has created the musical score for The Forge, a movie which is due to be released in theaters Aug. 23. The Forge tells the story of a young man who is challenged to chart a better course and begins to discover God’s purpose for his life with the help of a mentor, his mother and a prayer warrior, according to a synopsis of the film.
Leffew, who leads music and worship experiences at Mountain West Church in Stone Mountain, said the process of developing music for the movie involved spending time with director Alex Kendrick to learn what he envisioned musically then working in the studio of his Lawrenceville home to create it using technology, software and his knowledge of and skills with instruments. The process was accomplished in six weeks working 18- to 20-hour days, according to Leffew who explained it normally takes 12 to 16 weeks to complete.
Leffew is not new to doing this. He has been involved in various capacities in music scoring for 13 television shows, movies and film shorts including Turbulent, Misguided Behavior and A Murder of Innocence.
A lifelong musician who first played trumpet at age 8, Leffew moved on to learn the guitar at 12. During his youth, he was a member of Atlanta Boy Choir and spent years touring Asia and Europe performing with the group. He said he’s been part of his church’s music ministerial team for most of his life.
While Leffew went to Berklee College of Music and earned a degree in composition, production, and composing, he said it was his relationship with award-winning composer Paul Mills that helped him break into scoring music for major movie projects.
“Doing music for film is a tough niche industry to get into,” said Leffew. “It’s hard to get your foot in the door.”
Leffew, 32, said The Forge’s message about mentorship and discipleship is similar to his relationship with Mills. He describes Mills as “crazy generous” and said Mills brought him along to assist on other film projects that lead to Leffew becoming familiar with filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, creators of the 2015 movie War Room.
Leffew said scoring music for a film requires “discerning” what music scenes need and not creating something that’s too subtle or too obvious. Through “spotting sessions” he and the director viewed the movie second-by-second, talked about possibilities and he created temporary music, which eventually developed into the final score.
“It was an amazing experience to get my music played by a large string orchestra and brass section as well,” said. Leffew, adding that 80 minutes of music is integrated throughout the 123-minute movie.
“The music should really exist to enhance an emotion,” he said. “Movie music should really make you feel an emotion.”
In the weeks to come, Leffew, who has already seen the film about 100 times in different stages of completion, will attend an Atlanta premiere as well as a gathering with his wife, friends and family at a Mall of Georgia cinema.
On a recent Sunday, Mo Huggins, lead pastor of Mountain West Church, announced the church was renting out a local theater to screen the film and invited congregants to register for free tickets. The tickets were snatched up within a few hours.
“I wanted Zack to know his church was behind him,” said Huggins. “I believe in giving people their flowers when they can smell it and feel it.”
Added the pastor, “He’s proof if you invest in the people you have, they will become something great. He’s homegrown.”
Leffew said this project is a milestone in his career and he’s humbled by it.
“God has given me this opportunity. God gets all the glory,” said Leffew.
Asked about where he sees his career going, Leffew said he’s leaving it in God’s hands. “I want his will to be done and not my will to be done.”
“I hope more film scoring comes. I will be prepared.”
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New movie features local church leader’s musical expertise – The Champion Newspaper
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