I first met Chance late in the evening when we worked at Sierra On-Line. We were both putting in extra hours, motivated by a tight deadline and a burst of creativity. We were on the same project but were new to the company and location and had yet to meet until that time.

They say first impressions set the stage; Chance must be eternally in the first impression mode. He is all at once focused and thorough in his task, yet an incredibly gracious host. He will invite you in with a warm smile and a wave, and make you feel at home by playing the score of his latest creation or even performances of him and his wonderful wife, a woman with a beautiful voice in her own right. His studio is filled with top-notch equipment and family photos and walls of foam. He frequently covers the windows in foam as well, with a polite note on the door asking not to be disturbed that causes you to tip toe past with respect and nearly unbearable anticipation. Passing his room during this phase of production is a little like walking past the Christmas tree; you are in awe of the beauty around it, but it takes some control to wait for the day of unveiling.

Part of the joy of working with Chance is the phase before the windows of foam. During his brainstorming days, he can be found occasionally wandering the halls humming and tapping his thigh, or meeting with artists that created the scene he will turn into art for the ear. He truly wants to know what you see as an artist, what you feel, what you hear. He manages to find your world of colors and textures and bring them into his world of sound with astonishing accuracy. It is so exciting to hear his music for the first time and recognize yourself within its notes. Music has the ability to permeate ones being but when it carries a part of you back into yourself, it's a moment of delight that takes your very breath away.
 

  Give a brief overview of what you do:

New York Times columnist Matthew Mirapaul once wrote, "Chance Thomas turns the music in his head into notes that anyone can hear." That pretty much sums it up. My career path had taken me down the road of writing and producing music for clients in film, games, television, and advertising. It's been a high profile road at times, like an opening act at a concert who performs before the main act comes on, my music for the animated short The ChubbChubbs opened for the hit film Men in Black II. It's also had its back roads, like producing a song for a singing gumball machine. But I love it all, and always look forward to the next musical adventure with great anticipation. I also manage a network of audio professionals known as the HUGEsound Network.

  Where does your job fit into the production pipeline?

It is advisable to plug into the pre-production phase of film and TV projects, the design phase of games, and the storyboard phase of commercials. However, some clients are not that organized and fail to consider audio until post-production.

  How long have you worked in the field?

I've been writing and producing music and sound for about 20 years.

  What software or equipment do you use? Do you have your own setup?

My equipment list would be long and boring here, so I'll touch on some highlights. I compose from an electronic keyboard hooked into a Mac running Digital Performer. Sound sources come from a variety of digital samplers and synthesizers, including the GigaSampler. I have several digital effects processors to color and shape the sound. I track and mix on an 80-channel fully automated digital recording desk by Yamaha. I also frequently record live orchestras in large sound stages, and bring those recordings back to my studio on digital tape for further work.

  What have been your projects to date?

Interactive Game Credits:

"Warcraft III" (Blizzard): Co-produce live orchestral score for film trailer

"The Two Towers" (Electronic Arts): Cinematics' orchestral score assembly and editing

"Haunted Mansion" (Explorati): Produce sound effects, dialog, music, and ambiance

"Bunny Luv" (Electronic Arts): Produce sound effects, music, and ambiance

"Lord of the Rings" (Universal Interactive): Author franchise music design, produce trailer audio

"Unreal 2" (Infogrames): Compose and produce music

"Quest for Glory V: Dragon Fire" (Sierra): Compose and produce score and soundtrack album

"The Realm" (Sierra): Compose and produce incidental music

"JRR Tolkien’s Middle-Earth" (Sierra): Compose and produce songs and music score

"SWAT 2" (Sierra): Compose and produce title song and incidental score

Film and Television Credits:

"The ChubbChubbs" (Columbia Pictures): Produce songs, score, and sound effects

"Robota: Reign of Machines" (DC Studios): Produce sound effects and score

"Westward Trek" (CES Films): Compose and produce orchestral score

"Rigoletto" (Feature Films For Families): Compose featured song and source music

"BBB News" (German Cable Television Network): Compose TV news theme and music bed

"Hometown Heroes" (Children's Miracle Network): Compose and produce telethon vignette scores

"911: Munich" (German Cable Television Network): Compose TV series theme and underscore

Many more, complete list available upon request

Commercial Credits:

"Catch the Action” (Las Vegas Stars): Produce sound effects and commercial jingle

"Get Jazz'd!" (Utah Jazz, NBA): Produce sound effects, crowd, dialog, and score

"McDonald's Breakfast” (McDonald's Corp.): Compose and produce commercial jingle

"Midwest Flood" (Salvation Army): Compose and produce commercial scores

"Home Front” (LDS Church): Compose and produce commercial scores

"The Smash Factory” (Mall of America): Compose and produce commercial score

"No Place Like…" (Amoco Service Stations): Compose and produce commercial jingle

Many more, complete list available upon request

  What was your favorite project so far?

I've loved all of them.  I just really enjoy what I do, and have had the good fortune to work with outstanding talented people.

  What are your perfect working conditions?

My studio is large and spacious, with 8 big windows and a sliding glass door that steps out to a redwood deck. My perfect working conditions are right here.

  What size team do you prefer, and what sort of location?

Every team has its own cool kind of dynamic, large or small, here or abroad.  Life is full of so many different kinds of experiences!  Why limit them?

  Is there a list of people you would like to work with again?

Just about everyone I've worked with so far.

What are some of your favorite movies?

Lord of the Rings, The Fugitive, the original Star Wars trilogy, Wizard of Oz, the Star Trek films, A Beautiful Mind, The Ten Commandments, Sixth Sense, The Prince of Egypt, Toy Story, The Rocketeer, and lots more.

What would you like to do next?

I would like to release a CD collection of the songs I have written (and am still writing) based on the Lord of the Rings literature.

Do you have any new music in the pipeline you would like to talk about?

Doug Chiang (Art Design Director for Star Wars Episode I, Episode II, Matrix II, Polar Express, etc.) is working on his own story called Robota: Reign of Machines. I have been involved recently with the demo phase of the project, and hope to move forward when he gets funding. Also, there's the Warcraft III trailer that I helped produce which will makes it's debut on film screens across the nation this Christmas. And there are three game projects in development that I hope to comment on in a few weeks.  It's all great stuff.

Do you have a list of people you would like to thank or give credit to?

You know, my greatest feelings of gratitude and indebtedness are to my Creator and to my family. I really do believe in God, and I believe that we are His spiritual children. Every one of us has been given so many rich and beautiful blessings. I am thankful for the gifts and talents that have been given to me, and I hope I can continue to develop them as long as I live. I love living in America during this period of history where we are truly free to pursue our dreams. My family has always been an incredible source of inspiration and support. And there have been influential mentors and motivating colleagues along the way too numerous to mention.

To learn more about Chance Thomas, go to http://hugesound.com/

Purchase products featuring Chance Thomas's work here:

GAMES

Warcraft III Reign of Chaos (Mac OS X, Windows 98/ Me/ XP/ 2000) List Price: $49.99 Our Price: $44.99 You Save: $5.00  Buy now- $44.99	Warcraft III Reign of Chaos Exclusive Gift Set (Windows 98/ Me/) Our Price: $59.99 Buy now- $59.99	Warcraft III Reign of Chaos Collectors Edition (Mac OS X, Windows 98/ Me/ XP/ 2000) List Price: $79.99 Our Price: $59.99 You Save: $20.00  Buy now- $59.99

 

The Lord  of the Rings: The Two Towers (PlayStation2) Our Price: $44.99 Buy now- $44.99	The Lord  of the Rings: The Two Towers (Game Boy advance) Release Date: January 21st, 2003 Our Price: $39.99 Buy now- $39.99	Unreal Episode 2 The Awakening (Windows 95/ 98/ Me/ Release Date: January 21st, 2003 Our Price: $49.99 Pre-order- $49.99

 

The Lord  of the Rings: The Fellowship  of the Ring (PlayStation2) Our Price: $49.99 Buy now- $49.99	The Lord  of the Rings: The Fellowship  of the Ring (Windows 98/ Me/ XP/ 2000) List Price: $49.99 Our Price: $44.99 You Save: $5.00  Buy now- $44.99	Quest for Glory 5 Dragon Fire (Mac OS/ Windows 95/ 98/ Me) Our Price: $19.99 Buy now- $19.99

 

Police Quest Collection 2 Our Price: $29.99 Buy now- $29.99	Police Quest SWAT 2 (Windows 95/98/Me) Our Price: $19.99 Buy now- $19.99

Copyright © 2002 Firewalk Digital, Renee Dunlop. All rights reserved worldwide

(Back to The MatchBox)

(Back to Front Page)