IndieWire 2026 Craft Roundtables: TV Composers Discuss the Sonic Language of Television
By
Christian Zilko
If you only eat one bagel today, this is the bagel.
Summary
IndieWire's 2026 Craft Roundtables featured a panel of television composers discussing their collaborative art form. Moderated by features writer Jim Hemphill, the panel included Breton Vivian ("The Madison"), John Paesano ("The Boroughs"), and Jeff Russo ("Alien: Earth"), among others. The conversation explored how composers create the sonic language of television, from subtle cues to iconic themes that resonate with audiences long after viewing.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledComposers create the sonic language of television that sticks with us long after we've turned off our screens.
Composing music for television is a deeply collaborative art form, and everyone's process looks a little bit different.
IndieWire celebrated the brilliance of TV composers at our 2026 Craft Roundtables.
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