Robert J. Kral Feature


Robert J. Kral Birthday: July 5, 1967 Birthplace: Medindee, South Australia Occupation(s): Music Composer Quotes: A life lived in fear is a life half lived. (Strictly Ballroom- 1992) Favorite Food: Roast lamb dinners, hot fudge sundaes. Favorite Book: The Neverending Story Most influential person in my life: Alison Houghton Kral (my wife!) What is most important: God, family and friends. And skiing whenever possible! Other Online Interviews with Robert J. Kral Northern Sound Source City of Angel BBCi	Part One - Continued 6. 1chameleon: Rob, [has] being an Australian helped you in the industry by giving you a different view of the world [as opposed to] the American way of thinking? It hasn't helped in terms of work, but there is a very different way of thinking that might be called Australian as opposed to American. America generally is very individualistic. [The] "I take care of ME" kind of attitude comes up constantly. Australia is much more communal, or community-oriented if you will. My wife and I have a theory about this that really makes sense. In America, the pioneers conquered the land. They "Won the West." In Australia, a lot of our explorers just died in the desert. The land beat us to death. Because of this, "mateship" was born. In Australia, generally everyone is looking out for each other, helping out, making experiences pleasant, the "G'day Mate" approach. There is a very real sense that we need each other, whereas, at least in LA, it's much more total competition and people stick to themselves. In Oz, you always feel you might see someone again, even strangers. In the States, there's a sense that you won't. That might all sound a little bizarre, but practically every traveler we've met has had the same experience when coming to America. The media here constantly reminds us that America is "the best country in the world," and doesn't report on world news like other countries do. It's as if we don't need the rest of the world. In Oz, we know we need the rest of the world, and that it's out there and we need to know about it. 7. MiraclesTV: Was it hard for an Australian to break into the business? It's hard for anyone to break in... Someone from overseas has a difficult time breaking in here in LA because of immigration challenges. Doing it by the book is extremely difficult, and requires lots of time, money, and credentials. An American has a hard time breaking in also, but doesn't have the other stuff to worry about on top of it. My story involves lots and lots of small steps, one leading to the next and to the next. It's one of those things [where] you can't have it all right away. Slowly, you take the gradual steps towards your goal. 8. Overuser: Love the music Rob--you've added so much to the "Miracles" experience. Could you perhaps share with us the technical side of your writing process (where you start, what equipment you use - keyboards, PCs, software, etc)? Thanks for the compliments! "Miracles" was an absolute joy to write, and I miss it still. The technical side? Well, I could write a book, but I'll be brief I think! We have a meeting each week called the "spotting session" where we spot where the music will go (and where it won't) in the episode and talk about the direction of the music, watching the videotape. I then have about five days to write and record the score, then I put it onto a video so the producers can watch it and request any changes. I then do a final multi-track music mix and that goes to the sound stage to be mixed with the dialog and sound effects. As that mix is happening, we've already "spotted" the next episode and I am off and running. I use a Mac running Digital Performer, which drives 4 PCs that have GigaStudio installed. I am about to add three more of these amazing units. GigaStudio revolutionized sampling by doing away with memory limitations and even midi channel limitations. This means one machine can do what about 10 could do before. The sound libraries are incredibly realistic, and provide the sounds for strings, brass, choirs, etc. It's like playing any electronic keyboard, but I have up to 300 tracks I can instantly layer, and each track contains sounds of the highest realism and quality. All this is locked to a digital version of the video, so wherever the music is, the video is playing instantly right there with it, and vice versa. At 15, I wrote that orchestral piece for the first time mentioned earlier, but couldn't hear it with an orchestra. The amazing thing is that [with today's technology] I can hear my music almost instantly and record it the same day. 9. TVwriter23: What was your inspiration when working on the music for "Miracles?" The inspiration was the show itself! What a fantastic show! When I first saw the pilot, my jaw dropped. I got the chills a few times! I knew I was destined to write the music for it, but also knew that because the quality was so high, they might choose a bigger name to do it. Which is what happened, but eventually it all worked out in my favor. When I FINALLY was chosen to do the pilot (they were working with other composers first), I couldn't believe I was doing it. It was a total dream. 10. Miracles Fan: What's your own personal favorite episode of "Miracles?" The pilot without question. It looks stunning, the writing is first rate and extremely clever, and the acting is superb. It's unlike any hour of TV I've ever seen before. My next favorite for continuing the story is "Hand of God." I also really like "Saint Debbie," and think that it is also a "perfect" episode. "Little Miss Lost" wins out for chills factor (that GIRL!), and there is a scene in "Mother's Daughter" which is both beautiful and simultaneously gut wrenching (takes place on a lake of ice). Next >> << Page 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 5 \| 6 \| 7 >> November 23, 2003. © Copyright 2003-2004 MiraclesTV.com. All Rights Reserved.

Robert J. Kral

Birthday:
July 5, 1967

Birthplace:
Medindee,
South Australia

Occupation(s):
Music Composer

Quotes:
A life lived in fear is a life half lived. (Strictly
Ballroom- 1992)

Favorite Food:
Roast lamb dinners, hot fudge sundaes.

Favorite Book:
The Neverending Story

Most influential
person in my life:
Alison Houghton Kral
(my wife!)

What is most important:
God, family and friends. And skiing whenever possible!

Other Online
Interviews with
Robert J. Kral

Northern Sound
Source

City of Angel

BBCi

Part One - Continued

6. 1chameleon: Rob, [has] being an Australian helped you in the industry by giving you a different view of the world [as opposed to] the American way of thinking?

It hasn't helped in terms of work, but there is a very different way of thinking that might be called Australian as opposed to American. America generally is very individualistic. [The] "I take care of ME" kind of attitude comes up constantly. Australia is much more communal, or community-oriented if you will. My wife and I have a theory about this that really makes sense. In America, the pioneers conquered the land. They "Won the West." In Australia, a lot of our explorers just died in the desert. The land beat us to death. Because of this, "mateship" was born. In Australia, generally everyone is looking out for each other, helping out, making experiences pleasant, the "G'day Mate" approach. There is a very real sense that we need each other, whereas, at least in LA, it's much more total competition and people stick to themselves. In Oz, you always feel you might see someone again, even strangers. In the States, there's a sense that you won't.

That might all sound a little bizarre, but practically every traveler we've met
has had the same experience when coming to America. The media here constantly reminds us that America is "the best country in the world," and doesn't report on world news like other countries do. It's as if we don't need the rest of the world. In Oz, we know we need the rest of the world, and that it's out there and we need to know about it.

7. MiraclesTV: Was it hard for an Australian to break into the business?

It's hard for anyone to break in...

Someone from overseas has a difficult time breaking in here in LA because of immigration challenges. Doing it by the book is extremely difficult, and requires lots of time, money, and credentials. An American has a hard time breaking in also, but doesn't have the other stuff to worry about on top of it. My story involves lots and lots of small steps, one leading to the next and to the next. It's one of those things [where] you can't have it all right away. Slowly, you take the gradual steps towards your goal.

8. Overuser: Love the music Rob--you've added so much to the "Miracles" experience. Could you perhaps share with us the technical side of your writing process (where you start, what equipment you use - keyboards, PCs, software, etc)?

Thanks for the compliments! "Miracles" was an absolute joy to write, and I miss it still.

The technical side? Well, I could write a book, but I'll be brief I think! We have a meeting each week called the "spotting session" where we spot where the music will go (and where it won't) in the episode and talk about the direction of the music, watching the videotape. I then have about five days to write and record the score, then I put it onto a video so the producers can watch it and request any changes. I then do a final multi-track music mix and that goes to the sound stage to be mixed with the dialog and sound effects. As that mix is happening, we've already "spotted" the next episode and I am off and running.

I use a Mac running Digital Performer, which drives 4 PCs that have GigaStudio installed. I am about to add three more of these amazing units. GigaStudio revolutionized sampling by doing away with memory limitations and even midi channel limitations. This means one machine can do what about 10 could do before. The sound libraries are incredibly realistic, and provide the sounds for strings, brass, choirs, etc. It's like playing any electronic keyboard, but I have up to 300 tracks I can instantly layer, and each track contains sounds of the highest realism and quality.

All this is locked to a digital version of the video, so wherever the music is, the video is playing instantly right there with it, and vice versa.

At 15, I wrote that orchestral piece for the first time mentioned earlier, but couldn't hear it with an orchestra. The amazing thing is that [with today's technology] I can hear my music almost instantly and record it the same day.

9. TVwriter23: What was your inspiration when working on the music for "Miracles?"

The inspiration was the show itself! What a fantastic show! When I first saw the pilot, my jaw dropped. I got the chills a few times! I knew I was destined to write the music for it, but also knew that because the quality was so high, they might choose a bigger name to do it. Which is what happened, but eventually it all worked out in my favor. When I FINALLY was chosen to do the pilot (they were working with other composers first), I couldn't believe I was doing it. It was a total dream.

10. Miracles Fan: What's your own personal favorite episode of "Miracles?"

The pilot without question. It looks stunning, the writing is first rate and extremely clever, and the acting is superb. It's unlike any hour of TV I've ever seen before. My next favorite for continuing the story is "Hand of God." I also really like "Saint Debbie," and think that it is also a "perfect" episode. "Little Miss Lost" wins out for chills factor (that GIRL!), and there is a scene in "Mother's Daughter" which is both beautiful and simultaneously gut wrenching (takes place on a lake of ice).

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