Bethany Krupiarz’s

 Witchful Thinking

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Witchful Thinking is a short, CGI animated feature, currently in post-production. Directed by the talented Bethany Krupiarz, and developed by a team of students and graduates from the Savannah College of Art and Design, the film’s plot focuses around a father-daughter relationship in a whimsical fantasy world. Lucifer, the father, attempts to bond with his daughter, Pandora, in the wake of her mother’s passing.

This was a phenomenally fun project to work on as a composer. Since the film doesn't particularly focus around dialog, I was given a lot of freedom to have the music I wrote create a voice for the world, and the characters. I aimed to develop a full, orchestral fantasy work, that gave extra hints of wonder to the setting.

Most of the music is derived from a main theme that I initially jotted out on piano, but then expanded outward to strings, woodwinds, percussion, and some specialty instruments, like a celeste, and theremin, to add color. Many of the characters had identities framed around a specific instrument, as well. Lucifer is heavily tinged in piano, while Pandora's angst is featured on the bassoon. The concept of 'magic' is emphasized on the theremin, while the butterfly, and the 'togetherness' of the family is shown on the flute.

The entire score is written in 3/4, with the main theme being a waltz. I wanted something with a nice playfulness, that could transition into more of a sentimental tone, which is really the root of the melody's two primary phrases: a jaunty waltz rhythm, that leads into a more lyrical, harmonious statement. In certain parts of the film, I also got to have some fun with 'mickey-mousing.' Abrupt cymbal crashes to signal Pandora bursting through a door, a harsh timpani hit, as Lucifer wrecks his broom, etc. But there were also other, smaller gestures, like timing notes of a melody to ping right as a character turns, or gets a twinkle in their eye. It's a very precise approach to writing where, if done right, has an impact, but feels so natural, that you don't even notice it.