Remote Control Productions

Remote Control Productions, LLC

A film score company run by veteran composer Hans Zimmer and based in Santa Monica, California. Originally known as Media Ventures, which was conceived and founded by Jay Rifkin and Hans Zimmer, the company changed its name after the partners both filed lawsuits against each other. Today, Remote Control is home to a large group of composers mentored by Zimmer, many of whom have had successful film scoring careers as part of the company or on their own. Remote Control Productions has been responsible for the scores for a number of successful films including the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, The Lion King (1994 & 2019 film), Crimson Tide, The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, The Prestige, Iron Man, The Lone Ranger, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe series. Recently, many composers from Remote Control Productions have worked on the scores of successful video games.

Formerly known as Media Ventures (1989–2003)

Founded: March 29, 1989; 36 years ago

Founders: Jay Rifkin and Hans Zimmer

Location: 1547 14th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404

Labels

• Mojo Records (1995–2001; sold by Jay Rifkin)
• 14th Street Music
• Bleeding Fingers Music

Members and Veterans

• Klaus Badelt
• Lorne Balfe
• Ramin Djawadi
• Rupert Gregson-Williams
• Steven Kofsky
• Steve Mazzaro
• Trevor Rabin
• Mel Wesson

Motion Pictures (My List)

Media Ventures (1989–2003)

1994: The Lion King

1995: Crimson Tide

1996: White Squall

1996: The Rock

1998: Armageddon

1998: Endurance (documentary)

2001: Just Visiting

2001: Pearl Harbor

2002: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

2003: The Recruit

2003: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Remote Control Productions

2006: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

2006: The Prestige

2007: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

2007: The Game Plan

2008: Iron Man

2008: Beverly Hills Chihuahua

2008: Bedtime Stories

2010: You Again

2010: Secretariat

2010: Tron: Legacy

2011: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2011: Fright Night

2012: The Odd Life of Timothy Green (credited as Remote Control Studios)

2013: Oz the Great and Powerful (credited as Remote Control Studios)

2013: The Lone Ranger (credited as Remote Control Studios)

2016: Captain America: Civil War

2017: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

2018: Ralph Breaks the Internet

2019: The Lion King

The Music of Raya and the Last Dragon

Copyright © 2021 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Original Score Composed by James Newton Howard

Executive Music Producer: Tom MacDougall

Vice President, Music Production: Andrew Page

Supervising Production Music Editor: Earl Ghaffari

Supervising Score Music Editor: Jim Weidman

Score Music Editor: David Olson

Score Recorded by Shawn Murphy

Score Mixed by Alan Meyerson

Original Score Produced by Xander Rodzinski

Score Conducted and Orchestrated by Pete Anthony

Score Orchestrations by

• Jeff Atmajian
• Jon Kull
• Philip Klein

Orchestra Leader: Bruce Dukov

World Woodwinds: Pedro Eustache

Vocal Soloist: Loire Cotler

Additional Vocals: Sumudu Jayatilaka and Isobel Anthony

Synth Programming

• Jon Aschalew
• Michael Dean Parsons
• Tobin Pugash

Music Business Affairs: Donna Cole-Brulé

Music Production Specialist: Lauren Harrold
Music Production Assistant: Jimmy Tsai
Production Music Editors: Kendall Demarest and Tommy Holmes

Assistant Music Editor: Benjamin Robinson
Music Preparation by JoAnn Kane Music Service
Music Librarian: Mark Graham
Score Contracted by Sandy DeCrescent
Assistant Score Contractor: Timothy Loo
Choir Contracted by Susie Gillis for Isobel Griffiths Ltd.
Choir: London Voices
Choirmasters: Terry Edwards and Ben Parry
Additional Recording by Jonathan Allen

Score Digital Recordist: Erik Swanson
Auricle Control Systems: Chris Cozens
2nd Mix Engineer: John Traunwieser

Score Editor: David Channing
Score Coordinator: Pamela Sollie

Scoring Crew

• Keith Ukrisna
• Brian Van Leer
• Greg Dennen
• Ryan Nelson
• Daniel Hayden
• Christopher Parker

Score Recorded at Sony Pictures Scoring Stage

Choir Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, UK

Score Mixed at James Newton Howard Studios, Santa Monica, CA

Lead The Way

Written and Performed by Jhené Aiko

Produced by Julian-Quán Việt Lê (Lejkeys)

Recorded and Mixed by Gregg Rominiecki

Jhené Aiko appears courtesy of 2Fish/ArtClub/Def Jam

Soundtrack Available on Walt Disney Records

The Music of The Alamo (2004 film)

Copyright © 2004 Touchstone Pictures

Music by Carter Burwell

Supervising Production Music Mixer: Joseph Magee

Featured Fiddle Performance/Fiddle Coach: Craig Eastman

On-Camera Music Arrangements

• Carter Burwell
• Craig Eastman
• Marshall Bowen
• Jennifer Hammond

Music Research Consultant and On-Camera Music Preparation: Booker White, Walt Disney Music Library

Music Editors: Adam Milo Smalley and Bryan Lawson

Orchestrations by Carter Burwell and Sonny Kompanek

Orchestra Conducted by Carter Burwell

Score Recorded and Mixed by Mike Farrow

Assistant to Carter Burwell: Dean Parker

Orchestra Contractor: Sandra Park

Concertmaster: Sharon Yamada

Featured Musicians

• David Weiss: Ethnic Flute
• Laura Seaton-Finn: Fiddle
• Lisa E. Kim: Violin
• Robert Rinehart: Viola
• Alan Stepansky: Cello

Score Recorded at Right Track Studios, NYC

Score Mixed at The Body, NYC

Music Preparation: Tony Finno

Soundtrack Available on Hollywood Records

Mark Mancina

A Tony® nominee and multi-platinum, three-time Grammy Award®-winning composer, Mr. Mancina produced songs for Disney’s blockbuster animated feature film, and proved a uniquely qualified choice to produce the music for the stage production of The Lion King. The 1994 film’s critical and box office success spawned the hit album Rhythm of the Pride Lands, for which he co-wrote and produced multiple tracks, including “He Lives in You” and “Shadowland”, songs featured in the stage production. In addition to his songwriting and producing achievements, he is a seasoned film score composer. Mr. Mancina’s credits include mega-hits Con Air, Tarzan, Brother Bear, Planes, and Moana among many others.

Date of Birth: March 9, 1957 (68 years old)

Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, USA

Occupation

• Score composer/producer
• Song producer/arranger
• Songwriter
• Score orchestrator/conductor
• Veteran of Remote Control Productions (since 1990s)

Instruments

• Guitar
• Keyboards
• Piano

Website: mark-mancina.com

Motion Pictures (My List)

Music Department

1994: The Lion King — Additional Vocal Arrangement

1999: Tarzan — Score Producer

2003: Brother Bear — Vocal Arrangement

2003: The Haunted Mansion — Score Producer and Conductor

2005: Tarzan II (video) — Song Producer/Arranger and Score Producer

2006: Brother Bear 2 (video) — Score Producer

2016: Moana — Original Songs, Songs and Score Producer

2024: Moana 2 — Original Songs, Songs Arranger/Producer and Score Producer

2024: Mufasa: The Lion King — Music Producer

Composer

1995: Man of the House

1997: Con Air

1999: Tarzan

2003: Brother Bear

2003: The Haunted Mansion

2005: Tarzan II (video)

2013: Planes

2014: Planes: Fire & Rescue

2016: Moana

2017: Gone Fishing (short video)

2024: Moana 2

Upcoming

Moana (Live-action film)

Theme Parks

Disney Vacation Club

2011: Aulani: A Disney Resort & Spa

Walt Disney World Resort

2017–19: Rivers of Light — Music

2019–20: Rivers of Light: We Are One (retooled version) — Music

Others

1997–present: The Lion King (musical) — Additional Music and Lyrics, Music Producer and Additional Score

1999: Tarzan (video game) — Special Thanks (and these Jungle Friends)

2001–03: Disney’s The Legend of Tarzan (TV series) — Executive Music Producer (14 Episodes)

2006: Walt Disney Pictures — Theme and Arranger

2008: Disneynature — Theme

2013: Disneytoon Studios — Theme

Collaborations

• Phil Collins
• Auli’i Cravalho
• Marlon E. Espino
• Opetaia Foa’i
• Earl Ghaffari
• Nick Glennie-Smith
• Don Hall
• Don L. Harper
• Elton John
• Dwayne Johnson
• Steve Kempster
• John Lasseter
• Lebo M.
• Tom MacDougall
• Dave Metzger
• Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Chris Montan
• Trevor Rabin
• Tim Rice
• Jay Rifkin
• John Van Tongeren
• Booker White
• Frank Wolf
• Hans Zimmer

Awards (My List)

American Music Awards

2017: Winner for Top Soundtrack (Moana: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

2025: Nominated for Favorite Soundtrack (Moana 2)

BMI Film & Television Music Awards

1998: Winner (Con Air)

2000: Winner (Tarzan)

2004: Winner (Brother Bear)

Grammy Awards

1995: Winner for Best Musical Album for Children (The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

1999: Winner for Best Musical Show Album (The Lion King: Original Broadway Cast Recording)

2000: Winner for Best Soundtrack Album (Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack)

2018: Nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (Moana: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

International Film Music Critics Awards

2014: Nominated for Best Original Score for an Animated Film (Planes)

2017: Nominated for Best Original Score for an Animated Film (Moana)

Others

1998: Tony Award — Nominated for Best Original Score (The Lion King)

2004: Annie Award — Nominated for Outstanding Music in an Animated Feature Production (Brother Bear)

2006: DVDX Award — Winner for Best Original Score (in a DVD Premiere Movie) (Tarzan II)

2016: Hollywood Music in Media Award — Nominated for Best Original Score - Animated Film (Moana)

2016: Hollywood Music in Media Award — Nominated for Best Original Song - Animated Film (We Know the Way)

Don Hall

Donald Lee Hall

Date of Birth: March 8, 1969 (56 years old)

Birthplace: Glenwood, Iowa, USA

Education: University of Iowa and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) (BFA)

Employer: Walt Disney Animation Studios (1990s–2024)

Motion Pictures (My List)

Writer

1999: Tarzan — Story

2000: The Emperor’s New Groove — Additional Story Material

2003: Brother Bear — Additional Story

2004: Home on the Range — Additional Story

2007: Meet the Robinsons

2011: Winnie the Pooh — Story

2016: Moana — Story

2021: Raya and the Last Dragon — Story

Animation / Art Department

2000: The Emperor’s New Groove — Story Artist

2002: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron — Additional Story Artist

2005: Chicken Little — Character Designer and Story Artist

2007: Meet the Robinsons — Artistic Supervisor: Story

2009: The Princess and the Frog — Artistic Supervisor: Story

2018: Ralph Breaks the Internet — Additional Story Artist

Actor

2007: Meet the Robinsons

2009: The Princess and the Frog

Special Thanks

2008: Bolt

2021: Us Again (short)

2021: Far from the Tree (short)

2023: Once Upon a Studio (short)

2024: Moana 2

Additional Crew

2010: Tangled

2012: Wreck-It Ralph

2013: Frozen

2014: Big Hero 6 — Creative Leadership

2016: Zootopia — Creative Leadership

2016: Moana — Creative Leadership

2018: Ralph Breaks the Internet — Creative Leadership

2019: Frozen II — Creative Leadership

2021: Raya and the Last Dragon — Studio and Creative Leadership

2021: Encanto — Creative Leadership

2022: Strange World — Creative Leadership

2023: Wish — Creative Leadership

2024: Moana 2 — Creative Leadership

Director

2011: Winnie the Pooh

2014: Big Hero 6

2016: Moana — Co-Director

2017: Gone Fish (short video) — Co-Director

2021: Raya and the Last Dragon

2022: Strange World

Producer

2023: Wish — Executive Producer

Television

Creator

2022: Baymax! (6 Episodes)

Producer

2022: Baymax! — Executive Producer (6 Episodes)

Collaborations

Ruben A. Aquino

Ron Clements

James Cromwell

Mark Henn

John Musker

Pres Antonio Romanillos

Awards

Academy Awards

2015: Winner for Best Animated Feature (Big Hero 6)

2022: Nominated for Best Animated Feature (Raya and the Last Dragon)

Annie Awards

2008: Nominated for Storyboarding in a Feature Production (Meet the Robinsons)

2012: Nominated for Directing in a Feature Production (Winnie the Pooh)

2012: Nominated for Writing in a Feature Production (Winnie the Pooh)

2015: Nominated for Directing in a Feature Production (Big Hero 6)

Golden Globe Awards

2015: Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film (Big Hero 6)

2022: Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film (Raya and the Last Dragon)

Others

2012: Gold Derby Award — Nominated for Animated Feature (Winnie the Pooh)

2015: Alliance of Women Film Journalists — Nominated for Best Animated Film (Big Hero 6)

2015: Visual Effects Society Award — Winner for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature (Big Hero 6)