Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chris Edgar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chris, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I knew I wanted to play music professionally when I was around nine years old. My brother and I had long hair, listened to heavy metal and were obsessed with metal-related magazines, and we’d read stories in there about bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden going on tour and fantasize about what it would be like for us to do the same. We eventually did tour together, except it was as part of a folk rock band, heh.

Chris, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Like many people in independent film, I wear a dizzying array of hats — I’ve been a composer, director, writer and producer in the various projects I’ve worked on, and often play multiple roles. I like it that way because I am somewhat of a control freak, heheh, and thus enjoy having control over multiple aspects of the creative content.

I started playing music at four years old, when I took up playing drums after my parents discovered me banging on pots and pans in time to a classical music recording. I then learned piano and guitar, and started playing in rock bands. But it wasn’t really until I discovered composing for film that I discovered my musical passion. Writing that sort of music gives me the same creative freedom I saw in the progressive rock bands I used to listen to as a kid — I can change keys, time signatures and tempos — I often have to do that in order to accommodate what’s happening on screen — and I’m not hemmed in by the comparatively rigid pop format.

I’ve written music for film, theater, TV, and digital series. These include award-winning films such as The Breakout: A Rock Opera (Best Screenplay – Vancouver Filmdance Festival, Best Musical Film – Cinema Los Angeles, Best Feature Film – Michigan Comic Con Film Festival), Steve’s Quest: The Musical (Best Animated Series – International Academy of Web Television, Best Music Score – Hollyweb Festival), and Ghost in the Gun (Best Music Score – Crown Wood International Film Festival & Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood). “Possessed,” a pop song I wrote, won the Best Single award at Shockfest Film Festival. My most recent feature project is “Playing With Beethoven,” in which the actors performed the film’s score live on set, and which recently made its nationwide theatrical debut.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had been aware earlier on how valuable it is to be on the set of a film, even if you’re volunteering or production assisting, because of the relationships you can develop in doing that. I didn’t realize early on that, despite being typically involved in the post-production phase of films, film is fundamentally about relationships, and thus it can be valuable to spend time on set even if you’re a post-production person. I was fortunate enough to spend time on the set of “The Breakout: A Rock Opera,” a movie musical I wrote, back in 2015. Despite being the writer and executive producer, and thus not always having a huge amount to contribute to the production process, I formed some valuable relationships that are helpful to me to this day.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

You could say I have two careers. In my early 20s, I developed this weird practical streak, and concluded that I probably wouldn’t be able to make enough money as a professional musician, and so I went to law school. For a few years afterward, I practiced commercial litigation at a big law firm, and so I was pretty far removed from my artistic passion. After I left the big firm (after staying until 2:00 am in the office too many times for my taste) I finally figured out how to integrate my law practice and my creative work. I’ve since been “full service” on several independent films I’ve worked on, doing both the legal paperwork and the music. This sometimes strikes people as unusual but it’s a path that’s worked for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cedgarmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedgarmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedgarmusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cedgarmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stevesquestmusical