Biography
Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin are a celebrated composer-director duo best known for their evocative, genre-blending film scores. Dan Romer, a Brooklyn-born, Grammy-winning music producer, initially made his mark in the pop and indie music scenes, producing for artists like Christina Aguilera and Shawn Mendes. He transitioned into film scoring during his college years, where he met Benh Zeitlin, a New York City native and Wesleyan University graduate. Zeitlin, who grew up staging puppet shows and making home movies, developed a passion for epic, handcrafted storytelling, which he carried into his filmmaking career.
Their collaboration began with the short film 'Glory at Sea' and reached international acclaim with the score for Zeitlin's debut feature, 'Beasts of the Southern Wild.' Their music, characterized by a blend of Cajun folk, Americana, and orchestral elements, became integral to the film's emotional landscape and critical success. Zeitlin and Romer’s creative process is notably hands-on and improvisational, often involving marathon recording sessions and a deep, intuitive exchange of musical ideas. They continued their partnership on projects like 'Wendy' and 'A Chiara,' further refining their unique sonic language.
The legacy of Romer and Zeitlin’s partnership lies in their ability to merge narrative and music into a cohesive, emotionally resonant whole. Their scores are recognized for their inventiveness and for amplifying the handmade, mythic qualities of Zeitlin’s films, influencing a new generation of filmmakers and composers interested in blending folk traditions with cinematic storytelling.
Fun Facts
- Dan Romer did not grow up listening to film scores and only began composing for film after college, having started out as a producer and band musician.
- Benh Zeitlin’s family was deeply involved in his early creative projects, with his sister building sets and his parents supporting his filmmaking from a young age.
- The score for 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' was developed through marathon, improvisational recording sessions in a Brooklyn studio, with Romer and Zeitlin tossing musical ideas back and forth for hours.
- Zeitlin once lived on a park bench in Prague while trying to find the right location for a short film, reflecting his commitment to immersive, hands-on storytelling.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Osei Essed - Taught Dan Romer Americana music and influenced his approach to scoring (Band collaborations in Brooklyn) [Early 2000s]
- Jan Švankmajer (indirect, via animators) - Zeitlin apprenticed under animators who worked with Švankmajer, influencing his approach to storytelling and visual style (Stop-motion animation projects) [Mid-2000s]
Key Collaborators
- Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin - Co-composers and creative partners on multiple film projects (Beasts of the Southern Wild, Wendy, A Chiara, Glory at Sea) [2008-present]
- Ray Tintori - Introduced Romer to Zeitlin and collaborated on early film projects (Short films at Wesleyan University) [Early 2000s]
- Court 13 Collective - Film collective co-founded by Zeitlin, including key collaborators on his films (Beasts of the Southern Wild, Egg, Glory at Sea) [2004-present]
Artists Influenced
- Emerging indie filmmakers and composers - Inspired by the handcrafted, folk-infused approach to film scoring and storytelling (Independent films influenced by Beasts of the Southern Wild) [2012-present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Les Bêtes Du Sud Sauvage (Bande originale du film) | 2012-12-11 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Elysian Fields (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- The Ark (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- Throw Your Arms Around Me (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- Memorial (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- The Town Pariah (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- I Don't Even Have a Heart Anymore (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- To the Bottom of the Sea (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- U.S.S Jimmy Lee (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- Steal from the Rich (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
- The Curse (Glory at Sea / Death to the Tinman Soundtrack)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Dan Romer, Ben Zeitlin has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2025 | 07:45 | Once The Was a Hushpuppyfrom Beasts of the Southern Wild (Soundtrack) | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire |