Hanan Townshend


Hanan Townshend is a New Zealand-born film composer best known for his work in Terrence Malick films such as The [Tree of Life (film)|The Tree of Life], Knight of Cups, and To the Wonder.

Career

Townshend was a music licensee on Terrence Malick's Palme d'Or winning film The Tree of Life, where he received his first significant recognition. He has composed for numerous feature films, including Malick’s 2012 film To the Wonder and more recently, Knight of Cups, starring Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett and Imogen Poots. He has scored over a dozen large commercials for brands such as Apple, American Express, Nike and Google. He has also collaborated with producers such as Mike McCarthy and Daniel Lanois.

Themes and style

Townshend’s music reflects the broad background of inspiration from which he draws – the poetic soundscapes of his home country, the eager patterns of popular music, and the refinement of classical training and studies in art composition. Because of this, he has a penchant for approaching film music from a less conventional perspective and producing clever, memorable pieces that support just as much the picturesque as they do the auditory experience.

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorNotes-
2009LyaNicolas SiegenthalerShort film-
2009Western Brothers’ Adventure StoryDrew XanthopoulosDocumentary Short film-
2009GeorgieDrew XanthopoulosShort film-
2010The Holy RollerPatrick Gillies--
2010By JudeAngela ChenShort film-
2010The FinaleDrew XanthopoulosShort film-
2010TitansNicolas SeigenthalerShort film-
2011Little LionsTony CostelloShort film-
2011[The Tree of Life (film)|The Tree of Life]Terrence MalickAs music licensee-
2011When We FellDrew XanthopoulosShort film-
2011White GlovesCourtney StephensDocumentary Short film-
2012To the WonderTerrence Malick--
2012MaybePedro ResendeShort film-
2012American TintypeMatt MorrisShort film-
2013Dewars “Live True” CampaignNacho GayánTV Commercial-
2013The Curiosity CollectiveDitore Mayo EntertainmentWeb Video-
2013Loves Her GunGeoff Marslett--
2013Sunny SquareHammad RivziShort film-
2013Vultures of TibetRussell O. BushDocumentary short film-
2014The [Better Angels (film)|The Better Angels]A. J. Edwards--
2014Believe MeWill Bakke--
2014Apple “Your Verse” CampaignTBWA\Media Arts LabTV Commercial-
2015[Knight of Cups (film)|Knight of Cups]Terrence Malick--
2015American Express ‘Mindy Kaling’s Journery’Ogilvy & MatherTV commercial-
2015Echoes of WarKane Senes--
2015Google ‘ExpeditionsGoogle EducationWeb Video-
2015Nike ‘Re:RUN’NikeShort film-
2015Avon ‘Beauty Lovers Wanted’AvonWeb video-
2016Heaven SentMichael Landon Jr.--
2016The VesselJulio Quintana--
2016Voyage of TimeTerrence MalickDocumentary-
2016Hybrid VigorBrandon Fowler--
2017Song to SongTerrence MalickAdditional Music Composer-
2017Strawberry LandWiktor Ericsson--
2017DisgracedPat KondelisDocumentary-
2020The Book of VisionCarlo S. Hintermann--
2020Outcry (mini-series)Pat KondelisAmerican television documentary series
2021Blue MiracleJulio Quintana--