Composer Timo Chen may have started playing piano at the age of 5, and studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, but don’t think for a second he’s stuck on traditional approaches to music. This week at Sundance, the sci-fi film "Advantageous" will premiere and it will feature a score by Chen aided by some unorthodox treatments to a wide range of musical instruments.
Co-written and directed by Jennifer Phang, and starring Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Jennifer Ehle, Ken Jeong, and Freya Adams, the story is set in the near future where new technology allows people to overcome their natural disadvantages and begin life anew. Inspired by the film’s themes, Chen used a vibrator, toothbrush, Tibetan mallet and more to create unique sounds in his score for "Advantageous." In the exclusive featurette below, the composer details his work on the film.
"Advantageous" premieres tonight at Sundance.