Michael Giacchino

One of the freshest and most inspiring composers to emerge in mainstream films in recent years, Michael Giacchino got his start scoring video games for DreamWorks based on films such as "Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997), before moving on to write music for series such as "Alias" (ABC, 2001-06). Displaying an ear for evoking strong classic themes that still felt new and energetic, his first big break was the music for director Brad Bird's Pixar hit "The Incredibles" (2004), an ode to 1960s style James Bond themes and other classic adventures. J.J. Abrams tapped Giacchino to provide the unsettling music for his hit series "Lost" (ABC, 2004-10), famous for its single-note motifs and an aural style almost unheard of on television. His relationship with Abrams also led to his scores for "Mission: Impossible III" (2006), the closing credits music for the otherwise score-less "Cloverfield" (2008), and the assignment for the highly anticipated "Star Trek" reboot. But it was with his second collaboration with Bird on the lush and beloved "Ratatouille" (2007) that earned Giacchino his first Oscar nomination and widespread critical acclaim, ensuring both his place among film composers and the promise of a lengthy and fruitful career.