Working on Disney+ and Marvel: Jared Smith on the "Creative Stamina" Needed for Film Music

For Jared Smith MM ’21, building a career in film scoring has been a gradual and intentional process. Last November, Smith reached a major milestone: a Grammy Award nomination (Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media) for his work as a composer assistant on the DreamWorks animated feature, The Wild Robot.

Now based in Los Angeles, Smith is a full-time composer. His debut feature film, Stay, premiered at No. 2 on Disney+ this October.

Building Creative Stamina at Berklee Valencia

Smith views his path not as a sudden breakthrough, but as the result of disciplined work and persistence. This mindset was reinforced during his time in the Master of Music in scoring for film, television, and video games program at Berklee Valencia, where the academic pace mirrors the intensity of the industry.

“On average, you’re submitting two to three cues a week,” Smith says. That volume, he explains, “builds creative stamina,” requiring reliability, speed, and clarity under pressure, all while refining a personal voice.  

Studying in Spain also broadened Smith’s perspective. Surrounded by classmates from across the globe, the experience was both practical and inspiring. “This exposure is especially valuable in the music industry, where you’ll inevitably be working with people from around the globe," he says.

Beyond the classroom, Smith also immersed himself in score study, taking advantage of the campus’ resources. “The library access at Berklee Valencia is a gift,” he says, encouraging students to take full advantage of the collection.

The Business of Film Scoring: Leadership and Entrepreneurship

While graduate study strengthened Smith’s creative toolkit, his professional career in Los Angeles has required him to expand his role into leadership. 

“Being a full-time composer requires real entrepreneurship and strategy alongside the creative work,” he says. The role involves building relationships, seeking opportunities, and sustaining long-term momentum day by day.

Leadership is central to that evolution. “As a composer, you’re essentially the head of your department,” he explains. Managing assistants, orchestrators, mixers, musicians, and studio collaborators requires the organization and emotional intelligence cultivated in the collaborative environment of Berklee Valencia. “You grow not just as an artist, but as a person,” Smith says.

Career Milestones: From Marvel to Disney+

Smith’s portfolio has continued to grow. In addition to The Wild Robot, he has contributed to major productions including Bridgerton, Marvel’s Secret Invasion, The Color Purple, Haunted Mansion, and Bob’s Burgers. Scoring Stay for Disney+ was, in his words, “truly a dream come true.”

Although Smith has received several prestigious recognitions—including the Reel Change Grant, the Society of Composers and Lyricists Mentee Award, and the Guild of Music Supervisors Menteeship—he views accolades through a collective lens. “No milestone or achievement is ever reached alone. It takes a village," he says.

Advice for Aspiring Composers

Looking ahead, Smith is currently working on different upcoming projects, intentionally exploring a wide creative range. “I try to avoid being typecast or confined to a single genre,” he shares.

For aspiring film composers, Smith’s journey offers a realistic and inspiring example of how focused training, steady growth, and meaningful guidance can set the foundation for a solid career. “I would say this doesn’t happen overnight," he says. "It’s a day-by-day process, and it’s important to enjoy the journey.”