# This MIT Student is Pursuing Film Scoring?! | Clay Lewis | TEDxMIT

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIsmA-6Zj2U
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/yIsmA-6Zj2U
Generated: 2026-01-13T20:04:05.994+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Clay Lewis, an MIT senior studying music and film composition, presents a demonstration of his work scoring an animated short film titled "Esma," which he created over two weeks while being unemployed, showcasing how he manages to integrate music composition with cinematic action and emotion.

**Key Points:**
- Clay Lewis is an MIT senior studying music and film composition, pursuing graduate school for screen scoring.
- Lewis was unemployed for four months while working on the film scoring project, which he completed in two weeks.
- The presentation features a score Lewis created for an animated short film called "Esma," produced by the French animation school ESMA.
- The score, titled "Harmony," was designed to fit the emotional arc and action beats of the animated short, which features fantastical creatures in different environments (dark forest, bright landscape, space-like vortex).
- Lewis mentions the importance of collaboration with the film director, Ruben Fux, and expresses gratitude to MIT for supporting his path.
- The presentation concludes with Lewis showing a final, high-intensity action sequence from the short film, demonstrating the score's dynamic range.

![Screenshot at 00:48: Clay Lewis gestures while explaining the context of his film scoring work for "Esma" during his TEDxMIT presentation, emphasizing the intersection of his academic pursuits and creative endeavors.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yIsmA-6Zj2U/00-00-48.jpg)

**Context:** Clay Lewis, a senior at MIT, presents his work on film scoring at a TEDxMIT event. He frames his experience by noting that he worked on this project during a period of unemployment, while actively pursuing graduate programs in film composition. His presentation focuses on demonstrating his composition for a short animated film called "Esma," created by students at the French animation school ESMA, highlighting the technical and emotional challenges of syncing music to visual storytelling.

## Detailed Analysis

Clay Lewis begins his TEDxMIT talk by introducing himself as an MIT senior studying music and film composition, currently applying to graduate schools for screen scoring. He reveals that he undertook the project for the animated short film "Esma" during a four-month period of unemployment, completing the score in just two weeks. Lewis emphasizes that the score, titled "Harmony," was crafted to precisely match the film's action and emotional tone, which shifts across various vibrant, fantastical environments including a dark forest, a glowing blue area, and a cosmic vortex where the animated characters interact. He specifically credits his collaboration with the film's director, Ruben Fux, and thanks MIT. The presentation includes visual excerpts of the animation, showing the yellow creature navigating different worlds and interacting with other colorful creatures, culminating in a dramatic action sequence where the score's intensity is showcased.

### Speaker Introduction and Context

- Clay Lewis is an MIT senior studying music and film composition
- He was unemployed for four months while working on the project
- He is pursuing graduate school for screen scoring.

### The Project

- The presentation centers on scoring an animated short film called "Esma"
- The short was created by the French animation school ESMA
- Lewis composed the score, titled "Harmony," in two weeks.

### Scoring Philosophy

- The score needed to match the film's action and emotional beats, which involved diverse scenes (dark, blue, fiery, and space-like environments)
- Lewis emphasizes the importance of collaboration with the director, Ruben Fux.

### Conclusion and Gratitude

- Lewis expresses thanks to MIT for supporting his career path
- He concludes by showing the final, high-intensity action sequence of the film to illustrate the completed musical work.

![Screenshot at 00:01: The TEDxMIT event branding is displayed on screen, indicating the location and nature of the presentation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yIsmA-6Zj2U/00-00-01.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:33: Clay Lewis addresses the audience on stage, detailing his background and the project he is about to present.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yIsmA-6Zj2U/00-00-33.jpg)
![Screenshot at 02:32: An animated sequence begins, showing a small, round, yellow creature in a dark, swirling blue environment, illustrating the animated short film being scored.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yIsmA-6Zj2U/00-02-32.jpg)
![Screenshot at 08:18: A dark, overgrown stone structure, possibly an ancient ruin, appears, setting a dramatic, fantasy tone for the film excerpt.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yIsmA-6Zj2U/00-08-18.jpg)
![Screenshot at 10:34: A close-up shot of a knight in armor, illuminated by intense red/orange light, displaying a look of fierce determination or pain as the score builds.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yIsmA-6Zj2U/00-10-34.jpg)