Music By Michael Giacchino

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

This past Halloween, we were fortunate enough to attend a scoring session for Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino's latest collaboration with Pixar filmmaker Brad Bird. His first live-action feature, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol has grossed over $650 million worldwide since its release on December 16, 2011.

By Dan Goldwasser

Tim Simonec conducts the orchestra.

Michael and director Brad Bird listen to a cue.

Tim Simonec (in costume) conducts the orchestra.

Michael talks to the musicians as nun conductor Tim Simonec looks on.

Orchestrator/conductor Tim Simonec conducts in full costume on Halloween.

Elvis has not left the building!

Scoring assistant Dave Martina and post production coordinator Jessica Parks.

Mark LeVang on keyboards.

Score coordinator Andrea Datzman, Michael Giacchino and director Brad Bird.

Carl Verheyen plays guitar.

Michael, director Brad Bird and music editor Alex Levy.

ProTools recordist Vinni Cirilli.

The French horns.

Michael watches from the booth as Tim Simonec conducts the orchestra.

Tim Simonec conducts the Hollywood Studio Symphony.

Michael talks with percussionist Bernie Dresel.

The brass section.

Mark Gasbarro on piano.

Music editor Alex Levy, assistant music editor Tommy Lockett and ProTools recordist Vinnie Cirilli.

Concertmaster Jim Sitterly and the violin section.

Stage recordist Tim Lauber.

Michael, editor Paul Hirsch, director Brad Bird, and scoring mixer Dan Wallin.

Michael, director Brad Bird and music editor Alex Levy.

Don Williams plays timpani.

The cello section.

Tim ''Mother Superior'' Simonec blesses the orchestra on Halloween.

Michael and scoring mixer Dan Wallin.

Actor Dermot Mulroney lends his talents to the cello section.

Orchestra contractor Reggie Wilson and music librarian Booker White.

Michael and director Brad Bird.

George Doering plays guitar.

Elvis plays viola.

Walter Rodriguez, Mark LeVang, Abe Laboriel Sr., and Alex Acuna.

Score coordinator Andrea Datzman.

Assistant music editor Tommy Lockett and ProTools recordist Vinnie Cirilli.

Score coordinator Andrea Datzman.

Percussionist Mike Englander.

Bernie Dresel on drums.

Michael thanks a musician.

Percussionist Emil Richards.

Michael, director Brad Bird and Elvis.

Stage engineer Tom Kidd and scoring mixer Dan Wallin.

The trumpet section.

Michael, agent Maria Machado, editor Paul Hirsch, director Brad Bird, and scoring mixer Dan Wallin.

Don Williams on timpani.

The cello section.

Abe Laboriel Sr. on bass.

The basses.

Michael and Brad Bird examine a cue.

Mark Gasbarro on piano.

Walter Rodriguez, Danny Greco and Alex Acuna.

Michael and orchestrator/conductor Tim Simonec.

Music editors Alex Levy and Tommy Lockett, contractor Reggie Wilson, producer Ben Rosenblatt, and ProTools recordist Vinnie Cirilli.

Michael talks with director Brad Bird.

Michael and the King Of Rock.

Director Brad Bird speaks to the orchestra, with Michael Giacchino, Tim Simonec and Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise conducts the Mission: Impossible theme, while Brad Bird captures the moment on his iPhone.

Michael Giacchino, producer J.J. Abrams and director Brad Bird.

Up director Pete Doctor pays a visit to one of the sessions.

Michael and conductor Tim Simonec review a cue before a take.

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