MUSIC THAT
MOVES YOUR
STORY
FILM COMPOSER · MEMPHIS, TN
ORCHESTRAL CINEMATIC ELECTRONIC
CUSTOM SCORES FOR FILM, TV AND GAMES
LISTEN FIRST
MYWORK
SELECTED WORKS FILM · DOCUMENTARY DRAMATIC SCORING
Your Score Should Be as Intentional
as Every Other Creative Decision You Made.
You obsessed over every shot. You color graded with precision. You chose every location, every performance, every cut deliberately. Then the music got an afterthought.
Sound Familiar?
- Hours lost searching stock libraries — and nothing felt right
- Generic music that felt like it belonged in someone else's film
- A composer who pushed their style instead of serving your story
- Technical jargon when all you needed was music that worked
- A temp track that became a crutch nobody knew how to replace
How I Work
- We start with your vision, not music theory
- I learn what you want your audience to feel — not just hear
- The score serves your story, not my portfolio
- Clear communication, no jargon, no ego
- We work within your budget and scope — every time
A great score gives your audience permission to feel what the picture can't say out loud. The tension underneath a quiet scene. The grief behind a character's smile. The hope in an otherwise dark moment.
That's not a luxury. That's storytelling.
— Tommy Arnold
I work with both. Whether that means scoring your entire film or identifying the two or three scenes where music will hit hardest and elevating those — we find what works for your project. Even a single well-placed custom cue can set your film apart from everything else competing for the same audience.
The Process
It starts with one conversation — not about DAWs or sample libraries. About your vision. About what you want your audience to walk out feeling. The score follows from there.
WHAT
DIRECTORS
SAY
“What we really liked about Tommy’s work was that he has incredible range and is clearly passionate about what he does.
Throughout the process, I felt like I was really being listened to and respected.
The soundtrack was really successful, and people are always commenting on it.”
-Thandi Cai
"Tommy's one of my favorite composers to work with. As a film director,
I'm always looking for talented, attentive composers who can really sense the needs of a scene and bring it to life.
Tommy never disappoints."
-Caleb Suggs
"An ultra talented composer with skill across all musical moods and film genres. Reliable, dedicated, and always on the money with what you need.
“Tommy really listened to the material and wasn’t just throwing music on top of the film.
-Allie Phillips
ABOUTME
I score what your story demands. Whether that's a sweeping orchestral drama, a psychological thriller, or a tense documentary — the music starts with your vision, not mine.
Berklee-trained, Memphis-based, and working with independent directors across narrative film, documentary, and multimedia. My work blends symphonic and electronic elements to serve the story — never to overpower it.
Credits include festival-screened features and documentaries currently streaming on Kanopy and New Day Films.
When I'm not scoring, I run ScoreSchool — where I teach the next generation of composers how to break into film and game scoring. Teaching keeps me sharp, connected to the craft, and constantly learning alongside the people I mentor.