Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Steven Stern

Steven M. Stern (born May 12, 1967) is an American composer known for his work on film and television scores. Born in , Stern began his career in the music industry in the 1990s, contributing to projects at Media Ventures (now Remote Control Productions). His early roles included assistant engineering and additional music composition on high-profile films like (1996). Stern's notable scores include action and thriller films such as (2016), (2017), and The Assassination of (2004), as well as independent dramas like D.E.B.S. (2004) and Running Scared (2006). He has also composed for television series and worked as a music producer and songwriter. In addition to composing, Stern serves as of Custom Music at , where he oversees music production for media. His contributions blend orchestral and electronic elements, supporting a range of genres from blockbusters to intimate character studies.

Early life

Childhood in Memphis

Steve J. Stern was born on December 21, 1947, in , to Sol Stern, a grocer, and Rose Stern, a homemaker. He grew up in an assimilated Jewish family within a Reform Jewish congregation that emphasized modernity and divested much of traditional observance. This environment later influenced his literary reclamation of and Jewish cultural narratives.

Education and early travels

Stern earned a B.A. with distinction from in 1970. He then pursued an M.F.A. in from the in 1977. In the 1960s, after leaving for college, he traveled extensively across the and , including time living on a hippie commune in the .) These experiences preceded his settlement into a writing career in .)

Career

Early industry roles

Steven M. Stern began his professional career in 1993 as an assistant engineer at Media Ventures in , the studio later rebranded as Remote Control Productions. His role there involved supporting major film scoring sessions, including engineering and mixing tasks under prominent composers. Stern assisted on several key projects during this period, serving as music scoring assistant for (1994), where he also contributed additional music, and as assistant score engineer for (1994) and I'll Do Anything (1994). He further supported as music scoring assistant on Speed (1994). These early positions allowed Stern to build technical skills in recording and production while immersing himself in the collaborative environment of film . His in Film Scoring from (1987–1991) provided the foundational training that prepared him for these demanding roles. By the mid-1990s, Stern had transitioned toward composing, with early solo credits including the TV movie The Beneficiary (1997), Indiscreet (1998), (2000), and Hangman (2001).

Major film and television scores

Stern's breakthrough in feature film scoring occurred with his additional music contributions to (1996), directed by , where he collaborated with principal composers , , and to integrate orchestral swells, electronic textures, and rock-infused rhythms that amplified the film's explosive action sequences. He provided a notable solo score for the feature film (2004), directed by Niels Mueller, a tense starring ; the score, recorded at Smecky Music Studios in , employed subtle string ensembles and minimalist motifs to underscore the protagonist's unraveling psyche and mounting desperation. In the same year, Stern composed the full original score for D.E.B.S. (2004), Angela Robinson's satirical spy comedy featuring and , blending upbeat pop-orchestral cues with playful electronic beats to match the film's campy tone and high-energy chase scenes. He also provided the score for the short film The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder (2004), a dark starring , using quirky, introspective piano and chamber arrangements to highlight the character's phobias and emotional growth. Stern extended his influence to superhero cinema through soundtrack contributions to (2016), directed by Tim Miller, and (2017), directed by , co-writing the song "Not Gonna Bring Me Down" (performed by U4L featuring Beth Enloe) for both films to inject irreverent, high-octane energy into their respective narratives. On television, Stern composed original music for 10 episodes of anthology series between 1996 and 2000, crafting atmospheric, genre-spanning cues for sci-fi and horror tales that evoked suspense and otherworldliness. Later, he served as co-composer for the reality series Building Wild (2014), contributing rugged, adventurous themes with acoustic and percussive elements to accompany episodes on off-grid construction projects. Over his career, Stern's compositional approach evolved from the rock-tinged hybrid scores of the 1990s, influenced by his early industry experiences, to more versatile modern orchestrations in the , incorporating digital techniques for dynamic film and projects.

Filmography

Steve Stern, as a literary , has no known in composing, directing, or . None of his works have been adapted into films as of November 2025.)

References

  1. [1]
    Steve Stern | Penguin Random House
    Steve Stern is the author of several short story collections, including The Wedding Jester (winner of the National Jewish Book Award), Isaac and the Undertaker ...Missing: notable person
  2. [2]
    Steve Stern author biography - BookBrowse.com
    Mar 8, 2023 · Steve J. Stern (born 1947) is an author from Memphis, Tennessee. His fiction, with its deep grounding in Yiddish folklore, has prompted critics ...
  3. [3]
    Steve Stern - Key West Literary Seminar
    “My life is a mystery I have no particular desire to solve. I grew up in a Reform Jewish congregation in Memphis, Tennessee, that was so divested of tradition.Missing: notable person
  4. [4]
    Steve Stern | Jewish Book Council
    Steve Stern is an author of numerous novels and story collections, including The Wedding Jester, which won the National Jewish Book Award.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  5. [5]
    Stern, Steve | Encyclopedia.com
    STERN, STEVE (1947– ), U.S. novelist and short-story writer. Stern was born in Memphis and educated at Rhodes College, where he received his B.A., and at the ...Missing: author | Show results with:author
  6. [6]
    Steve Stern, "The Village Idiot" (Melville House, 2022)
    Sep 13, 2022 · Steve Stern was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1947, and left to attend college, then to travel before ending up on a hippie commune in the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  7. [7]
    'The Book of Mischief' by Steve Stern - The New York Times
    Sep 28, 2012 · The effusive nostalgia is striking since this is a world that the author, who was born in 1947, never knew. Although Stern grew up in Memphis, ...
  8. [8]
    STEVE STERN - DARHANSOFF & VERRILL LITERARY AGENTS
    For thirty years, Stern taught at Skidmore College, the majority of those years as Writer-in-Residence. He has also been a Fulbright lecturer at Bar Elan ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  9. [9]
    Steve Stern: On Inspiration Coming from Another Artistic Medium
    Sep 14, 2022 · For 30 years, Stern taught at Skidmore College, the majority of those years as Writer-in-Residence. He has also been a Fulbright lecturer at Bar ...
  10. [10]
    Summary and Reviews of The Book of Mischief by Steve Stern
    Rating 5.0 (3) Steve J. Stern (born 1947) is an author from Memphis, Tennessee. His fiction, with its deep grounding in Yiddish folklore, has prompted critics such as Cynthia ...
  11. [11]
    Steven M. Stern - IMDb
    Steven M. Stern was born on 12 May 1967 in Pikesville, Maryland, USA. He is a composer, known for Deadpool (2016), Logan (2017) and The Rock (1996).Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
  12. [12]
    The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 474 - Newspapers.com
    Jun 2, 1985 · Katherine Elizabeth Miller HIGH SCHOOL Kimberly Michelle Miller ... Steven M. Stern Kimberly Tracey Hunter Kimberly Ann Stewart Helen ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  13. [13]
    Steven Stern - Composer/producer/songwriter at APM Music - The Org
    Following that, they pursued their Bachelor of Music degree in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music from 1987 to 1991. Location. Los Angeles, United States.Missing: M. early
  14. [14]
    Steven Stern - Composer / Producer / Songwriter / Vice President of ...
    Steven Stern. Composer / Producer / Songwriter / Vice President of Custom Music at APM Music. Resonate Music Group / APM Music Berklee College of Music ...
  15. [15]
    The Lion King (1994) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
    The Lion King (1994) - Cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses ... Steven M. Stern. music scoring assistant (uncredited). Susie Stevens-Logan.
  16. [16]
    Zimmer & Friends - Music Behind the Screen
    Dec 16, 2011 · Originally named Media Ventures and started by Hans Zimmer and Jay Rifkin, the composers and arrangers now came from varied backgrounds of composition or ...Missing: career | Show results with:career
  17. [17]
    Renaissance Man (1994) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
    Renaissance Man (1994) - Cast and crew credits, including actors ... Steven M. Stern. assistant score engineer (uncredited). Sebastian Toettcher.
  18. [18]
    I'll Do Anything (1994) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
    I'll Do Anything (1994) - Cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses ... Steven M. Stern. assistant score engineer (uncredited). Michael Thompson.
  19. [19]
    Affiches - Photos d'exploitation - Bandes annonces: Speed (1993 ...
    Cast ; Mark Mancina .... orchestrator (uncredited) ; Curt Sobel .... music editor (uncredited) ; Steven M. Stern .... music scoring assistant (uncredited).
  20. [20]
    Credits 2005-2001 | Smecky Music Studios Prague
    2004 – The Assassination of Richard Nixon – comp. Steven M. Stern 2004 – La ... Score Nominee, Online Film Critics Society Awards 2002 – Best Original Score ...
  21. [21]
    The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) - ShotOnWhat
    Jun 15, 2019 · The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) tech specs : Directed by ... Steven M. Stern. Composer. ➤ Production Design by. Lester Cohen.
  22. [22]
    D.E.B.S. (2004) Technical Specifications - ShotOnWhat
    Jun 14, 2019 · D.E.B.S. (2004) tech specs : Directed by Angela ... Engineer: Digital Audio Score. Steven M. Stern. Score Producer. ➤ Stunt Department.
  23. [23]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2903156/fullcredits
  24. [24]
    Soundtracks - Deadpool (2016) - IMDb
    Deadpool · Written by Steven M. Stern (as Steven Stern), Dan Book, Alexei Misoul and Scott Stallone · Performed by U4L featuring Beth Enloe · Courtesy of ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  25. [25]
    Soundtracks - Logan (2017) - IMDb
    Logan · Written by Dan Book, Alexei Misoul, Scott Stallone and Steven M. Stern (as Steven Stern) · Performed by U4L Featuring Beth Enloe · Courtesy of BMG ...
  26. [26]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112111/fullcredits
  27. [27]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2903156/fullcredits
  28. [28]
    Films with music composed by Steven M. Stern - Letterboxd
    Films with music composed by Steven M. Stern · Poster for D.E.B.S. · Poster for D.E.B.S. · Poster for The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) · Poster for Bloody ...Missing: filmography | Show results with:filmography
  29. [29]
    Steven M. Stern » ShotOnWhat? Movies & Television
    Steven M. Stern - The Assassination of Richard Nixon, D.E.B.S., My Date with Drew, The Rock, Speed, Renaissance Man, Monkey Trouble - The Motion Picture ...Missing: filmography | Show results with:filmography
  30. [30]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110971/fullcredits
  31. [31]
    Steven M. Stern - Soundtrack.Net
    Composer Information. Steven M. Stern. Filmography. 2010. Wild Things: Foursome [Direct to Video]. Missing Information? If any information appears to be missing ...
  32. [32]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0676676/fullcredits
  33. [33]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0667885/fullcredits
  34. [34]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0667881/fullcredits
  35. [35]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0733493/fullcredits
  36. [36]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0743901/fullcredits
  37. [37]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0632116/fullcredits
  38. [38]
    "Aerial America" Made in the USA (TV Episode 2013) - Full cast & crew
    ... Aerial America" Made in the USA (TV Episode 2013) - Cast and crew ... Composer. Edit · Steven M. Stern · Steven M. Stern. Editor. Edit · Cindy D'Agostino.
  39. [39]
    "Aerial America" Best Small Towns (TV Episode 2014) - IMDb
    ... Aerial America" Best Small Towns (TV Episode 2014) - Cast and crew credits ... Steven M. Stern. Editor. Edit · Cindy D'Agostino · Cindy D'Agostino. Sound ...
  40. [40]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3559266/fullcredits
  41. [41]
    "Building Wild" Double Decker Cabin (TV Episode 2014) - IMDb
    ... Building Wild" Double Decker Cabin (TV Episode 2014) - Cast and crew ... Steven M. Stern. co-composer. Cinematographer. Edit · Ryan Brennan · Ryan Brennan.
  42. [42]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3479996/fullcredits