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GABA Member Interview: David Bertok

David Bertok is a renowned composer known for his compelling scores in documentaries and feature films. His recent work includes the score for “Botero,” a documentary about the famous artist, and the award-winning film “Peace by Chocolate.” David’s music has been recognized globally, featuring pieces in major campaigns and playlists. He continually seeks to innovate within the film and music industry by integrating live performance and improvisation into his work.

Can you please introduce yourself and tell us about your current role or business? 

I am a composer for film and media, working on a variety of projects ranging from documentaries to feature films. My role involves creating original scores that enhance the storytelling of each project I work on. Recently, I composed the score for the documentary “Botero” and the film “Peace by Chocolate,” both of which have received critical acclaim.

Could you share some key milestones or achievements in your professional journey that you’re particularly proud of?

I composed the score for the documentary “Botero” about the famous artist, and one of the pieces from my score was included in a 6-month TV/Radio campaign via BBC in the UK. The film “Peace by Chocolate” with my score premiered at Tribeca, won over 20 awards during its festival run, and had a successful theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada. My music piece “Never Too Late” from the film was selected for a Spotify Editorial Playlist. My latest feature film “Daughter of the Sun” premiered at Fantasia Festival Montreal where it won an Audience Award, and it also screened at the Berlinale 2024. 

Are there any books, resources, or mentors that have had a profound influence on your career and personal development? 

I always recommend these five books for creatives as they had a significant impact on my life: 

  • “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron – it will challenge and transform you if you do the work. 
  • “Creativity” by Osho – a fresh perspective on the essence of creativity.
  • “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield – a wise word about showing up every day.
  • “The Music Lesson” by Victor Wooten – a spiritual mindset about musicianship.
  • “Effortless Mastery” by Kenny Werner – an antidote against the poison of always comparing yourself. 

As an expert in your field, what emerging trends or technologies do you see shaping the future, and how do you plan to adapt or leverage them in your work?

The talk of the hour in the film and music business is AI. The copyright implications still need to be codified with protections against the scraping of art into big data. However, now more than ever, it is time for creatives to be as individual, unique, and idiosyncratic as they can be. I intend to include even more live performances, real musicians instead of samples, and improvisational aspects in my music. Hopefully, AI can take over dull aspects of our lives, but it is on us to seek out real human-made, non-generic art that machines can not and will not ever produce. 

Connect with David Bertok 

Interested in learning more about David’s journey and insights? Connect with him through the GABA network to explore potential collaborations and shared interests.

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