Testimonials
Nikola Lekić is one of the most talented people I have ever worked with. We met in 2020 while we were both in our second year of college and worked on several different projects since. Those projects range from documentary shorts to animations, commercials and short films. Our way of communicating and working together was specific from the start: I would show Nikola the already finished edit of the film and he would go home lost in thought, telling me how he is going to need some time, only to start sending me improvisations on his piano as soon as he got home. In some cases we would only talk about the script of a movie that was about to get filmed and he would do the same. I was usually blown away by these compositions and melodies immediately as I would hear them, but Nikola is a perfectionist. He would keep working on his music even when I was completely satisfied and told him so. Which always turned out as a wise choice because he would always take his music to another level making it even more simple for the viewer to connect with the story of the film and feel the emotions that I, as the director wanted them to feel during a certain scene. What makes Nikola Lekić even more impressive is not only that he can write beautiful music for a whole orchestra but that he can conduct it beautifully too. He is very strict, which comes from his perfectionism, but nonetheless the orchestra members love him and love to work with him. I feel like they are all amazed at how incredible orchestra music written for film can sound under his supervision and want to keep experiencing the amazing feeling of coming together as one to create. Nikola is someone I wholeheartedly trust and want to keep working with for the rest of my life.
I collaborated with Nikola for my short film in 2023 in which he composed the score. After I briefly explained the concepts of my movie and what role the music would play in it, Nikola sat at the piano and in roughly thirty minutes composed the base melody. He was very communicative and observant to what I had to say which, mixed with his incredible talent and musical literacy, makes him one of my favorite collaborators I have ever worked with on a film. He matched the emotion and the intensity of the film and tied it all in a Baroque bow, as requested. He never diverted from the original idea I asked of him, he only enhanced it with more layers and depth that would have never even crossed my mind.
Not only is Nikola a joy to work with in “one on one” sessions, but his dedication afterwards never fainted. He updated me with new versions and new ideas for the score which in turn motivated me to think more about what could be achieved with its inclusion in the film. I was hesitant to ask Nikola about the possibility of filming his score live in a church with an orchestra as our budget was very modest but Nikola assured me it could be done. After less than two weeks he was able to assemble an orchestra and choir of fellow musicians and colleagues. Not only that, he himself was able to find the church to record the music.
Being in the church and seeing him conduct was a feeling similar to seeing a fantastic director who knows what he wants and is able to get the absolute best out of his crew. Communicative, empathetic, and professional. A true leader behind the podium.
Now, as I am in post production, watching the scenes where Nikola’s score plays is the closest I’ve come to seeing my vision mirrored on the screen. Even after we finished our collaboration Nikola is always checking up on the post production process, motivating me to give him the best just as he gave me. This movie would not be what it is now without him.