Jon Ong: Composer worked on Paddington's score

It is a story often heard in Hollywood: A young graduate whose first step on the entertainment career ladder is through a job as an assistant.

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After completing his education in film scoring at Berklee College of Music in Boston, US, in 2011, Jon Ong started as a runner in 2012 for Emmy-winning William Ross. The American composer had orchestrated the scores for blockbusters Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (2023) and Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022).

"You run errands, and then eventually become an assistant," says Ong, who also performed musical duties like score notation and transcription.

"Being a part of William's team was very eye-opening. Even though initially I wasn't doing as much music, I learnt the ropes for all the other skills needed in the general music business, as well as what it takes to be a composer and orchestrator."

Ong then landed a job with American musician Nick Urata (A Series Of Unfortunate Events, 2017 to 2019; Crazy, Stupid, Love, 2011), whom he calls one of his mentors.

"Looking back now, I can say he's guided my career and the choices I've made, and we speak regularly to this day," says the 39-year-old.