Ching-Shan Chang Wins SCL David Raksin Award for Laws of Man

Set at the dawn of the Cold War, Laws of Man follows U.S. Marshals Frank and Tommy as they pursue wanted murderer Benjamin Bonney across the Nevada desert, only to uncover a conspiracy that threatens the foundations of justice and peace.

From the outset, director Phil Blattenberger made it clear he didn’t want a traditional “cowboy” score. Chang proposed a hybrid musical approach, citing Killers of the Flower Moon as a reference for blending period authenticity with a modern sonic edge.

The score is built around a core motif based on the repetition of a minor third interval, which evolves alongside the marshals’ journey while maintaining a unified musical identity. The sonic palette blends guitars and electric bass with synth textures and sound design to heighten tension, while emotional moments lean into delicate orchestral writing and instrumental textures.

Although classically trained, Chang credits her early work with Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL) as a formative influence, where the edgy, dark, and hybrid approach to scoring sits on the opposite end of the spectrum.

“Laws of Man stands as a testament to how merging these two musical worlds can be incredibly powerful — where tradition and modernity collide to spark something both grounded and new.”

At the beginning of 2026, Chang’s score for Laws of Man earned her the David Raksin Award for Emerging Talent at the Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards. The film, directed by Phil Blattenberger and starring Harvey Keitel, Graham Greene, Forrie J. Smith, Dermot Mulroney, and Jackson Rathbone, screened at major festivals including the Santa Fe International Film Festival and the Newport Beach Film Festival.

A Los Angeles–based composer, Chang’s credits include Sonic the Hedgehog 2 & 3, Until Dawn, It: Welcome to Derry, Rebel Moon Parts I & II, My Father’s Dragon, and Teen Wolf: The Movie. She has collaborated with composers including Junkie XL, Benjamin Wallfisch, Mychael Danna, Carter Burwell, Andrew Lockington, and Dino Meneghin.

Her work has been recognized with awards from the Golden Eye at the International Zurich Film Music Competition, the International Berlin Film Scoring Competition, and the Krakow FMF Young Talent Award. Beyond film and television, she is an active concert composer with commissions from orchestras worldwide and upcoming projects including the animated feature Secret Whisper.