Category: Film Music News

Weekly Film Music Roundup (May 27, 2011)

Tags: Alexandre Desplat, Christophe Beck, Daniel Licht, Dumbstruck, Hans Zimmer, John Powell, Kung Fu Panda 2, Lucas Vidal, Make Believe, score, Soundtrack, The Hangover Part II, The Tree of Life

Two new movies are opening wide this Memorial Day weekend:

Dreamworks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 2 directed by Jennifer Yuh and featuring the voice talent of Jack Black Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Gary Oldman, David Cross, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Liu, Michelle Yeoh, Dennis Haysbert, Victor Garber and Dustin Hoffman is opening in almost 4000 theaters. The film’s music is by Hans Zimmer and John Powell. A score album has been released by Varese Sarabande. For details and audio clips, visit our previous article. Also check out Film Music Magazine’s audio interview with Zimmer, in which he talks about his collaboration with Powell on the score among his other recent projects.

Also opening wide is the comedy sequel The Hangover Part II directed by Todd Phillips and starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong and Mike Tyson. The film’s score is by Christophe Beck. No score album has been announced, but a soundtrack including the songs featured in the movie has been released by Watertower Music. Check out our previous article for the track list and audio clips.

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Weekly Film Music Roundup (May 20, 2011)

May 20, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Composer Interviews, Film Music News 0 comments

Tags: Bloodworth, Cost of a Soul, Hans Zimmer, Midnight in Paris, On Stranger Tides, Patrick Warren, Pirates of the Caribbean, Randy Scruggs, Rodney Whittenberg, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Soundtrack, T Bone Burnett

Only one movie is opening wide this weekend:

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides directed by Rob Marshall and starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush and Penelope Cruzis is the fourth entry in the adventure series. The film’s music is composed by Hans Zimmer featuring Rodrigo y Gabriela. A soundtrack album including selections from the score, as well as number of remixes has been released on Tuesday by Walt Disney Records. Visit our previous article for the full track list and audio clips. Film Music Magazine has published a lengthy audio interview with Zimmer talking about his work on the film. Also check out a short video interview with Zimmer that we posted earlier this month.

Opening in limited release today is Woody Allen’s comedy Midnight in Paris starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Marion Cottilard and Michael Sheen. As most movies by the director, the film doesn’t have an original score, but features several songs. No soundtrack album has been announced yet for the movie, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last week.

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Hans Zimmer Joins WME Talent Agency

May 16, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News 0 comments

Tags: Alan Elliott, Amos Newman, David Holmes, David Newman, Hans Zimmer, WME

As reported by Variety and Deadline last week, the talent agency WME has signed composer Hans Zimmer, who was previously with the Gorfaine-Schwartz agency. WME has only recently started getting into representing film composers by hiring Amos Newman, the son of Academy Award-winning composer and songwriter Randy Newman. Deadline reported last month that he will be leading a newly formed film, TV, game, online and mobile division of the agency’s music department. The new unit will work to integrate WME music clients, including Kanye West, Lady Gaga, The Chemical Brothers, and Nine Inch Nails into film, television, gaming, online, and mobile platforms. Newman himself has been working for the Gorfaine-Schwartz agency for the last couple of years, where he oversaw the career of Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman. According to Variety, composers David Holmes, David Newman and Alan Elliott are also among WME’s other recent signees.

Howard Shore: A Composer’s Dream

May 15, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News 0 comments

Tags: A Composer's Dream, Governor's General Awards, Howard Shore

This weekend, Howard Shore was among the recipients of the Governor’s General’s Performing Arts Awards. The awards celebrate Canadian performers whose extraordinary lifetime achievements have contributed significantly to the enrichment of Canada’s cultural life. The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films reports that the National Board of Canada has produced six short films to celebrate the lives of the 2011 recipients. The short about Shore is called A Composer’s Dream and demonstrates how the Academy Award-winner has distinguished himself as one of Canada’s most accomplished and versatile composers. Watch the full short film after the jump.

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NBC Picks Up ‘Smash’ Musical by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman

May 13, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News 0 comments

Tags: Catch Me if You Can, Marc Shaiman, Musical, NBC, Scott Wittman, Smash, Steven Spielberg

NBC has picked up the musical comedy Smash, produced by Steven Spielberg and with music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. As reported, the show follows characters who come together for the exhilarating ride of putting on a Broadway musical. Michael Meyer directed the pilot and is expected to be back to direct more episodes. The show’s cast includes Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Anjelica Huston, Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean), Katherine McPhee (American Idol), Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and Brian d’Arcy James. Theresa Rebeck wrote the pilot and is also executive producing alongside Spielberg, Shaiman and Wittman. According to the New York Times, the fictional musical on the show will be about Marilyn Monroe, and the series itself will focus on the musical’s creation. It has yet to be decided if the show will be premiering in the fall or in early 2012.

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James Horner Recording the Music for ‘Cristiada’

May 12, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News 0 comments

Tags: Clara Sanabras, Cristiada, James Horner, Recording Sessions, Tony Hinnigan

cristiadarecording — Courtesy of NewLand Films

James Horner is currently recording his score for the historical epic Cristiada at Abbey Road Studios in London. The music is being recorded with a 100-piece orchestra and the recording sessions are scheduled for this and next week. Check out the film’s official Facebook page for tons of pictures and daily updates from the sessions. Clara Sanabras has been identified as the vocalist on the score. Another soloist and musician, Tony Hinnigan, who has worked with Horner on numerous films, including Braveheart and Titanic, has also been spotted in the pictures. Cristiada directed by Dean Wright chronicles the Cristeros War (1926-1929), which was touched off by a rebellion against the Mexican government’s attempt to secularize the country.

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Weekly Film Music Roundup (May 6, 2011)

May 6, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Composer Interviews, Film Music News 0 comments

Three new movies are opening nationwide and this weekend:

The comic book adaptation Thor directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba, Ray Stevenson, Kat Dennings, Rene Russo and Stellan Skarsgaard is expected to top the weekend box office. Patrick Doyle has composed the score for the film and a soundtrack has been released on Buena Vista Records. Check out our announcement for details on the album and audio clips. Also visit Film Music Magazine for a short interview with Doyle on his first comic book/superhero score.

Also opening wide is the comedy Jumping the Broom directed by Salim Akil and starring Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine, Mike Epps and Julie Bowen. Edward Shearmur composed the film’s score and a soundtrack with both score and songs from the film has been released earlier this week by Madison Gate Records. For more information on the album and the film, visit our soundtrack announcement.

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Upcoming Soundtrack Albums

April 30, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News 0 comments

A new feature for easier navigation of this page has been added. The Upcoming Soundtrack Albums page is a listing of all currently announced upcoming soundtrack albums for movies that are going to be released theatrically in the United States. If details for the soundtracks are available, you can find out more by clicking on the movie title. The page will regularly be updated as new soundtrack announcements are being made.

Weekly Film Music Roundup (April 29, 2011)

April 29, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News 0 comments

Tags: 13 Assassins, Brian Tyler, Dead of Night, Deborah Lurie, Dylan Dog, Fast Five, Hood Vs. Evil, Hoodwinked Too, Klaus Badelt, Koji Endo, Murray Gold, Prom

Four new movies are opening wide this weekend:

Expecting to enjoy the biggest box office debut of the year so far is the action sequel Fast Five. The film’s music is composed by Brian Tyler. Check out our news entry from yesterday for a video interview with Tyler and recording sessions footage from the project. A score album will be released next Tuesday by Varese Sarabande and is already available on iTunes and a song album with three score cues is coming out on ABCKO Records.

Also opening wide is the teen comedy Prom directed by Joe Nussbaum. The film’s score is by Deborah Lurie. As reported earlier this month, a soundtrack with songs from the movie has been released by Hollywood Records, but none of Lurie’s original score is included.

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Weekly Film Music Roundup (April 22, 2011)

April 22, 2011 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music Albums, Film Music News 0 comments

Tags: Aaron Zigman, African Cats, Gregoire Hetzel, Incendies, James Newton Howard, Jeff Grace, Jon Spurney, Jordin Sparks, Madea's Big Happy Family, Meek's Cutoff, Nicholas Hooper, Philip Miller, The Bang Bang Club, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Water for Elephants

Three new movies are opening wide this Easter weekend:

The period drama Water for Elephants directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz and Hal Holbrook features music by James Newton Howard. A soundtrack album including the original score, as well as a couple of songs from the film has been released by Sony Masterworks. Check out our soundtrack announcement for audio clips and more information on the album and the movie.

Also opening wide is Tyler Perry’s comedy Madea’s Big Happy Family starring Perry himself, as well as Loretta Devine and Bow Wow. The film’s score is by Aaron Zigman as announced earlier this year. While Tyler Perry’s movies usually get a soundtrack album, no release has been announced so far.

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