This past Sunday, the Newport Beach Film Festival Seminar Series presented the composer panel Lights, Camera, Action – Music for Action Films (and other genres). Tim Greiving moderated a panel of film composers who – challenged with the on-screen fights and explosions – offered insight into how the score works in harmony with the film’s visual elements, sound effects and getting all the elements to co-exist. Participating composers included Christophe Beck (Frozen, The Hangover) who discussed the challenges of scoring this summer’s Edge of Tomorrow directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise. Christopher Young (Spider-Man 3, Entrapment) talked about his music for this year’s Chinese martial arts action movie The Monkey King, which became one the nation’s highest grossing film at the local box office. Read the rest of this entry »
Hollywood Composers Discuss Music for Action Movies at Newport Beach Film Festival
Posted: May 2, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Composer InterviewsTags: Christophe Beck, Christopher Young, Michael Wandmacher, Newport Beach Film Festival, Pedro Bromfman, Stephen Endelman
Apparat to Score Drake Doremus’ ‘Equals’
Posted: May 2, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Scoring AssignmentsTags: Apparat, Drake Doremus, Equals
German electronic musician Apparat is set to compose the music for the upcoming sci-fi romance Equals. The film is directed by Drake Doremus and stars Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult. The movie is set in the future and centers on a couple young couple rebelling against their society where emotions have been eradicated. Nathan Parker (Moon) has written the screenplay. Ridley Scott is producing the project with Michael Schaefer (Exodus: Gods and Kings), Ann Ruark (The Beaver, The Motel Life), Jay Stern and Chip Diggins (Love and Honor). Doremus’ previous two features Like Crazy and Breathe In were scored by Dustin O’Halloran. Equals marks Apparat’s first time composing original music for film. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Lullaby’ to Feature Music by Patrick Leonard
Posted: May 1, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Scoring AssignmentsTags: Andrew Levitas, Lullaby, Patrick Leonard
Patrick Leonard has composed the music for the upcoming indie comedy drama Lullaby. The film is written and directed by Andrew Levitas and stars Garrett Hedlund, Richard Jenkins, Amy Adams, Jessica Brown Findlay, Anne Archer, Terrence Howard, Jennifer Hudson and Jessica Barden. The movie centers on a man estranged from his family, who receives word that his ill father has chosen to take himself off life support in less than 48 hours. Andrea Stone-Brokaw and Cary Brokaw (Short Cuts, Closer, Sex and Death 101 are producing the project. Budd Carr (JFK, Natural Born Killers, Donnie Brasco) serves as the film’s executive music producer. Read the rest of this entry »
Lucas Vidal and Chris Ramsdell Launch Music House for Motion Picture Advertising Chroma
Posted: May 1, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music NewsTags: Chris Ramsdell, Chroma, Lucas Vidal
Music and Motion Productions’ Lucas Vidal and music supervisor Chris Ramsdell have teamed up to launch Chroma, a new music house for motion picture advertising. The project is a collaboration between Vidal, the composer of such films as Fast & Furious 6, The Raven, The Quiet Ones and The Cold Light of Day and Ramsdell who has placed music in such campaigns as The Hunger Games, Django Unchained, Transformers and The Hobbit and who serves as the company’s creative director. Chroma kickstarts its sonic enterprise with a 65-track showcase album, which was recorded with a 50-piece choir, full string orchestra, 20-piece brass section and 12 french horns. To listen to previews of the debut sampler, which ranges from dark hybrid to epic orchestral sounds, click here and visit Chroma’s official website to learn more about the company.
‘Night Moves’ Soundtrack Details
Posted: May 1, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music AlbumsTags: Jeff Grace, Kelly Reichardt, Night Moves, score, Soundtrack
Milan Records will release a soundtrack album for the thriller Night Moves. The album features the film’s original music composed by Jeff Grace (We Are What We Are, The Innkeepers, The House of the Devil) who previously collaborated with the movie’s director Kelly Reichardt on Meek’s Cutoff. The soundtrack will be released on June 3, 2014 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The album is already available overseas. Night Moves stars Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard. The movie follows three radical environmentalists who are plotting the explosion of a hydroelectric dam—the symbol of the energy-sucking, resource-devouring industrial culture they despise. Read the rest of this entry »
Nick Urata to Score ‘Focus’
Posted: May 1, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Scoring AssignmentsTags: Alfred and Jakobine, Focus, Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, Misconception, Nick Urata
Nick Urata has been tapped to score the upcoming caper comedy Focus. The film is written and directed by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa and stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Rodrigo Santoro. The movie follows a con man who becomes romantically involved with a novice and is thrown off his game when the former flame shows up just as he’s staging an elaborate con in Buenos Aires. Denise Di Novi (Edward Scissorshand, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman Returns) is producing the Warner Bros. Pictures production. Urata has previously composed the music for the directors’ I Love You Phillip Morris and also co-scored their last feature Crazy, Stupid, Love. and contributed music to their TV pilot Back in the Game. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Deep in the Darkness’ Soundtrack Released
Posted: April 30, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music AlbumsTags: Chiller, Deep in the Darkness, Matthew Llewellyn, score, Soundtrack
ScreamWorks Records and Kronos Records have released a soundtrack album for the horror thriller Depp in the Darkness. The album features the film’s original music composed by Matthew Llewellyn who recorded the score with the Slovakia National Symphony Orchestra. The soundtrack is now available to download on Amazon. A physical version is set to be released on June 24, 2014. Audio clips are embedded after the jump. Deep in the Darkness is directed by Colin Theys and stars Sean Patrick Thomas and Dean Stockwell. The movie follows a New York City doctor who moves his family to a small town only to discover a race of creatures living in the woods behind their home. The film will be released in select theaters this weekend and will air next month on Chiller. Read the rest of this entry »
Stephen Endelman Scoring Peter Bogdanovich’s ‘Squirrels to the Nuts’
Posted: April 30, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Scoring Assignments, TV Scoring AssignmentsTags: ABC Family, Chasing Life, Peter Bogdanovich, Squirrels to the Nuts, Stephen Endelman
Stephen Endelman has recently recorded his music for the upcoming comedy Squirrels to the Nuts. The film is directed by Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show, What’s Up, Doc?, Paper Moon) and stars Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson, Kathryn Hahn, Imogen Poots, Will Forte, Cybill Shepherd, Rhys Ifans, Lucy Punch, Ahna O’Reilly, Jake Hoffman, Austin Pendleton and George Morfogen. The movie follows a married Broadway director who meets a call girl and tries to convince her to change her life. Bogdanavich has also co-written the screenplay with Louise Stratten. Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom) and Noah Baumbach (Greenberg, Frances Ha) are producing the project with Holly Wiersma (Bobby, Bug), Logan Levy and music supervisor George Drakoulias. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Two Men in Town’ Soundtrack Details
Posted: April 30, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music AlbumsTags: Eric Neveux, La voie de l'ennemi, score, Soundtrack, Two Men in Town
Pathe Production will release a soundtrack album for the drama Two Men in Town (La voie de l’ennemi). The album features the film’s original music composed by Eric Neveux (Intimacy, Borgia) who previously collaborated with the movie’s director Rachid Bouchareb on Just Like a Woman. The soundtrack will be released digitally on May 5, 2014 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Audio clips can be checked out after the jump. Two Men in Town stars Forest Whitaker, Harvey Keitel, Brenda Blethyn, Ellen Burstyn and Luis Guzman. The movie follows an ex-convict who gets a second chance, but the local law wants to send him back to prison. The drama premiered at this year’s Berlin Film Festival and will be released in France on May 7. Read the rest of this entry »
‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ Premiere Concert
Posted: April 29, 2014 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music EventsTags: Hans Zimmer, The Amazing Spider-Man 2
This past Thursday, Hans Zimmer performed at the afterparty of the U.S. premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in New York. The Academy Award-winning composer performed selections from his score with his Magnificent Six band members, including Johnny Marr, Junkie XL, Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger and Pharrell Williams. Alicia Key also joined the band to perform the song It’s On Again, which also featured Kendrick Lamar. In addition, Liz performed the song That’s My Man. Check out a video of the entire concert (via Yahoo! Movies) after the jump. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 soundtrack is now available from Columbia and Madison Gate Records. Read the rest of this entry »
