star-trek-into-darknessRoyal Albert Hall will host the UK premiere of Star Trek Into Darkness – Live in Concert featuring the performance of Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino‘s original score for J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness performed live to projection. The music will be performed by the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of Ludwig Wicki. The concert will take place on Friday, May 30, 2014 in London. To buy tickets for the event, visit Royal Albert Hall’s official website. The world premiere of Star Trek Into Darkness – Live in Concert is set to take place a few days prior to the UK premiere at the KKL Luzern Concert Hall in Lucerne, Switzerland. More details will be announced soon. Read the rest of this entry »

frozen-groundMetropolis Movie Music will release a soundtrack album for the thriller The Frozen Ground. The album features the film’s original score composed by Lorne Balfe (Megamind, The Bible). The soundtrack will be released digitally overseas on July 12, 2013 and in the US on July 30. Visit Amazon to pre-order the album, No word yet on a domestic release. The Frozen Ground is written and directed by Scott Walker and stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Vanessa Hudgens, Radha Mitchell and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The movie centers on the investigation of notorious serial killer Robert Hansen who murdered as many as 21 women, kidnapping them and taking them out to the Alaskan wilderness to turn them loose and hunt them. The film is set to be released in the US in select theaters on August 23, 2013 by Lionsgate. Read the rest of this entry »

comicconThe line-up for this year’s The Character of Music panel at Comic-Con in San Diego has been announced. A number of composer and executive producer teams will discuss the dynamics of music in film and television. Panelists include Bear McCreary and Jonathan Steinberg (Black Sails), Brian Reitzell and Bryan Fuller (Hannibal), and Dino Meneghin and Jeff Davis (Teen Wolf). The participants will discuss their working relationship, how music plays a character in their stories and the intense process of scoring their projects. The panel will be moderated by BMI’s director of film and TV relations Anne Cecere and Chandler Poling of White Bear PR. The event will take place on Friday, July 19 at 3:00pm in Room 32AB. Check out our previous article for the details of the other film music-related panels at Comic-Con.

Weekly TV Music Roundup (July 7, 2013)

Posted: July 7, 2013 by filmmusicreporter in TV Scoring Assignments
Tags: , ,

the-bridgePremiering on Wednesday, July 10, is the new FX drama The Bridge . The series stars Demian Bechir and Diana Kruger as two El Paso detectives who partner to catch a serial killer working both sides of the US-Mexican border. The show is based on the Scandinavian series of the same title and is adapted by Meredith Stiehm (Homeland) and Elwood Reid (Hawaii Five-O, Cold Case). Shawn Pierce (Haven, Defying Gravity, Motive) is composing the show’s original score. Ryan Bingham who co-wrote and performed the Academy Award-winning song A Weary Kind from Crazy Heart has written the opening titles song for the series. The Bridge will air every Wednesday night on FX. For updates on the drama, visit the official show website.

the-butlerRodrigo Leão has taken over scoring duties on the upcoming drama The Butler. The film is directed by Lee Daniels (Precious, The Paperboy) and stars Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, David Oyelowo, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber and Robin Williams. The movie tells the story of Eugene Allen, a White House employee who served eight First Families over the course of three decades. Danny Strong (Recount) has written the screenplay. Daniels is producing the project with Laura Ziskin (Spider-Man, What About Bob?), Pamela Oas Williams, Cassian Elwes and Buddy Patrick (Ain’t Them Bodies Saint, The Paperboy). Read the rest of this entry »

Three new movies are opening nationwide this week:

despicable-me-2Already in theaters since Wednesday is the animated film sequel Despicable Me 2 directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud and featuring the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan and Benjamin Bratt. Pharrell Williams has written the movie’s original songs and themes and Heitor Pereira (The Smurfs) has composed the film’s original score. Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album including both songs and score. Check out our previous article for the full album details and to listen to audio clips. Also click here for a video featurette on the music and visit Trailer Addict for a video interview with Pereira at the film’s red carpet premiere in Hollywood and ASCAP’s We Create Music blog for another interview with the composer.

the-lone-rangerAlso opening wide is Walt Disney Pictures’ western The Lone Ranger directed by Gore Verbinski, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter. The film’s original score is composed and produced by Hans Zimmer. Walt Disney Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score earlier this week. A CD version is set to be released by Intrada Records later this month. Click here for the full details of the score album. Hollywood Records has also released a soundtrack featuring songs inspired by the film by artists including Ben Kweller, Iggy Pop, Shane MacGowan, Lucinda Williams and The White Buffalo. Read the rest of this entry »

beneathMilan Records will release a soundtrack album for the horror film Beneath. The album features the film’s original score composed by Will Bates of Fall On Your Sword (Another Earth, Lola Versus, We Steal Secrets). Also included are additional tracks by Graham Reznick and Shilpa Ray. The soundtrack will be released both digitally and physically on July 16, 2013 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Beneath is directed by Larry Fessenden and follows a group of young friends, commemorating their high school graduation, on a trip to the remote Black Lake, hen their celebration turns into a nightmare with the sudden appearance of a bloodthirsty, underwater predator. The movie is set to be released on July 16 in select theaters by Chiller Films. Read the rest of this entry »

‘Kick-Ass 2’ Soundtrack Details

Posted: July 4, 2013 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music Albums
Tags: , ,

kick-ass-2Sony Music will release a soundtrack album for the superhero action comedy sequel Kick-Ass 2. The album features the songs from the film by artists including Union J, Glasvegas, James Flannigan, Lemon, Danko Jones, Eg White & Chlöe Howl, The Bees, Ozma, The Go! Team and Hanni El Khatib. The soundtrack will be released on August 13, 2013 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Audio clips are available below. A separate soundtrack featuring the film’s original score composed by Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson will be released by La-La Land Records. Kick-Ass 2 is directed by Jeff Wadlow and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jim Carrey, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Donald Faison, Clark Duke, John Leguizamo and Morris Chestnut. Read the rest of this entry »

‘Elysium’ Soundtrack Details

Posted: July 4, 2013 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music Albums
Tags: , , , ,

elysiumVarese Sarabande has announced the details of the soundtrack album for Neil Blomkamp’s sci-fi action drama Elysium. The album features the film’s original score composed by Ryan Amon. The soundtrack will be released on August 6, 2013 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Check out audio clips after the jump. Elysium written and directed by Blomkamp (District 9) and stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Wagner Moura, Alice Braga, William Fichtner, Diego Luna and Carly Pope. The movie is set on a space station occupied by the very wealthy while the rest of humanity lives on a ravaged, overpopulated Earth. The movie will be released nationwide on August 9 by Sony Pictures. Read the rest of this entry »

smurfs-2Varese Sarabande will release a score album for the family movie The Smurfs 2. The album features the film’s original music composed by Heitor Pereira (Despicable Me, Beverly Hills Chihuahua). The soundtrack will be released on July 23, 2013 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. As previously reported, RCA Records will release a separate soundtrack featuring the songs from and inspired by the film on the same day. Check back on this page for audio clips from the score. The Smurfs 2 is directed by Raja Gosnell and stars Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara, Hank Azaria and Brendan Gleeson. The hybrid CGI/live-action films also features the voice talent of Katy Perry, Jonathan Winters, Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin, John Oliver, Christina Ricci and JB Smoove. The sequel will be released nationwide on July 31. Read the rest of this entry »