The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 276 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures to join the organization. Among the invited artists this year are a number of film composers including Ramin Djawadi whose credits include Iron Man, Clash of the Titans, Safe House and the upcoming Pacific Rim, Cliff Martinez whose film projects include Contagion, Drive and Best Picture nominee Traffic, Joe Hisaishi who scored the Academy Award-winning animated film Spirited Away, Aaron Zigman who is best known for his work on such films as The Notebook, Sex and the City and Bridge to Terabithia, Henry Jackman who scored this year’s Best Animated Film nominee Wreck-It-Ralph and J. Ralph who was nominated for Best Original Song this year for his work on Chasing Ice. In addition, Prince whose work for film includes Purple Rain and Happy Feet was also invited, as well as Siedah Garrett who performed last year’s Oscar nominated song Real in Rio from Rio.
Tag: Aaron Zigman
Aaron Zigman to Score ‘The Other Woman’
Aaron Zigman is reteaming with director Nick Cassavates on the upcoming romantic comedy The Other Woman. The film stars Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Kate Upton, Taylor Kinney and Nicki Minaj. The movie follows a woman who finds out that she is not her boyfriend’s primary lover and plots with the man’s wife for revenge. Melissa Stack wrote the screenplay and Julie Yorn (We Bought a Zoo, Unstoppable, Bride Wars) is producing the project through LBI Productions. Zigman has previously collaborated with Cassavetes on all of the director’s features since 2002’s John Q, including The Notebook, Alpha Dog, My Sister’s Keeper and Yellow.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (May 10, 2013)
Two new movies are opening in wide release this weekend:
Opening in most theaters is the new film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Debicki and Amitabh Bachchan. Craig Armstrong who previously scored the director’s Moulin Rouge! and Romeo & Juliet has composed the film’s original score. Interscope Records has released the official soundtrack album, which features Jay-Z’s original track No Church in the Wild, as well as his hit song 100$ Bill. Also included are the original songs Over the Love by Florence + the Machine and Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey, as well as songs by Beyonce x Andre 3000 (collaborating on Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black), Fergie + Q Tip + 
GoonRock, Coco O. of Quadron, Gotye, Nero and Sia, Jack White (who performs U2′s Love Is Blindness), Bryan Ferry and Emeli Sande. Check out our previous article for the full album details. The label has also released a deluxe edition featuring a track from Armstrong’s score, an additional song by Florence + the Machine and an orchestral version of Young and Beautiful. To listen to audio clips and download the deluxe version, visit Amazon. Also visit YouTube for a video featurette on the film’s music, including interviews with Armstrong, Luhrmann and Jay-Z and check out an interview with Armstrong about his work on the film on ASCAP’s We Create Music blog.
‘Peeples’ Soundtrack EP Announced
Lakeshore Records will release a soundtrack for the comedy Peeples. The EP features three new songs by Grammy- and Tony-nominated songwriter/producer Stephen Bray with performances by actors Craig Robinson and David Alan Grier. Also included are two tracks from the movie’s original score composed by Aaron Zigman (The Notebook, Bridge to Terabithia). The soundtrack will be released digitally on May 7, 2013. Listen to the track Speak It (Don’t Leak It) by Craig Robinson after the jump. Peeples is directed by Tina Gordon Chism and stars Robinson and Grier, alongside Kerry Washington, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tyler Williams, Melvin Van Peebles, Diahann Carroll, Malcolm Barrett, Kali Hawk and Ana Gasteyer. Tyler Perry is producing the film, which is set to be released on May 10 by Lionsgate.
Aaron Zigman to Score ‘Baggage Claim’
Aaron Zigman has been hired to score the upcoming romantic comedy Baggage Claim. The film is written and directed by David E. Talbert and is based on his 2003 novel about a flight attendant who is determined not to show up to her baby sister’s engagement party without a fiance of her own and begins searching for a man while on the job. Paula Patton stars as the flight attendant, alongside Derek Luke, Adam Brody, Trey Songz, Taye Diggs, Christina Milian and Djimon Hounsou. Steven J. Wolfe (500 Days of Summer, Miss March) is producing the picture. Talbert’s previous directorial feature effort First Sunday starring Ice Cube featured a score by Stanley Clarke.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (March 29, 2013)
Three new movies are opening wide this weekend:
Already in theaters since yesterday is the action sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Dwayne Johnson, D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Ray Park, Adrianne Palicki, Jonathan Pryce, RZA, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum and Bruce Willis. The film’s score is composed by Henry Jackman (X-Men: First Class, Wreck-It-Ralph). Varese Sarabande Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music digitally. A physical version is set to come out on April 16. To listen to audio clips and check out the full album details, visit our soundtrack announcement.
Also opening wide is the sci-fi romance The Host directed by Andrew Niccol, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer and starring Saoirse Ronan, Jake Abel, Max Irons, William Hurt, Diane Kruger, Chandler Canterbury and Frances Fisher. Antonio Pinto (City of God, Snitch) has composed the film’s original score. Interscope Records has released a soundtrack album featuring songs from and inspired by the film by artists including Imagine Dragons, Hudson Taylor, Skylar Grey, Ellie Goulding, Hudson Taylor, Duologue and Jamie N Commons, as well as one track from Pinto’s music. Check out our previous article for the full details. A separate soundtrack featuring the composer’s score is available as an import from overseas. Click here for more information on the score release.
Aaron Zigman’s ‘Escape from Planet Earth’ Scoring Sessions Video
Aaron Zigman (The Notebook, Bridge to Terabithia) recently recorded his score for the animated feature Escape from Planet Earth. The composer’s music was recorded with at 100 piece orchestra and choir at Abbey Road Studios in London. Check out a video featuring footage from the sessions after the jump. Zigman’s first score for an animated film is now available on Sony Classical. Visit our previous article for the full soundtrack details and audio clips. Escape from Planet Earth directed by Cal Brunker and featuring the voices of Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba, Rob Corddry, James Gandolfini and Craig Robinson was released last weekend by the Weinstein Company and is now playing nationwide.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (February 15, 2013)
Four new movies are opening nationwide this holiday weekend:
Expected to top the weekend box office is the action thriller sequel A Good Day to Die Hard directed by John Moore 
and starring Bruce Willis and Jai Courtney. The film’s music is composed by Marco Beltrami (3:10 to Yuma, Scream) who previously scored the last film in the series, Live Free or Die Hard. Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. For audio clips and the full album details, visit our soundtrack announcement. For a recent interview with Beltrami about his work on the film and his other recent projects, visit Film Music Magazine.
Also opening wide is the romantic drama/thriller Safe Haven directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, David Lyons, Cobie Smulders and Noah Lomax. The film’s original score is composed by Deborah Lurie who previously worked with Hallstrom on the Nicholas Sparks adaptation Dear John and An Unfinished Life. A soundtrack album featuring the film’s songs, as well as one score track has been released by Relativity Music Group and Republic Records. Check out our previous article for the full details. Relativity has also released a separate soundtrack featuring Lurie’s score. For audio clips and more information, click here.
‘Escape from Planet Earth’ Soundtrack Details
Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album for the animated feature Escape from Planet Earth. The album features the film’s original music composed by Aaron Zigman (The Notebook, Bridge to Terabithia). The composer recorded his score with a 100 piece orchestra and choir at Abbey Road Studios in London. The soundtrack has recently been released digitally and is now available to download on Amazon, where you can also listen to audio clips. Escape from Planet Earth is directed by Cal Brunker and features the voice talent of Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba, Rob Corddry, James Gandolfini and Craig Robinson. The film is set on the planet Baab, where admired astronaut Scorch Supernova is a national hero to the blue alien population. The animated movie will be released on February 15 by the Weinstein Company.
Aaron Zigman Scoring ‘Escape from Planet Earth’
Aaron Zigman is scoring the upcoming animated 3D family comedy Escape From Planet Earth. The film is directed by Cal Brunker and features the voice talent of Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba, Rob Corddry, James Gandolfini and Craig Robinson. The movie is set on the planet Baab, where admired astronaut Scorch Supernova is a national hero to the blue alien population. Brunker has written the script with Bob Barlen based on a screenplay by Tony Leech & Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked!). Luke Carroll and Catherine Winder (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) are producing the Rainmaker Entertainment production and Harvey and Bob Weinstein are executive producing.