I am so grateful to Laurent, Oleg, Aude and everyone at the FAMES Project Orchestra in Macedonia. They did an INCREDIBLE job recording my Kushiel music! We only had two hours to accomplish some technically challenging stuff so it was amazing to see how organized and professional they are. Wonderful musicians who played their hearts out!
2017 Oscars
For years I always wrote up my thoughts on the Oscars Best Original Score category - I'm excited to head to my mother in law's house this weekend for our annual Academy Awards get together!
Justin Hurwitz wrote a beautiful, jazzy, ear worm-y score for "La La Land" that is an homage to classic Hollywood.
I have loved Dustin O'Halloran's work since hearing his achingly poignant and nostalgic theme for the TV show "Transparent." He is nominated for the film Lion and I really adore hearing his singular voice in this score.
Mica Levi's challenging score for Jackie is being praised as the "marrow of the narrative." Definitely unforgettably paired with the images and emotions of the film.
Thomas Newman, beloved titan of film score, brings his signature touch of atmospheric emotion and longing to this incredible score for "Passengers"
And I saved my absolute favorite for last. I think "Moonlight" is a complete and utter masterpiece in every sense of the word. It is an incredibly poetic, moving, beautiful, important film, and Nicolas Britell's score is perfect in every way. I will never forget the way this music made me feel and how I wept watching this movie. This is my pic for the win!
7th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards!
I had such an amazing time attending the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards with my team from 5 Alarm Music last night! We were official sponsors. The event was held at the theater at the Ace Hotel in the heart of downtown LA, and it was an incredible night filled with friends, colleagues, clients, food, drinks, music and an atmosphere of celebrating excellence in our industry.
Legendary score mixer John Rodd's seminar
I was lucky enough to be able to attend another seminar sponsored by the AWFC, this time with legendary score mixer John Rodd. He has worked on some of the biggest films, video games and TV shows in the world. Such a great teacher and incredible gentleman! The class was on mixing, breathing life into your virtual mixes and so much more. Really grateful for the opportunity! Always learning...
Wonderful members of the AWFC with John at his studio!
Thank you to Richard Kraft and Sarah Kovacs of Kraft-Engel Management
We had an amazing seminar this week at KEM organized by Miriam Mayer, Dan at KEM and myself. Richard Kraft and Sarah Kovacs generously donated their time to a group of composers from the AWFC and Perspective Forum.
When I analyzed the spreadsheets we completed at the Forum - all the feature films that had theatrical release in 2016, and all the television shows that aired - women composers made up about 3% in both worlds. How to address this and bump that percentage up? There need to be more women running the marathon. Richard and Sarah are doing what they can to help encourage that into reality.
We talked about life, attitudes, shifting perspectives, expectations, music, demos, applying to score feature films, gratitude, helping others - so many incredible topics covered. It was funny and wild and wonderful. So much composing talent packed into one room, I kiiiiind of couldn't handle it - many of my personal heroines. Thank you Miriam for your initiative and drive and pizza. Thank you again Richard and Sarah for giving so much to our community.
Hans Zimmer Masterclass
I was super duper excited to see that Hans Zimmer is offering an online Masterclass, and I signed up almost as soon as I saw the notification pop up in my Facebook feed. The class started TODAY! I've only been through the first lesson, an intro video from Hans, but just looking over the course materials and lessons, I'm really looking forward to everything I will learn. Thank you Hans for this incredible opportunity!
Learn more at https://www.masterclass.com/hz
HAPPY 85TH BIRTHDAY JOHN WILLIAMS!
Many of you know that most of the reason I became a musician, a pianist and then a composer is because of the great maestro of our time, John Williams. Today is his 85th birthday and I want to send a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY out there into the world for him. Words can't explain how much I adore him, so these links to some of my favorite examples of his work will have to speak to that love! Hope you're having a wonderful day with your family, sir!
One of the most heart-breaking themes ever written - "Where Dreams Are Born" from "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" composed by John Williams. Vocal solo by soprano Barbara Bonney.
Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) John Williams 1997 N°6 : The Asteroid Field
The Book Thief original score by John Williams - Track 01. 'One Small Fact'
"Jane Eyre" is a suite of three pieces from a score that John Williams composed in 1971. The movements are called "At Lowood", "To Thornfield" and "The Return". The suite was performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by Williams in 1987.
You Are The Pan - Hook
Unbelievable.
This scene takes me to another level every time.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group North America A Tree For My Bed (From The "Jurassic Park" Soundtrack) · John Williams Jurassic Park ℗ 1993 Geffen Records Released on: 1993-01-01 Producer: John Williams Composer: John Williams Music Publisher: Music Corporation of America, Inc. Auto-generated by YouTube.
End Credits (The Dance of the Witches Reprise) John Williams The Witches of Eastwick (1987) 14 of 14
Alternative Markets Seminar - Thank You to the SCL!
I am truly grateful to Adryan Russ and the SCL for inviting me to speak on this wonderful panel. From L to R: Brad Kelley, Patty Silversher, Michael Silversher, me and Adryan Russ. It was an interesting, funny, informative evening. The SCL is a fantastic organization that I am proud to be a member of. I was happy to see old friends, meet new ones and put some very familiar names to faces!
Upcoming SCL Seminar
SCL SEMINAR: MAKING A LIVING IN ALTERNATIVE MARKETS
Thanks to Adryan Russ and the SCL for inviting me to represent 5 Alarm and the production music industry on an incredible panel, at AFI this Thursday. I look forward to interesting discussion with legends Michael and Patti Silversher and Brad Kelley! Here's a showreel that we created to give the crowd a sense of what 5 Alarm does...all custom examples by yours truly!
The Empty Womb
Earlier this week, I turned in my score for "The Empty Womb" to director Betsy Chasse. This is a powerful short documentary about artist Robbi Firestone's emotional art installation exploring infertility. The score, using solo piano and strings, plays with the shifting darkness and light that fueled Robbi's work, and was a joy to write. "An 'emotional exorcism,' The Empty Womb speaks difficult core truths about infertility, bravery, devastation…and recovery. The installation unites us in reverence for what is inherent, inherited, and bone-deep among all women." Thank you to all the incredible women involved in this project.
http://betsychasse.net/the-empty-womb/
Welcome to my new site
Watch this space!
