Film Score Friday 8/4/00
by Lukas Kendall
Danny Elfman has been signed to score Tim Burton's upcoming remake of
Planet of the Apes for 20th Century Fox.
Tim Russ (Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager) will be performing songs
from his new album on GNP/Crescendo Records this Sunday at The Mint, 6010
West Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, 90035. (323) 954-9630. Tickets $5.00, 8 pm.
Russ has been touring with Neil Norman and his Cosmic Orchestra.
The New York Times just had a feature on Carter Burwell and his custom-designed
apartment in Manhattan's West Village: http://www.nytimes.com/library/home/080300carter-burwell.html.
(You will have to register with their website to view the article.)
Visit composer Joe Kraemer's official website at www.joekraemer.com
for information on his upcoming score to The Way of the Gun, coming
on CD August 22 from Milan. The film was written and directed by Christopher
McQuarrie, writer of The Usual Suspects.
See http://www.johnottman.com
for an update on Ottman's upcoming Urban Legends: Final Cut, which
he has directed as well as scored. Apparently there will be a CD forthcoming
of Ottman's unused score to Cruel Intentions.
Film Scoring at Film Festival
Mark your calendars if you're in the Seattle area on Labor Day:
From: Warren Etheridge filmfest@onereel.org>
Just wanted to give you a "heads up" about a program I
have put together for the upcoming 1 Reel Film Festival -- the nation's
best-attended celebration of short cinema.
Here's the deal...
HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2000 4:45-5:30
(Interview Stage)
In his 20-year career in the movies, Mark Isham has worked with
more talented directors than most A-list actors. Robert Redford, Robert
Altman, William Friedkin, Keith Gordon, Sidney Lumet and Jodie Foster are
just a few auteurs who've sought out the services of Mr. Isham - who's
now scored over 70 Hollywood features. He was nominated for an Oscar®
for his impassioned underscore for A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT and has consistently
won praise for his work in both film and television.
Most notably, Mr. Isham's teamed with celebrated director Alan Rudolph
on nine films including THE MODERNS, MRS. PARKER & THE VICIOUS CIRCLE,
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS and the recently released, TRIXIE. They first partnered
on TROUBLE IN MIND in 1985.
Mr. Isham & Mr. Rudolph will explore the collaborative Art of
scoring films - from spotting to mixing - with composer Hummie Mann, whose
own impressive credits include YEAR OF THE COMET, DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING
IT and this summer's runaway kid-hit, THOMAS & THE MAGIC RAILROAD
Be there... or B flat.
The 1 Reel Film Festival is part of the 30th Anniversary Bumbershoot
Arts festival, held every Labor Day weekend in Seattle, Washington.
For more details you -- or any member of the general, interested
public may contact me at filmfest@onereel.org or via phone at 206.281.7788
x217. For ticket info, check out www.bumbershhot.org
or call 206.281-8111
Goldsmith Fans Concert Criticism
From: "Rafi Youngerwood" <jabe@brijnet.org>
Being educated by your readers on the virtues of Jerry Goldsmith,
I have taken increased notice of his music and found myself booking for
the second of the two concerts he was conducting at the Barbican, London.
I even managed to get myself quite excited in the run up to the concert
which consisted of suites from his science fiction repetoire.
When the day came I got to the concert hall rather early to hear
an interview which was quite interesting. However it was at this point
that I got a whiff of something rather uncomforting - my fellow ticket
holders.
As I was sitting very near the front rows I thought (from the conversations
I overheard) that, now how do I put this politely, they were all bloody
mad!
Liking Jerry Goldsmith is one thing but setting up some sort of
shrine dedicated to him is another. People were actually complaining that
on certain cds of his filmwork which claimed to be complete scores they
had missed 5 seconds in one scene. There is a difference between a completist
and a complete idiot. Lopping off 5 seconds from a complete score (at worst
will make me think about it for 3 seconds and then forget the fact) is
not a heated debating point especially when it did not add to the score
(which I also overheard).
I get very enthusiastic about the music I love but I don't allow
such "phobias" of a lost 5 seconds as a criticism of a cd release.
My enthusiasm for the concert was somewhat dampened since I did
not want to be in the company of such "fans".
The concert was rather disappointing for this fact and also because
Mr Goldsmith exuded such little enthusiasm as did the orchestra - I think
he realized that he was only preaching to the converted - there was no
one to impress, the appluase would have been granted if he farted on stage
- only to have the criticism that the fart was not as atonal as the recording
by the people in my row.
This is not a criticism of Jerry - I considered his music to The
Mummy to be the best new soundtrack of last year and I do appreciate his
work more - but it his loyal subjects who follow his every move however
bad who leave a sour taste in my mouth.
Wow! Take that soundtrack collectors.
Jaws Unused Track
Mystery solved!
From: "Shold, Kyle" <kyles@humongous.com>
On the brand new expanded release of JAWS there has been much speculation
about track 5 and where it is was originally meant to be in the movie.
Since this cue is not used in the movie, at least not all of it, there
was a question of whether it was composed for the attack on young Alex
Kintner or if it was designed around the gruesome death of shark hunter
Quint aboard his boat. Even Jeff Bond was unsure in his June 7th daily
article what it was for. Well, wonder no more.
This past weekend I decided to try and match up the music from this
new release with the new DVD release of the movie. For some reason I just
didn't see it being right for the Alex Kintner killing so I skipped right
to Quint's demise. I first watched the scene as it is with out music to
see where I would start the CD playing. To my surprise you can actually
hear the first few seconds of the 'Shark Attack' cue right before the shark
bursts out of the water and lands on the boat. So I made a mental note
of where it begins and then turned off the movie sound and started the
CD player. I hit play on the DVD and when it got to the right point I played
track 5. Not only did the track match perfectly to the final edit but it
was one of the most amazing moments I have ever had watching a movie. With
just the music blasting and the movie playing silently (like an isolated
score track) I was completely enthralled. It was so incredibly spectacular
that I found that after it was over I had been holding by breath the entire
time, had goose bumps and I thought I was going to pass out. Just like
after you've been in a fight and the adrenaline stops flowing and your
heart is racing and your legs are rubber. This is how I felt after watching
the one minute sequence. This track is one of the most violent pieces of
music ever and when it is matched to the action on screen it takes your
breath away, literally.
If you're looking for a rush of adrenaline I suggest trying this
yourself. I think you'll be extremely surprised. I still like the scene
with out music, but this still something to experience. Many other tracks
on the CD match the movie edits perfectly but the other one that stood
out was track 11, 'Man against Beast.' This was fantastic as well. It may
take a couple tries to get it right but it's well worth it.
PS- 'Shark Attack' is also used one of the trailers included on
the DVD.
Thanks! I just got this DVD myself. What a fantastic thing to have along
with the new CD.
From: Randy, DSPY007@aol.com
Hands down, the best summer movie of the year......"Jaws".
Nothing has been able to touch it since. Remember the days when a movie
made a lot of money it was generally a good or great movie with something
unique about it. Star Wars, Raiders, The Exorcist, even The Sound of Music
for Christ's sake were among the fair. Today we see "Scary Movie"
take in 100 million dollars. This is very strange to me. It just shows
you how much the entertainment industry has changed and what kind of or
age group audiences dominate film attendance. It's a different world. Unfortunately
not for the better in the way of entertainment. Oh, God, I'm getting old.
CD Reviews
New coverage of FSM CDs:
Tora Tora Tora
reviewed at Cinema Concerto: http://members.aol.com/marcgothic/tora.html
The Omega
Man reviewed at Music from the Movies: http://home6.swipnet.se/~w-67269/pages/soundtrackframe_4.html
And don't forget John Williams fans! We have a brand new, never before
available John(ny) Williams CD now available: A
Guide for the Married Man.
Happy weekend!
MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com
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