UPCOMING SOUNDTRACK RELEASES - FSM, MovieScore Media

Film Score Monthly - TIME AFTER TIME (Miklos Rozsa, February)

MovieScore Media - JCVD (Gast Waltzing, February 17th), THE SECRET OF MOONACRE (Christian Henson, March 17th)

LATEST SOUNDTRACK RELEASES

CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE - Max Steiner (TFC-1005, 2 CDs)
DARK RIDE - Kostas Christides (BSXCD 8848) - 45:18
MAX AND HELEN / OASIS - Christopher Young (BSXCD 8847)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - A.R. Rahman (Interscope 1250202)
THE SPIRIT - David Newman (Silva 1283)

LATEST SOUNDTRACK RELEASES

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA - John Carpenter, Alan Howarth (La-La Land LLLCD 1086, 2 CDs)
THE DEAD POOL - Lalo Schifrin (Aleph 42)
THE GOLDEN SEAL - John Barry, Dana Kaproff (Intrada Special Collection Volume 89) - 61:59

THE BAFTA NOMINATIONS IN THE MUSIC CATEGORY

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced their latest nominations. The contenders in the Music category are:


THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON - Alexandre Desplat
THE DARK KNIGHT - Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard
MAMMA MIA! - Benny Anderson, Bjorn Ulvaeus
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - A.R. Rahman
WALL-E - Thomas Newman

CHRISTOPHER LENNERTZ SCORES 'ADAM'

(Los Angeles, CA) Award-winning composer CHRISTOPHER LENNERTZ scores ADAM, the romantic dramedy, directed and written by Max Mayer (BETTER LIVING). The film is a unique love story about a young man named Adam who is affected by Asperger’s, a high functioning form of autism. ADAM will debut as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance on Monday, January 19 at 12:15p.m. in the Eccles Theatre, Park City.

For this film, Lennertz creates a simple theme reflective of Adam’s life; as Adam’s life becomes more complex so does the music. Lennertz wanted to use a record-like ensemble, with a Beatles influence, rather than a large, score-like orchestra. The ensemble consists of a guitar, upright piano, cello, bass, drums, mellotron, marimba, celeste, and a bansuri (eastern wind instrument). A small six piece string section is added on a few cues to enhance the romantic scenes. Lennertz uses some unusual techniques, like reversing harmonic guitar notes and lowering the pitch of the bansuri, to create some otherworldly textures (to underscore Adams love of astronomy). He uses affected, organic sounds, such as looped heavy breathing, scraped detuned dulcimers, bowed copper bowls, and backwards finger cymbals, to create atmospheres when Adam experiences moments of terror and panic due to his condition. Lennertz plays some guitar, all of the electronic, and odd processed instruments on the score.

Lennertz’s musical talents transcend from film to TV to videogames. His score for the CW’s SUPERNATURAL earned him an Emmy nomination, and he received the Interactive Achievement Award for his score to MEDAL OF HONOR: RISING SUN. Additional film, TV and videogame credits include: SOUL PLANE in which he collaborated with RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), Fox’s ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, TORTILLA HEAVEN (collaborating with Ozomatli), Fox’s BRIMSTONE, THE SIMPSONS GAME (nominated for Best Action Game at the 1UP Awards); and MTV’s TOUGH ENOUGH which appeared on the Billboard’s top 100 charts for weeks. Lennertz’s powerful, full orchestral score for the Stephen Spielberg-created videogame, MEDAL OF HONOR: RISING SUN, led him to score more MEDAL OF HONOR games as well as the popular JAMES BOND videogame. Christopher Lennertz’s upcoming projects include THE OPEN ROAD starring Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges, and Warner Bros.’ CATS AND DOGS.

JOHN DEBNEY SCORES 'HOTEL FOR DOGS'

(Hollywood, CA) Award-winning composer JOHN DEBNEY scores DreamWorks and Nickelodeon (Hollywood, CA) Award-winning composer JOHN DEBNEY scores DreamWorks and Nickelodeon Movies’ film HOTEL FOR DOGS, directed by Thor Freudenthal. The family comedy stars Lisa Kudrow, Don Cheadle, Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin. Debney’s score to Hotel for Dogs is a playful blend of eclectic instruments and rich melodies. From "Friday's Theme" to the grand "Hotel Theme," the score reflects the fun and whimsy of the film. Debney recorded the score at the Eastwood Stage located at Warner Bros. studio with a 90 piece orchestra and acoustic guitars.

Recently Debney completed the score to THE STONING OF SORAYA M., (adapted from the New York Times best seller) which received critical acclaim at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. His other credits include THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, for which he received an Oscar nomination; IDLEWILD, a Prohibition-era musical starring the duo Outkast and featuring famed trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; the animated films BARNYARD and CHICKEN LITTLE; the comic-book inspired SIN CITY, and the comedies ELF and LIAR, LIAR.

Debney’s ability to deliver the perfect score in a wide variety of films has made him one of the most sought after composers in Hollywood. For Garry Marshall, Debney scored the black comedy, GEORGIA RULE, PRINCESS DIARIES 1 & 2, and RAISING HELEN; for Tom Shadyac, he scored BRUCE ALMIGHTY and EVAN ALMIGHTY.

In addition to an Academy Award nomination, John Debney has received several Emmy awards, a Dove award for THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, a CUE award for the score to the videogame LAIR and several gold and platinum selling albums, including THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and THE PRINCESS DIARIES. Debney was the youngest recipient of the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for Career Achievement, and has conducted concerts of his music with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe.

In HOTEL FOR DOGS, a pair of orphaned siblings, Andi (Roberts) and Bruce (Austin), are forbidden by their foster parents to have a pet. The kids stumble upon an abandoned hotel and transform it into a dog-paradise for their dog Friday--and eventually for all Friday's friends. Barking dogs make the neighbors suspicious, and Andi and Bruce use every invention they have to avoid anyone discovering "who let the dogs in."

AUSTIN WINTORY SCORES 'GRACE'

Los Angeles, CA – Film composer Austin Wintory returns to the Sundance Film Festival with his score for the psychological thriller Grace, the feature film debut of writer/director Paul Solet. Austin Wintory is currently receiving critical acclaim for his score to Academy Award contender Captain Abu Raed, which won the Audience Award at Sundance last year. At just 26 years old, Wintory has already been BAFTA nominated and last year was presented an award for “Best New Film Composer.” Grace will be shown as part of the Park City at Midnight series, premiering Friday, January 16, at 11:59 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre.

Wintory’s role in the production of Grace went a step further than that of a typical composer. As a friend of director Paul Solet, Wintory was involved with the film very early on. Before any filming occurred, Wintory wrote 20 minutes of music based on the script, and then flew to the set to play the music for the actors and discuss their characters. None of that music was ever meant to be part of the score; Wintory wrote entirely new music for the finished film.

For his Grace score, Wintory took an experimental approach. The score consists of manipulated sounds, including recordings of creaking floorboards on the set, a baby crying and flies buzzing. Wintory even used traditional instruments in non-traditional ways, weaving a piece of plastic through the strings of a cello and assembling the largest group of clarinets ever recorded in London at Abbey Road. The score also features vocalist Lisbeth Scott (Captain Abu Raed, Passion of the Christ). Scott wrote lyrics to the lullaby sung by the mother, which is repeated as a theme sung by Scott throughout the score. “I have no intention of ever working with another composer,” said Solet.

Austin Wintory taught himself how to compose, orchestrate and conduct in high school, before attending NYU and USC. His first short film at NYU won a local scoring competition and premiered at New York’s Lincoln Center. At USC, Wintory studied under Golden Globe nominated composer Christopher Young (The Shipping News, Spider-Man 3). In the three years since beginning his professional career, Wintory received a BAFTA nomination for the videogame flOw, was named “Best New Film Composer” at the Hollywood Music Awards and is listed as an Oscar contender for Captain Abu Raed by the Los Angeles Times. His upcoming film projects include the comedy Knuckle Dragger and dark drama The Sunset Sky.

Grace stars Jordan Ladd as a pregnant woman who loses her unborn child though a sudden tragic accident. She carries the stillborn baby to term, where she miraculously wills the delivered corpse into life. But it is not too long before the increasingly isolated mother realizes that something is not right with baby Grace, and she must make horrible sacrifices to keep her living.

THE 2009 GOLDEN GLOBE WINNERS

Best Motion Picture - Drama
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Motion Picture - Comedy
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Performance By An Actress In a Motion Picture – Drama
Kate Winslet ("Revolutionary Road")

Best Performance By An Actor In a Motion Picture – Drama
Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler")

Best Performance By An Actress In a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Sally Hawkins ("Happy-Go-Lucky")

Best Performance By An Actor In a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Colin Farrell ("In Bruges")

Best Performance By An Actress In a Supporting Role In a Motion Picture
Kate Winslet ("The Reader")

Best Performance By An Actor In a Supporting Role In a Motion Picture
Heath Ledger ("The Dark Knight")

Best Director - Motion Picture
Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire")

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire")

Best Animated Feature Film
Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
R. Rahman ("Slumdog Millionaire")

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
"The Wrestler" from "The Wrestler"

Best Television Series – Drama
Mad Men

Best Performance By An Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Anna Paquin ("True Blood")

Best Performance By An Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Gabriel Byrne ("In Treatment")

Best Television Series – Comedy/Musical
30 Rock

Best Performance By An Actress in a Television Series –Comedy/Musical
Tina Fey ("30 Rock")

Best Performance By An Actor in a Television Series – Comedy/Musical
Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock")

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie
John Adams (HBO)

Best Performance By An Actress In a Mini-Series/TV Movie
Laura Linney ("John Adams")

Best Performance By An Actor In a Mini-Series/TV Movie
Paul Giamatti ("John Adams")

Best Performance By An Actress In a Supporting Role In a Series/Mini-Series/TV Movie
Laura Dern ("Recount")

Best Performance By An Actor In a Supporting Role In a Series/Mini-Series/TV Movie
Tom Wilkinson ("John Adams")

WINIFRED PHILLIPS Scores 'SimAnimals'

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that award-winning composer Winifred Phillips will score the theme music for the newest IP in The Sims™ family, SimAnimals™. Winner of four Game Audio Network Guild Awards, Phillips has been repeatedly recognized for her contributions to videogames, TV and radio. Most recently she was nominated for a Hollywood Music Award for her work on Speed Racer: The Videogame. Now, her talents will be used to make the forest come alive in SimAnimals!

“Our goal was to give a unique and sophisticated voice to the game,” said Robi Kauker, Audio Director for The Sims Label. “Drawing inspiration from pieces like Prokofiev’s Peter and The Wolf, we found the context of the game gave us plenty of opportunity for the timelessness of the orchestra’s instruments and the rich range of Winifred’s compositions.”

In SimAnimals, you can venture into the wild world of animals like never before. You have the power to reach out and touch, pick up and move everything in the forest from squirrels and foxes to trees and flowers. As you journey deeper and deeper into the forest, you can feed a bear what he craves, pick up a rabbit or a hedgehog and bring him to his friends or water your favorite tree and watch it grow. Throughout your voyage you will make new animal friends and discover what other creatures lurk in the wild. In SimAnimals, you have the ability to engage wild animals, experience life in the forest and run the wild!

Your journey through the forest is comprised of many small musical moments that combine as the soundtrack. Each location starts off with a unique score, from strains of Celtic music for ancient castle ruins to the funky groove of the old junkyard. Small melodies of solo orchestra instruments underscore the big events of the animals’ lives and fully orchestrated moments define the player’s choices in the world. The music is designed to ground the complexities of the animal’s life in the human scale of emotions. As the fortunes of the world reflect the player’s interactions and creative, fun and mischievous choices, the music gives voice to a forest rejoicing or suffering. When the individual animals are in distress due to neglect, the music calls out, and during moments of pure happiness, like the arrival of a new born, the music shares the tender warmth.

“We are very excited about the caliber of music being included in SimAnimals. We needed the music to reflect the status and mood of the game and Winifred has nailed that with her score,” said Sam Player, Executive Producer of SimAnimals. “As you move through the game, you will hear how your choices are affecting the forest through the music, whether that be upbeat and light when the forest is happy or dramatic and dark when the forest is not so happy.“

Phillips is an American music composer for video games and radio as well as a published fantasy author. Working with music producer Winnie Waldron, Phillips has written music for the video games Shrek the Third, The Da Vinci Code, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and God of War. Her work on the God of War video game received an Interactive Achievement Award in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition” from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.

“It is extremely inspiring for my music producer Winnie Waldron and I to be involved in a blockbuster project like SimAnimals, where the music sets the tone for the entire user experience,” said Phillips. “Working on a brand new game allows me to have creative control over the sound from the start with nothing to compare it to, which is invigorating and quite an honor.”

UPCOMING SOUNDTRACK RELEASES - Varèse Sarabande, Nonesuch, La-La Land

Varèse Sarabande - THE INTERNATIONAL (Johnny Klimek, Reinhold Heil, February 3rd), THE LAZARUS PROJECT (Brian Tyler, February 3rd), TAKING CHANCE (Marcelo Zarvos, February 24th)

Nonesuch - REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (Thomas Newman, January 30th)

La-La Land - February 15th: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (John Carpenter, Alan Howarth, 2 CDs), THE LIBRARIAN: THE CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE (Joseph LoDuca)

SHAWN CLEMENT SCORES 'QUANTUM QUEST'

Clement to Record Original Score at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch

(Hollywood,CA) Award-winning film composer SHAWN CLEMENT to score the much anticipated 3-D, CGI, sci-fi film QUANTUM QUEST. The film boasts an all-star cast including sci-fi film icons Chris Pine, Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Amanda Peet, Robert Picardo, Brent Spiner, James Earl Jones, William Shatner, Mark Hamill, and Astronaut Neil Armstrong. Clement’s Sci-Fi music credits include such projects as BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and BATMAN: RISE OF SIN TZU. He will record his original score for QUANTUM QUEST at George Lucas’ legendary Skywalker Ranch in April. QUANTUM QUEST premieres in theaters in late 2009.

QUANTUM QUEST is a new 3-D, computer animated, large format, action-adventure film that interweaves animated sequences with actual space imagery captured from seven ongoing NASA and NASA/ESA space missions. QUANTUM QUEST takes place in an atomic world, where the forces of the Core and the forces of the Void battle for the fate of the universe. The Core is a kind being, who lives inside all suns; his children are protons, photons, and neutrinos. The Void is that which existed before the Big Bang; he hates everything and everyone in the universe for invading his nothingness. The Void has an army of anti-matter that he uses to try and destroy the forces of the Core. QUANTUM QUEST centers on the story of Dave, a young photon, who is forced out of the Sun on a journey of discovery. Dave must get to the Cassini Space Craft and save it from the forces of the Void.

Shawn Clement is credited with establishing the definitive dramatic musical style of the reality genre format; his efforts have earned him ASCAP Film & TV Music Awards. Clement’s music has set the tone for the voyeuristic sensations including AMERICAN IDOL, NEWLYWEDS: NICK & JESSICA, SNOOP DOGG’S FATHER HOOD, MY SUPER SWEET 16 and HOGAN KNOWS BEST.

A multifaceted composer, Clement’s film credits include WE MARRIED MARGO and LAST CHANCE. His television credits also include such phenomenas as BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and QUEER EYE. Shawn Clement has expanded his musical palette to include video games. His music has set the gaming tone for hit titles including OPEN SEASON, THE SIMS 2 and BATMAN: RISE OF SIN TZU.