One of our favorite composers, and one we’ve been fortunate enough to speak with several times over the years, is Nathan Johnson. With each film score, he’s continually gained an audience with a signature and stylistic approach to his work. That’s partly because he and his cousin are a package deal. Nathan and long time collaborator, Rian Johnson, go way back…even before Brick. The two grew up on the East Coast bringing their stories to life any way they could, hoping to one day break into the biz. Well, they did, and in a very big way. Thanks to titles like Looper, The Last Jedi, and now Knives Out, the…
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Music Review…’Metal Gear Solid’ on Vinyl is Simply Solid
In 1998, Metal Gear Solid took the world by storm with its story, and genre-bending gameplay. Even by today’s standards (standards it defined, let’s be honest), it is still tough to top. Really, everything about MGS raised the bar for continuing entries in the series as well as video games across the board. One major component helping cement Metal Gear Solid as a modern classic was the music which gave the entire adventure a cinematic presence. It was persistent, driving, ominous, and helped make it feel like the stakes were high, with danger literally around every corner. The music is a tapestry of bright and steely synths, complimented by a…
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Interview…Marvel Studios Concept Artist Anthony Francisco on ‘Avengers: Endgame’
When you go to the movies, the images on screen can bring out all sorts of emotions – excitement, intrigue, humor, fear, etc. Well, before even one frame of film is shot, a team of very talented concept artists works hard to imagine heroes, villains, costumes, vistas, scenes and settings that will one day light up the silver screen. Now as far as being wowed at the cineplex, it’s hard to get more amazing and spectacular than the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One above-mentioned concept artist adding to that experience is Anthony Francisco. His job, in short, is to give movie goers something they’ve never seen before. That’s…
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Editorial: What is the Perfect Summer Movie?
If you hadn’t noticed, the days are getting longer, and the heat just won’t quit. What does that mean? Looking at the calendar, today is the first day of Summer – a time when the world eases into that time-honored tradition of watching movies in the cool of the cinema. But what to watch? Something loud? Something scary or funny? For my money, I’m looking for the perfect Summer movie. Now, if you’ve been burned by trailers misrepresenting films or giving everything away, a perfect film is not an easy thing to find. What is the perfect Summer movie? The answer is up to you. To help answer that, I’m…
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Exclusive: Interview…Composer David Newman to Conduct 20th Anniversary Concert for ‘Galaxy Quest’
Next month, the San Diego Symphony will put on a live–to-picture performance of Galaxy Quest, the classic sci-fi comedy from 1999 starring Tim Allen, Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Rockwell and Tony Shaloub. What’s that you ask? Why would a symphony play the music to a comedy? Well, two reasons: One, it’s really great music to a really fun film. Two, it’s really great music written by David Newman. These days, orchestras know they have to inclusive – they can’t be exclusive – and there’s no benefit to being closed-minded. Orchestras used to just play the same canonical works, but now they have really embraced the popularity and the artistry…
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Interview…Mo Shafeek on Mondo’s Marvelous Vinyl Releases
At Mondo (the Austin-based boutique poster and music label), Record Label Production Manager, Mo Shafeek, is responsible for plenty of vinyl soundtracks and film scores you probably spin regularly. Shafeek is a veteran of company, a die-hard film fan and can wax poetic about anything horror, indie, or pop-culture related in the same breath. He’s also just one of two (two!) people producing and releasing a staggering amount of albums in any given calendar year. While 2019 celebrates the end of Marvel Studios’ eleven-year cinematic journey with Avengers: Endgame, Walt Disney Records and Mondo are starting something new. Both companies are working together to release a select number of exclusive…
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[TFF Interview]…Drew Denny on ‘Momster’, Bank Robbers and Narrative Ambitions
One of the noteworthy shorts playing Tribeca Film Festival this year is Drew Denny’s film, Momster. This female-led action-packed drama was created by the talented Writer/Director and her crew, led by all female department heads. The short itself was done as a proof of concept for something Drew wants to make into a feature. Essentially, it’s a kick-ass prequel and you’ll definitely want to see where this goes. While only 10-minutes and change (including credits), what’s impressive about Momster is that just a few seconds after hitting play, you feel like you’re dropped right in the middle of a Quentin Tarantino narrative. It’s that engrossing. Whether working for a major network,…
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The Matrix Revisited: Composer Don Davis Reveals Secrets from His Score to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of ‘The Matrix’
Editor’s Note: This post contains the introduction to an article I wrote specifically for The Hollywood Reporter. It was a great honor to work on a post about a film, and film score so dear to my heart. In this retrospective, composer Don Davis plugs back in to recall the lengths he took to satisfy the Wachowskis’ exacting vision. Click here to read the full article. Twenty years ago, The Matrix blew audiences away with its ground-breaking, generation-defining style. That was in tandem with substantive themes that were esoteric yet accessible. For every Hong Kong-styled wire fight, there was an equally engaging reference to Plato. One integral component to the success of…
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A Decade Full of Memories: The Life and Times of Go,See,Talk!
Hey, GST fans. Today is a special day in Internet history. I’m proud to share with you that it’s been a full decade since I started this site! For this anniversary/editorial post, I wanted to write more than a catch-all piece recapping highlights from the previous year. Well, there is some of that below, but I hope this look back can also offer a way forward – tips along with lessons learned – for aspiring film journalists or hobbyists like myself. In a way, I’m speaking to me in 2009, and on that note, I can’t help think of Christopher Lloyd’s famous line from Back to the Future, “My God. Has…
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Music Review…Mondo’s Stellar Release of Justin Hurwitz’s ‘First Man’ Score
In the span of just three scores, composer Justin Hurwitz has taken tremendous steps forward covering new ground in his musical career. The soundtrack to Damien Chazelle‘s First Man is tailored specifically to the film, but not necessarily the literal narrative beats. The film follows Neil Armstrong, and as such, it’s less about NASA as an organization and more about the titular “first man.” We get to witness all the mental, physical, psychological and spiritual tests that lead to his historic steps on the Moon. The film opens on a period in Armstong’s life that doesn’t really define or explain his demeanor and drive, but it sure focuses it. Some of the…
