There’s a saying that not all heroes wear capes. By that token, you can say that not all superstars get to the big time. Such is the case for the highly enjoyable, rousing and emotional story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a married musical duo called Lightning & Thunder. The couple are true “everyman” entertainers whose dreams and talent were never limited by their resources or their place in the world. Written and directed by Craig Brewer, Song Sung Blue gives the beloved Wisconsin-based act their big screen treatment. While they are far from the Hollywood Bowl, the very fact that this film exists is a testament to the perseverance…
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Interview…Kangding Ray on the Raw and Explosive Power of Music in Oliver Laxe’s ‘Sirât’
If you’ve been on the festival circuit this year, it’s likely you’ve heard about Sirât. The bold, tragic and unforgettable film by Spanish director Oliver Laxe was the winner of the Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. And while it was collecting praise and laurels, composer Kangding Ray (aka David Lettelier) received the award for Best Original Score. People will, fairly, relate this to Mad Max: Fury Road, but it’s more apt to say this walks among other dour narratives like Wake In Fright, Valhalla Rising, and The Mosquito Coast. A two-hour visual and auditory trance, Sirât is incredible. Laxe gives us a world full of grit and…
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[Fantastic Fest Interview]…High Kicks and Furious Fists with Nik Pelekai & Jacob Stauff
The year is winding down quickly, and as we look back through the entertainment cornucopia of 2025, it was all pretty awesome. We had a slew of sensational experience in theaters, at home, and with creatives on multiple press junkets. And the best part about getting to interview people who make the things we love is when the conversation is as fun as the film. So enter director/writer Nik Pelekai and co-writer Jacob Stauff who brought their film to Fantastic Fest in September – if you’re gonna share something wild and hard-hitting with the world, this is the place to do it. Penance starts off with a bang, and even…
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Interview…Thomas Jane on Wide Open Spaces Acting in ‘Frontier Crucible’
When it comes to film, “character actors” and “leading men” are usually two very distinct and disparate roles. It is only the scant few thespians who can consistently work in both worlds and dance between them seamlessly. To that end, you might call Thomas Jane unique or, better, a unicorn. Actually, he’s so good at diving into a character that when he’s on, it’s like watching a unicorn run through a field of four-leaf clovers heading for a pot of gold under a rainbow. Part of what adds to TJ’s charisma and career longevity is that he has plenty of interests outside of acting. One of them is comics and…
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Interview…Composer Benjamin Wallfisch on Predators, Aliens and Clowns
It’s a good bet that if a film sticks with you, it’s because of the score. While it doesn’t do all the heavy lifting, a theme can pump a narrative full of so much intangible energy that it is basically a character in the story. So when a composer taps into the feature at hand, they can deliver some of the most impacting sounds you’ll ever hear. And those notes don’t just hit you in the feels, they echo in eternity. Benjamin Wallfisch is one such artist whose sonic blankets literally bring films and television to life. We chatted with him years ago to discuss A Cure For Wellness as…
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Interview…Dave Porter Gets Into Mysterious Musical Headspace with ‘Pluribus’
Composer Dave Porter brings his orchestral, rhythmically intricate, and emotionally resonant sound to Vince Gilligan‘s mysterious new series on Apple TV+. Porter, Gilligan’s longtime collaborator, crafted a score that mirrors the moral ambiguity, psychological tension, and humanity at the heart of the story. With a career spanning landmark television, feature films, and innovative orchestral projects, he continues to redefine the possibilities of scoring for the screen. The score for Pluribus (which premiered on November 7) emphasizes the stakes and shifting dynamics of the shows characters. The score blends orchestral textures with a small-scale choir to highlight the series’ unpredictable narrative. Porter’s work is incredibly essential to the nuance of Gilligan‘s…
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Interview…Nina Bergman on Acting, Dancing and Rocking Out with ‘Deathstalker’
One of the treats we found at this year’s Fantastic Fest is writer-director Steven Kostanski‘s remake of Deathstalker. The fantasy film is one of a handful of efforts reviving beloved and/or obscure films from the last forty years. Kostanski has a knack and fondness for practical effects and he makes nearly everything himself – talk about putting yourself in your work. He inspires others whether it’s the cast or composers and it’s because his films come down to one thing: fun. It is evident Steven is a fan of Army of Darkness, Willow, Ghostbusters and plenty more films with standout monsters of that era. With Deathstalker, he’s outdone himself in…
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Interview…Laura Karpman on Maximalism, Making Her Own Brand of Music, and Letting the World Catch Up
If you’re a film score fan, you are sure to have your favorite composers as well as a collection of soundtracks that mean a lot to you. Over time, if you listen to any musician’s output you’ll notice grooves and rhythms that some refer to as a calling card. Whether it is the repeat use of an instrument, a style of music they play or the “Horner snarl”, a Goldsmith score is a Goldsmith score, a Williams score is a Williams score, and so on. Now what perks up our ears is when the music we hear is not easily discernible. Is that Doyle or Jackman, is that Shapiro or…
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Interview…Richard Kaufman Conducts ‘Pops Through Time’ for the Dallas Symphony
They say you can never go back, and most times that’s true. Buuut not when it comes to music. This year, the world-renowned Dallas Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 125th anniversary. This season, they are really pulling out the stops and having some fun. As we approach the holidays, what better way to put a little pep in your step than revisiting the most popular music that the DSO’s Pops fans have enjoyed over the years. We are thrilled to welcome back former Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, who served the DSO in that role for 14 years. He’ll dig into the vast treasure trove of beloved pops hits —…
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Interview…Rusanda Panfili on Serenity, Sincerity and Simply Stunning Strings
Many times, we can be in awe of artists. Why? Because they can do something that, for lack of a better word, seems like alchemy. Sure, their skill and prowess comes from dedication, focus, and decades of practice. Now whether that individual works with stone, strings or a symphony, just being present when they are “on the job” can be a life-changing experience. Let’s go back in time to September of last year when we were star-struck watching Hans Zimmer and crew (aptly named “The Disruptive Collective”) command the stage and leave thousands of film score fans in literal awe. While the music started in his mind, it was made…
