When a musician is firing on all cylinders, it can be a thing of beauty. Time and again, we’ve been in awe of the raw power and supreme control of soloists, bands or even a full orchestra. How they elicit emotion and really move the mercury is attributed to their skill, and in many cases they can become immortal with just a single note. When they’re on, they’re on, and you’ll remember the sound forever. That brings us to our guest today. With lightning fast fingers, Ultraboss (the moniker for Austria-based PJ D’Atri) is one of the best shredders on the planet. However, his compositions are even more lethal and…
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Interview…Writer/Director Dante Briggins on Authenticity, Work Ethic, and “Who Dat” The JT Money Story’
As film fans, we are always rooting for an underdog. Whether it’s a movie about sports or academia, anyone who fights and then rises against the odds has our full attention. It’s a very universal story when you gain something rather than being gifted it. We’ve been running this site for 15+ years, and understand that it takes knocking on a lot of doors to get any traction or attention. I’ve written several editorial posts to talk about how lucky we are (after a lot of work), to bring home some amazing interviews and entertainment opportunities. I would never say that we were a success, but have been happy with…
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Interview…Director Simon West on Character, Action and Car Loads of Excitement
Simon West knows a thing or two about action. More importantly, he’s proficient at capturing engaging performances set against explosions galore. His latest is a grounded affair, one where the jokes are good but the bullets are real. Compared to the likes of Con Air and The Expendables 2, it’s a quieter film that does less to glamorize assassins, and more to humanize them. In the film, Christoph Waltz plays Danny Dolinski, the titular “old guy” who is asked to train a young protege, any story about a hitman (of any age) will certainly have its fair share of sizzle, snark and a sniper rifle. Enjoy this chat with Simon…
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Interview…Composer Jared DePasquale on Deep Dives Into Audio Soundscapes
For nearly thirty years Jared DePasquale has composed the musical scores for some of Western culture’s most celebrated stories and iconic characters. The recipient of numerous awards and critical acclaim, his work is widely recognized for its ability to musically capture complex characters amidst stories that are rich in texture and meaning. Early in his career, Jared apprenticed under Emmy and ASCAP Award winning composer Joseph LoDuca. With LoDuca, Jared learned the business of composing for A-list projects including the globally syndicated television shows Xena: The Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Immediately following his apprenticeship, Jared scored several horror films for Full Moon Pictures and Rapid Heart Pictures…
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Interview…Harry Gregson-Williams on the Vocals, Violence and Variety in ‘Gladiator II’
As film score fans, the only thing we love more than revisiting our favorite scores is when a sequel happens and a composer gets to take the themes into new territory. As such, our guest today has expanded not only his own work but many other composers’ efforts. Scan through the site, and you’ll see that we are very fond of Harry Gregson-Williams, and it’s always a treat catching up with him to talk shop. While any acoustic endeavor might be intimidating, how could one even start thinking about working on a sequel to Gladiator?? It’s a perfect film that resounds to this day, and that goes double for its…
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Interview…Volker Bertelmann on the Comfort and Chaos Between the Quiet Moments in ‘Conclave’
One of the best films of 2024 is Conclave, and it will certainly top many critics’ top 10 lists. It’s a quiet narrative that doesn’t have a lot going on on the surface, but that’s the beauty of Edward Berger‘s film: what you don’t see is the most interesting part of the story. In a way, it’s very much like a duck whose feet are swimming feverously under the water to get to its destination. The film is utterly gorgeous – the sets, locations and costumes dazzle – and in a story about holy men serving an ideal, we get to see crisis of conscience, infighting and scheming behind the…
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Interview…Composer Aaron Zigman on the Compelling Compassion to ‘Six Triple Eight’
American composer and pianist Aaron Zigman has written more than 70 Hollywood film scores. Firmly established as one of Hollywood’s go-to composers, his film career was launched in 2000, when director Nick Cassavetes heard his work and asked him to collaborate on six films, including the romantic cult classic The Notebook, for which the composer’s score sold a record number of albums. Other box-office hits include Bridge to Terabithia, The Proposal, For Colored Girls, The Company Men, Wakefield,and the Sex and the City franchise. Similarly distinguished in television, Zigman has penned songs for shows including the popular series Fame and the Showtime TV movie Crown Heights, for which his setting…
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Interview…Director Mika Simmons on the Color, Comedy and Character of ‘My Week With Maisy’
As the year winds down, we’ve been trying to catch up with those creatives whose stories have surprised, entertained or delighted us. In the realm of short films, 2024 featured so many personal endeavors and original tales that shine a light on the human experience. And what more universal story can you ask for, especially this time of year, than a narrative about someone finding their heart thawing? It can be as satisfying for the characters as it is for the audience, and such is the case with Mika Simmons‘ latest directorial effort. In My Week With Maisy, we are introducing to Mrs. Foster (played by Dame Joanna Lumley) as…
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Interview…Director Martin Campbell on ‘Dirty Angels’ and Favorite Action Scenes of His Career
Whenever we enter the holiday season, I tend to think of the many amazing opportunities the site has been offered over the years. It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the release schedule, and I for one am so thankful for experiences on the press tours. And since 2011, we’ve spent time with numerous creative talents talking about their craft on projects big and small. Some are our heroes, others are bucket list gets, some may be totally new territory, but all are welcome. At the very least, they are fun and informative. At best, they have become industry friends with whom we’ve chatted on several…
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Interview…Composer Andrew Lockington on the Inspiration and Sonic Theatricality of the ‘Landman’ Series
Whether it’s a studio action film or an indie festival film, Composer Andrew Lockington‘s music demonstrates his approach to scoring each project in a unique way by finding a musical language to communicate the relationships and elements of the story that visuals cannot. Andrew’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of film scoring has inspired him to record in places such as the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the tropics of Costa Rica, an ancient temple in Northern Japan, a volcano in Polynesia, and an abandoned subway station beneath central London. His recent projects include the epic Sci-Fi feature Atlas starring Jennifer Lopez with longtime collaborator director Brad Peyton, as well as several…
