Grammy and Emmy-nominated musician, Jeff Russo has become a prominent composer, songwriter and arranger in the film and television industry and recently finished composing music for two highly-anticipated television series: FX’s ten-episode limited series, Fargo (starring Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman and Colin Hanks) and Starz’s new original drama Power. Jeff Russo’s history as a guitarist influenced his process of scoring FX’s Fargo, for which he recently received an Emmy-nomination. At the panel Russo said that he looks at the dialogue as the lyrics of a song, and composes the score around what it is the characters are emulating in each scene. Russo’s work can also be heard in various…
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Interview…’My Brother Jack’ Writer/Director Stephen Dest
My Brother Jack, written and directed by Stephen Dest, revolves around the lives of two brothers as they attempt to cope with a tragedy from their youth that continues to affect their present lives. If you’re a New Englander, and also happen to be a fan of the theatre, you may be familiar with Dest through his work in a variety of stage productions with roles varying from writer and director to stage actor. In My Brother Jack, Dest uses his gift as a storyteller to create a multi-layered narrative – one that embodies classic film drama intertwined with elements of mystery and the psychological thriller. The film won numerous…
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Video Interview…’Calvary’ Writer/Director John Michael McDonagh
This week we got to speak with writer/director John Michael McDonagh about Fox Searchlight’s Calvary. It’s a fascinating character study and a pensive thriller that plays like a modernized Western. Essentially, as you’ll learn, McDonagh ripped off High Noon, but he does a wonderful job reworking the bones of the classic film to make this compelling story. It’s a complex film that is not only suspenseful, and at times oddly hilarious, but it raises questions about a multitude of universal themes and beliefs not limited to religion alone. Also, don’t be fooled by the header image. He may look like the baddie in any number of Guy Richie movies but…
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Interview…Comedian Gabriel Iglesias Talks Life, Family and Living (Less) Large In ‘The Fluffy Movie’
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is one of America’s most successful stand-up comedians and he performs in sold-out concerts across the United States and Internationally. His stand-up comedy is a mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects that bring his personal experiences to life. The unique and animated comedy style has made him popular among fans of all ages. On July 25, 2014 Iglesias’ highly anticipated stand-up comedy film The Fluffy Movie hits theaters. In the summer of 2014, Comedy Central will air season 3 of Gabriel’s hit series “Stand-Up Revolution”, which features comedians that he personally selected. A lot has changed in his life over the nearly two decades touring and…
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Interview…Film Composer Steve Jablonsky On Collaboration and the New Sound of Transformers
Fresh off the plane from London, film composer Steve Jablonsky is just starting to wind down from his last project. And why wouldn’t he? Working on Transformers: Age of Extinction (which came out just four weeks ago and will very soon be the first movie of 2014 to reach the $1 billion mark) over the last 6 months has been a whirlwind. Like most other Michael Bay pictures it was a mad dash to the finish line but that’s how it goes when you work on projects of this size and scope. Steve Jablonsky is synonymous with big, bombastic scores yet while the energy and emotion to his music runs high, Jablonsky is…
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Interview…Composer Kevin Riepl on Scoring ‘Cabin Fever: Patient Zero’
Kevin Riepl is an award-winning composer for film, television and video games. His engaging and atmospheric scores have enhanced numerous films such as the horror/thriller Cabin Fever: Patient Zero, Contracted, The ABCs of Death, the holiday season horror hit Silent Night, as well as film festival winners and genre cult films including the emotional sci-fi short Henri starring Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) and Oddball Animation Studios’ stunning concept film Ruin. Riepl is also renowned for composing the epic symphonic scores for blockbuster sci-fi action video games Gears of War, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Resistance: Burning Skies and the Unreal series. His upcoming projects include the action/thriller feature film The Night Crew…
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Video Interview…’I Origins’ Actor Michael Pitt and Writer/Director Mike Cahill
In this interview we sit with actor Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire) and writer/director Mike Cahill (Another Earth) to talk about Fox Searchlight’s complex and mind-blowing film I Origins. A sly sci-fi picture, one that’s more idea driven than effects driven, it explores ideas of science, religion and is bound to start up conversations and discussions no matter which side of the fence you put your faith. Also, these guys are a bucket of laughs. Enjoy our time with Michael and Mike, otherwise known as (for the purposes of our session) “Mickey Blue Eyes” and “Dr. Cahill“. And when you see I Origins, make sure you stick around after the credits……
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Interview…Film/TV Composer Trevor Morris Talks ‘Vikings’, Action and Video Games
Emmy Award-Winner Trevor Morris is a prolific composer, scoring for both film and television. He received his 5th Emmy nomination in 2013 for “Outstanding Music Composition for a Series” (Original Dramatic Score) for Showtime’s The Borgias, making him the most Emmy-nominated Composer of the last three years. The Canadian composer was born in London, Ontario, a few hours outside Toronto. Morris attended Fanshawe College’s “Music Industry Arts” program, Canada’s most prestigious school for recording and production. Graduating at the top of his class, he moved to Toronto to work in music production. Morris eventually turned away from production and began to focus full-time on composing music for television commercials. In 1999,…
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Interview…Film Composer John Debney Contemporizes History with the Music to ‘Bonnie & Clyde’
Combining contemporary sounds, dustbowl folk, and jazz, film composer John Debney captures and compliments the drama and exhilaration in A&E Networks’ Bonnie & Clyde. Debney’s score blends modern electronic elements with classic orchestral sounds evocative of the period to help tell the story of America’s famed and iconic bank-robbing couple, played by Emile Hirsch and Holliday Grainger. The robust soundtrack perfectly underscores Academy Award nominated director Bruce Beresford’s epic TV adaptation. John Debney has a proven ability to create memorable music across a variety of genres, and has garnered a reputation of being remarkably collaborative. He has received numerous accolades for his talents and Debney is the youngest recipient of ASCAP’s prestigious…
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Interview…Film Composer Joel McNeely Blazes New (and Familiar) Trails Scoring ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’
Joel McNeely is a Primetime Emmy Award-winning composer and conductor with more than 100 motion picture and television credits. He maintains a busy schedule recording, producing, conducting and composing for film. As a composer for film and television, McNeely has worked with such respected filmmakers as James Cameron, John Lasseter, Seth MacFarlane and George Lucas, among others. In addition to composing, conducting and orchestrating the score for A Million Ways to Die in the West, McNeely recently completed producing and arranging Seth MacFarlane’s new Christmas album which will be released this Fall. He also produced and arranged MacFarlane’s first album of big band and orchestral standards, “Music Is Better Than…
