Interview – Page 30

Composer Series, Dallas International, Features, Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment, Video Interviews

[DIFF Video Interview]…Matt Schrader Screens ‘SCORE: A Film Music Documentary’ at the Dallas International Film Festival

2017/04/04

The 2017 Dallas International Film Festival brought many amazing films and documentaries to DFW, but few hit as close to home (musically speaking) as Matt Schrader‘s feature, SCORE: A Film Music Documentary. Schrader’s film profiles various personalities and titans in the industry to chronicle the history of film music, reaffirm its importance in our culture, and attempt to explain why certain scores continue to resonate decades later. I can honestly say I’ve been a music fan longer than I’ve been a film fan, and as such, forgive the pun, this doc was music to my ears. We spoke to Schrader in 2015 while he was in the middle of interviewing the composers for…

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Marc Ciafardini
Fantastic Fest, Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment, Video Interviews

Video Interview…Nacho Vigalondo On the Large and Small Themes of ‘Colossal’

2017/03/31

For years, Fantastic Fest has been a venue for independent and auteur filmmakers to showcase their latest features. 2016 was no different, as we saw stellar debut efforts from some talented directors (Nicolas Pesce for instance) and welcomed back friends of the Fest. Chief among them is a genre filmmaker so famous and beloved, he has been dubbed the unofficial mascot of Fantastic Fest. I’m not sure that anyone ever sets out to be a “mascot”, but Nacho Vigalondo is happy to oblige…he’s even gotten two themed tattoos while at the Fest if that tells you anything. Vigalondo’s style has endeared himself to many a genre fan, but he’s also…

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Marc Ciafardini
Composer Series, Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment

Interview…Composer Carl Thiel Delves Into Docu-drama and TV Music

2017/03/29

We recently reconnected with composer Carl Thiel, and realized that it’s been three years since we last chatted. At the time, he had completed recording the music for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (with Robert Rodriguez), and was also about to begin work on the From Dusk Til Dawn TV series on the El Rey Network. In that time, Thiel continues to grow as an artist. Born in Mexico City, and after living in Canada for a while, Thiel now calls Austin home. He comes from a family of musicians, and has a lot of music he’s interested to work on away from projects under the Troublemaker Studios banner. As such,…

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Marc Ciafardini
Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment, Video Interviews

Video Interview…Dax Shepard and Michael Peña Breathe New Life Into ‘CHIPS’

2017/03/21

Dax Shepard and Michael Peña star in CHIPS, the hilarious new film from Warner Bros. While many TV properties make the jump to the big screen and become a parody of the source material, this film stays a little closer to the serious side. Sure, it’s irreverent and raunchy, but CHIPS also has some pretty spectacular action along with some good character building moments, and the film feels like an old-school, R-rated action/comedy. Earlier this month, we spoke to Shepard and Peña about the film – Shepard (taking on directing and writing duties) talks about the tone of the film as well as his love of motor sports, and Peña (who…

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Marc Ciafardini
Composer Series, Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment

Interview…Stephen Dorff on the Music & Songs of ‘Wheeler’

2017/02/27

Ryan Ross’ Wheeler is a captivating film, one that really shines due to a trifecta of story, acting, and music. The baby of both Ross and Stephen Dorff (Blade, The Power of One, The Gate), this story follows a middle-aged musician trying to make a name for himself in Nashville. Only this isn’t a fictitious endeavor; Dorff becomes his character – the titular Wheeler Bryson – in this documentary style narrative and very few people know what’s happening. Each and every interaction caught on camera is legitimized by Dorff (under impressive prosthesis) as everyone he meets he wins over with his story, his persona, and some truly amazing “outlaw” Western songs. In…

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Marc Ciafardini
Composer Series, Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment

Interview…Guitarist Derek Mount (aka Brique A Braq) Talks Rocking Out, Giving Back, and Family Force 5

2017/02/01

For more than a decade, Derek Mount has been shredding guitar and having a laugh with Family Force 5 (if you’ve never heard of them, really, go check them out). They are truly dynamic, and while you can liken their music to having an edge like 311, or Rage Against the Machine, these guys just have a lot more fun on the job. A bit of rap, a bit of metal, a whole lotta crazy, but it’s mixed together with that distinctive southern flair by those country gentlemen who can bring the goods. Mount may be the guitarist for Family Force 5, but he also composes, creates music libraries, records as a…

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Marc Ciafardini
Composer Series, Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment

Interview…David Wingo Trades Synths for Strings Composing Jeff Nichols’ ‘Loving’

2016/11/18

In what some consider the start of awards season, November gives us the release of Jeff Nichols’ incredibly moving story, Loving, (about Mildred and Richard Loving) featuring the original score by David Wingo, as well as a new original song, “Loving,” by Ben Nichols of the band Lucero. The seasoned composer has been active with his band Ola Podrida since 2006, releasing three acclaimed full-length albums, and touring the U.S. and Europe multiple times. But Wingo has also been racking up a number of distinctive and high profile scores to celebrated features directed by some of this century’s most sophisticated independent filmmakers. Loving marks the fourth time he and director Jeff Nichols have…

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Marc Ciafardini
Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment

Interview…Rory Culkin Discusses Thomas Dekker’s Traumatic Thriller ‘Jack Goes Home’

2016/10/12

Earlier this year, Thomas Dekker‘s sophomore feature, Jack Goes Home, screened at South By Southwest (aka SXSW). This film, from the seasoned young actor, walks the line between psychological thriller and spiritual slasher. It’s that dichotomy that makes theveryone story interesting as one never quite knows which way the film leans until the very end. Even if you think you’ve got it figured out, it’s probably Dekker leading you astray with a red herring. The ambiguity, layered with confusing visuals, makes this something noteworthy and a fine film to enjoy this Halloween. We spent some time with the film’s star, Rory Culkin (Signs, Scream 4) to get his take on…

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Marc Ciafardini
Fantastic Fest, Festivals, Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment, Video Interviews

Video Interview…Tim Burton Talks Music and Creativity in ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children’ at Fantastic Fest

2016/10/04

In the days before the theatrical release of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, we interviewed director Tim Burton on the red carpet at Fantastic Fest. While this was far from the definitive interview we would have liked to have with such a visionary filmmaker, Burton is the eccentric genius of our time so we were happy to get just a few moments with him. We talked, briefly, about working with composers Michael Higham and Matthew Margeson, advice for finding your own way creatively, and Tim’s favorite scenes from movies. Enjoy! Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is directed by Tim Burton, and stars Asa Butterfield, Eva Green, Judi Dench,…

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Marc Ciafardini
Fantastic Fest, Festivals, Interviews/Podcasts, Movies/Entertainment

Interview…Director Sarah Adina Smith on Rami Malek and ‘Buster’s Mal Heart’

2016/09/28

When it comes to head-scratchers, Buster’s Mal Heart is certainly one of them. So, when given the opportunity to speak to filmmakers about their craft and their project, we jumped at the chance. At Fantastic Fest we sat down with writer-director Sarah Adina Smith to talk about her second feature. While many answers to questions we had after the screening weren’t given, sometimes getting to know where someone is coming from gives a better understanding of why they put on screen what they did. Buster’s Mal Heart stars Rami Malek (in an incredible performance) and the film has just as many humorous moments as unexpected ones as his character seeks to find a better life for his…

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Marc Ciafardini