Tyler Atkins’ Beast is full of heavyweight talent, brilliant acting and dialogue exchanges that leave you speechless. The jabs that hit you in the heart and make your jaw drop don’t just happen in the ring. It’s the back and forth between Luke Hemsworth, Dan MacPherson, Russell Crowe and the rest of the exceptional cast that will make this an instant classic. Today, we got a true thrill to talk with Luke about his experiences in this masterfully moving MMA themed drama. He and MacPherson have a long working relationship and are some of Australia’s best and brightest. While they don’t square off against each other (trading fisticuffs anyway) they…
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Interview…Composer Tom Howe on Unfailing Optimism of Character and Honesty in Music
Tom Howe is an award-winning composer of over 100 films and television projects like Reminders of Him, Wonder Woman, Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Legend of Tarzan, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, and Dog Man. From sweeping orchestral scores and imaginative sonic landscapes to iconic main title themes and hit songs, his versatility as a multi-instrumentalist—combined with his expertise in classical, pop, rock, and electronic sound design—has made him one of today’s most in-demand composers. A gifted songwriter, and two-time Emmy nominee, Howe has collaborated with leading artists and songwriters on original main title themes and songs. He co-wrote the Ted Lasso main title theme with Marcus Mumford and the Shrinking main title theme…
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Interview…Nathan Johnson on the Tense and Beautiful Gothic Score to ‘Wake Up Dead Man’
Towards the end of last year, writer/director Rian Johnson and Netflix released the third entry in the Benoit Blanc mystery series. As expected, it was thrilling, engaging, taught, layered, and chock full of the Kentucky-fried wit that makes the series and character so enjoyable. It was also the most complex head-scratcher in the saga. If you weren’t busy enough asking who? why? and how the hell? in this gothic whodunit, you were likely asking the same thing about elements of the score. And who is the culprit behind this soundtrack? That would be Nathan Johnson – series regular and usual suspect in the Johnson-verse. Their collaboration has spanned decades and…
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Interview…Composer Simon Franglen Goes Back to Pandora (Again) to Craft Lush Soundscapes for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
For most things, they say that the third time is the charm. While the latest installment of the Avatar series seems to be trailing the two previous installments by just a bit at the box office, one thing is clear: the music and emotions in this franchise have never run higher. And to that we’re giving hat tips, golf claps, and jumping high-fives to composer Simon Franglen. He’s a pillar in James Cameron’s acoustic armory and has been carrying the musical torch/thematic through-lines established by James Horner for that little blue mega blockbuster way back in 2009. We had the incredible opportunity to speak with Simon about his work on…
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Interview…Composer Nicholas Pike on Finding the Fountain of Youth Through Music at Casa Verdi
Here we are with the first interview of 2026 and it already set the bar super high for the rest of the year. Our exceptionally insightful and entertaining session with multi-hyphenate Nicholas Pike has yielded stunning stories from his time in the music business. From playing flute and piano to writing and composing, Nicholas shared tales and takeaways about music direction, orchestration, working with the likes of Bill Frisell, Michael Jackson and Stan Winston. Those are just a few of the stops on the highway of his career. Like most musicians, Nicholas got his start at an early age, and his focus on jazz and unique playing styles helped him…
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Interview…Scott Bomar Helps Bring the Magic of Lighting and Thunder Through the Speakers and Screen in ‘Song Sung Blue’
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…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…Director/Producer Roxanne Messina Captor on a Lifetime of Storytelling and Opportunities
There’s an old adage that when life gives you an opportunity, you take it. Or something like that. Regardless, when the chance to speak with our next guest came our way, we said yes immediately. Roxanne Messina Captor has literally done it all and seen it all. Let’s run down the list shall we? Child performer, Professional Ballet Dancer by age of 12, Broadway musical Performer: Fosse shows, Juilliard Theatre School, and Gene Kelly protégé. Emmy nominated Producer/Director, one of the founding original programming executives for Turner Network Television. Executive Director of the San Francisco International Film Festival and Film Society. Director/Producer of numerous TV movies and independent features. Created and wrote first ever…
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Interview…Troy Duffy on Themes, Theology and The MacManus Brothers in ‘The Boondock Saints, Volume 1: Blood Origin’
You could say that we are huge fans of The Boondock Saints, but our love and reverence for Troy Duffy’s amazing cinematic and narrative achievement goes only so far. Sure, we have a Peacoat, and own the films on DVD, but that’s about where it ends. We never got matching tattoos, bought tons of shirts, or named our animals after the MacManus Brothers. That would be the actions of super fans, and to that, we salute you. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to meet actors Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco, even Jeff Danna, who composed the amazing score to the film. Today, we were beyond…
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[Fantastic Fest Interview]…Katherine Dudas and Avalon Fast – Finding Your Tribe On Stage or By Campfire
It’s been a few weeks since we left Fantastic Fest and, as it always happens, the films and experiences tend to stick with us like chewing gum. The festival is great for young filmmakers. For some, this is their first feature. But even if you’ve been doing this a while, one thing is certain: if you can shock, impress or surprise this group of battle-hardened cinema fans, then you have likely found your foothold in the industry. Having said that, not everything at this wild and crazy film fest is about psychopaths and vampires. FF is renowned as a place where those kinds of terrifying personalizes are welcomed and, often…
