The Shortest Trailer I've Ever Done

I get a number of trailer to do, but this one had a difference. It was a fast cut action trailer to create interest for an upcoming feature called The Journey. The trailer was of actors rehearsing their swordfighting.

What was different, for me, was that the trailer was only 20 seconds long. Anyway, I wrote 20 seconds of orchestral excitement and everybody seemed happy.

Music for a Body Art Convention DVD

This one caught me out a little. Scottish director Fraser Coull asked if I would write the music for a Scottish Tattoo DVD. My word association went something like: Scottish Tattoo; Military Tattoo; Celtic and Orchestral sounds - yeah, count me in.

It turned out to be a DVD about a convention of Scottish tattoos. So instead of celtic, orchestral sounds - it was hard rock, but hey, it's all music.

...but I'll admit to learning a thing or two, watching that video - having led a relatively sheltered and pain-free life, I hadn't come across much in the way of body art.

Wedding Anthem for my good friends

My good friends Paul and Mel are getting married on Saturday. My gift to them was a Wedding Anthem I wrote for them. They were delighted. I wish them the happiest of times together. (you can hear the anthem on my website).

Newest trailer for The Journey

The newest trailer for The Journey is about to be released. This is the best trailer yet by exciting young director Fraser Coull and it really shows some of the excitement yet to come in this Scottish sword-fighting action drama.

I really enjoyed writing the music for this. I think I've found a motif small enough to be used in loads of different situations and sequences together to give me a sort of brutal Scottish reel.

Although production doesn't start until the Summer, Fraser tells me he has already shot scene 41 and would like music for it asap. He's a hard task master but great to work for.

"The Audit" submitted for Cannes!

The Audit, written by hugely talented George Elder, has completed production and is well into post production and has been submitted into the Cannes Film Festival for 2006. This is a fantastically talented cast and crew and I can't wait to see the edit. Should be arriving any day now.

Make The Journey - Trailer

A new trailer for the exciting Scottish sword-fighting feature length film arrived this week. This is the best footage so far. Production doesn't start until the Summer, so everything bodes really well I think.

I have now finished the music for the trailer. Hopefully it will be available for general viewing shortly. Once the sound man, the talented Mark Riley, has worked his magic I think the trailer will be on general release.

Silent Note in Film Festival "down-under"

It has been an interesting year already. I had a couple of jobs unexpectedly found me, one of which was a short called "Silent Note." It was about a group of World War II pilots who were given anti-aging drugs, but taking the drugs meant they couldn't have children. Some of the pilots saw this as a benefit, but one of them wants to end it all - he is childless and now that his wife has passed away, he wants to end his empy life.

A quick turn around was required so it could be entered into TropFest 2006, the largest short film festival in the World.

Mosskirk Harvest - Katie O'brien

I have yet to write the big romance cue and the action march for Mosskirk Harvest. I was sent the link to the website of the actress who will be playing the hero's wife. Samson and his wife are both field operatives that work together - in a real action hero sense.

But when she is murdered he suffers terribly with grief. I have already written draft cues for the crushing loss he suffers and also a Samson hero theme for when he is prep'ing to go into action, or for scene changes.

When I saw the photographs of Katie O'brien I was completely knocked out. She has been cast as Samson's wife. Her face is so descriptive of all the aspects I'd read about in the script. I could "hear" both the cues I needed to write, so I'm really looking forward writing both over the next few weeks.

The director, George Elder, is sending me the rushes soon. Can't wait. He is also putting together a teaser trailer for the production. It'll be terrific to put out some early stuff for this job because it will be 2006 before its finished.