Film Composer/Conductor

The Shortest Trailer I've Ever Done

2006-05-04T20:03:00.000+01:00

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

2006-04-17T19:49:00.000+01:00

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

2006-03-30T19:39:00.000+01:00

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

2006-03-21T00:36:00.000Z

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!

2006-03-13T22:39:00.000Z

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

2006-02-23T01:23:00.000Z

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"

2006-02-23T01:13:00.000Z

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

2005-12-05T00:16:00.000Z

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.

My Band Wins WBBA Championship Section

2005-12-03T23:42:00.000Z

The band I am Musical Director for wins the Championship Section of the WBBA Contest. The test piece was The Year of the Dragon by Philip Sparke and is very demanding.

There is a huge high pressure trombone solo in the middle movement and our trombone player won the soloist's prize.

Also I won the Best Conductor's Award.

A good day out all in all.

The Recruit - Thriller

2005-11-29T22:54:00.000Z

Received early draft of scenes for The Recruit by writer/director Archie Allison of Digital Stramash and completed the initial spotting track for the score.

It is an thriller: When weak men are in positions of strength...we see the sordid side of big business.

I have had several useful discussions with Archie and I think I understand what is required. He has some work to do on the editing and sound, then I'll have a crack at the first draft of the score.

"The Wall" script arrives

2005-11-23T00:15:00.000Z

The script for "The Wall" by writer/director Tim Parsons arrived today. This is a challenging work. After the first read I had a bucket load of questions, there can be so many interpretations for this piece.

Tim has written an engaging work with huge swings in emotional content from scene to scene. The Wall goes into production early in December and the whole thing should be finished very early in the New Year. Sadly I won't be able to be present on set - I am conducting.

This is a dramatic and thought provoking script with some disturbing scenes. Over the next few days I hope to have thrashed out with the director the precise emotional context and message he requires, I can then start putting a theme plan together.

Not an easy work this one, but a definite challenge I am looking forward to enormously.

"Trailer b" to The Journey complete

2005-11-20T16:26:00.000Z

I have now completed the music for the second of four trailers (a, b, c and d). It is quite a challenge compose like this. Each trailer in the series is the same as the previous but with extra scenes and cuts but I don't get to see the new scenes/cuts in the later trailers whilst composing for the earlier trailers. Each trailer needs to make sense in isolation as well as part of the series.

Anyway, here is a link to the music and here is a link to a lo-res version of the video, together with the music and sound effects for the sword fight.

New Trailer for The Journey

2005-11-17T23:58:00.000Z

I received a short trailer for The Journey some time ago and scored it up, which seemed to get quite a strong response. The music was quite epic - great fun to write, but it was very short.

I have now been sent a longer version of the same trailer, this one the same as the earlier trailer, except real sword-fighting has been inserted into the middle.

Tonight I started re-doing the music for the longer trailer. It is always difficult when you have to rip open a carefully sync'd up work only to sync it up to the new version of the video.

Anyway, it is an opportunity to extend a piece that I think had so much potential. One complication though is that I used EWQL Silver for the original, since then I have upgraded to Gold. It was stated that they were upwardly compatible, which strictly speaking is probably true - but it is turning out to be quite a fiddle.

Fiddling done though, so tomorrow I am ready to compose - having done all the techie stuff tonight.

"The Audit" script arrives

2005-11-16T22:41:00.000Z

Appointed score composer for The Audit by the fantastic writer/director George Elder (of Mosskirk Harvest). The script is so well crafted. Just as with his feature film (Mosskirk Harvest), this short is funny, fast paced, intriguing and disturbing.

George manages a fantastic reveal and seemlessly blends fact with plot so you are drawn into a credible and thought-provoking story. This is going to be so much fun to work on. Way to go George.

You follow a lovely young couple as the happy day of their engagement turns into the worst of their lives, in a way that is so believable you really think that this might actually be happening - fortunately it is just a story ...or is it?

On Set with The Last Chapter

2005-11-13T23:32:00.000Z

Spent the day on set with Multistory Films who were filming the brilliantly written The Last Chapter. They completed all the filming for the entire short in one day - which with the large amount of dialog concerned was quite a feat.

The film was set on a park bench. Sadly, it being Rembrance Sunday, they had to cope with church bells and marching bands as well as hundreds of kids playing rugby and a tiny Scotty dog that made his way up with the set in the middle of a take at let out the most resonant fart you have ever heard.

It was biting cold but the crew and cast were fantastic. I think this is going to be such a funny film. Really looking forward to getting the locked picture and teasing out the right sort of scoring. Just enough to bring out the flavour without distracting from the dialog.

Wrote "A Crushing Loss"

2005-11-12T23:26:00.000Z

I felt very down. As a therapy I wrote A Crushing Loss. I needed to write a desperately gnawingly sad theme for Mosskirk Harvest which has the hero have his wife murdered. I've had some trouble writing this for a few weeks, primarily I think because, with the new born baby and all, I have felt too happy.

Tonight though I felt quite wreched. Having written this piece, when I was exporting the mix I noticed the date - it was the anniversary 24 years ago that I lost my father. He was my best mate. Still think of him every day.

First Day on Set with the Briefest of Encounters

2005-11-12T20:16:00.000Z

I spent the day with Multistory Films on set with their first day of production on their romantic comedy The Briefest of Encounters. It is a delightfully tender film and by the end of the day I really felt for the two characters. The way the production staff crafted their creation was a joy to see.

I was only there to get an insight of the treatment of the story, which my goodness I certainly did. The last scene of the day though, saw me being called on as an extra in the cafe scene. Quite a scary moment for a composer who enjoys being BEHIND the camera.

Director Fraser Coull out of Hospital

2005-11-11T20:43:00.000Z

Young director Fraser Coull is out of hospital after having been hitting by a speeding car whilst on a shoot in Glasgow. He is back home now but still on pain killers. He is not supposed to return to work for some weeks yet, but it is great to see him back on his computer and arranging new porjects. You just can't keep this boy down - he's a dynamo.

Must have made a good impression

2005-11-01T22:50:00.000Z

Executive producers of "Faces of Change", up and coming film company Rare Entertainments, have asked me to produce music for their up-coming productions on the basis of hearing my first draft of the opening scene of "Faces of Change" and my website.

Really looking forward to working with these guys.

My band enters the Top 200 World Rankings

2005-11-01T22:46:00.000Z

The band for which I have been Musical Director for two years, has just entered the Top 200 World Rankings for the first time ever. Granted it is only standing at 198, but nevertheless these are historic times for the band.

"Faces of Change" agreed

2005-11-01T22:42:00.000Z

The director of "Faces of Change" liked my proposed music for his opening scene. After implementing some minor changes, the music for the film has now been accepted and will be incorporated into the production.

"Faces of Change" first draft completed

2005-10-28T11:28:00.000+01:00

A local and talented film company, Multistory Films, has asked me to underscore for two of their upcoming films - both of which are comedies.

Added to that, they had a rethink regarding a film they had recently finished called "Faces of Change." They were unhappy with their opening scene music and have asked me to create them another.

This I have now completed, Faces of Change.

This dark short drama starts with a young couple striding happily along a sunlit road until they arrive at his flat. They kiss. As she goes to leave he pulls her back for another kiss. He stands watching her walk away: his vitality, his happiness drain away - an aching void now where delight was only moments before.

Director Fraser Coull in Hospital

2005-10-27T22:58:00.000+01:00

Young talented writer/director Fraser Coull has been hit by a car whilst filming a trailer to The Journey. Fraser and two of his crew were hit by a car which was witnessed by two off duty policmen.

Fraser is recovering in hospital with a broken arm and a broken leg. I have grown very close to Fraser and am concerned for him. His exciting feature film The Journey will almost certainly be put back now - a real shame because this looks to be great fun.

I so hope he gets well soon and that he is not in too much pain. He will be in hospital for a few more days yet. Hope everything goes well for him.

Ingenious new twists to "Mosskirk Harvest" script

2005-10-24T00:07:00.000+01:00

The "Mosskirk Harvest" script has always been a tour-de-force. It is funny, engaging, mysterious, sinister, well paced - it is a gem. But I received a new draft today and it blew my mind away. The twists are awesome - you go to hell and back, and that's before you even get to the titles.

The script was so powerful that earlier in the year I wrote the lead character's theme straight from a script read through. Since then I have received unedited footage and I think the theme still stands up.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but the new draft of the script is so strong that I'm inclined to write a standalone composition, depicting what happens. I know I'll probably end up throwing away much of it once the locked picture arrives, but this script is so strong I so want to start experimenting with the very vivid emotional line.

I sketched out the theme plan of the piece from the script last night - this standalone piece will likely be a single movement and have around fifteen contrasting sections. I reckon it could run to 12 to 18 minutes. Quite an undertaking, but I can't wait to get started.

Hooking up with a LOCAL film company

2005-10-21T23:35:00.000+01:00

Fantastic news! It looks as though I shall be scoring for some films being made by a film company local to me. The opportunity to work with new people is always exciting but this will be the first film company I will have worked with within easy travelling distance. I am really looking forward to actually meeting cast and crew in person. Something hitherto I've never been able to do because of the huge distances involved.

Looking at their company's website, they look a very exciting bunch to be associated with, so I hope it works out. One of the films is a romantic comedy, with very little dialog - a fantastic opportunity for underscoring. Really looking forward to it.

A Bad Day At Work - or just exhaustion?

2005-10-21T23:09:00.000+01:00

After I wrote unbridled joy section of "Becky's Birthday" to mark the birth of our beautiful baby girl, I did joke that within a week I would be writing a horror-scape to mark the torture of sleepless nights.

Yesterday I had a dreadful day at the office, unbelievably frustrating. I am still trying to fathom whether it was genuinly a frustrating situation or just acute sleep-deprivation. Whatever it was, it was excellent material for me to use in writing a really bad-tempered piece - "A Bad Day At Work."

Looking forward to our first outing with baby

2005-10-14T10:07:00.000+01:00

Last night my wife built the pram - between seemingly insatiable demands for her "nourishment."

It is a new and posh machine. For our first baby we had a budget buggy, but this time we went for the "business." She has been itching to get it out and build it. We have been advised that it is best not to take baby our until she is a week old. The anticipation is almost unbearable.

Now we've built the pram, it stands resplendant in the house, just waiting for its first test-drive. We can so picture ourselves pushing it along totally maxed out on parental pride.

So I wrote a piece for my wife last night - "First Day Out With The Baby." It depicts a proud mum pushing her new pram under the Autumn sunshine through crisp fallen leaves as she takes her beautiful baby outdoors for the first time.

She loved the piece - but to be honest, I think she was more grateful to me for stopping the baby crying than writing her another piece of music.

Home-coming

2005-10-14T09:58:00.000+01:00

My wife and new daughter are back at home now - somewhat unexpectedly! We expected them to be in the hospital till the end of the week. But the doctors gave them both the all clear and gave them the choice of spending the rest of the week in a local nursing home or going home.

Naturally I thought she would pick the nursing home, less to do and more people to help her. Apparently though she really wanted to be home.

Baby is guzzling for Britain and Mummy is looking exhausted. Last night we got nearly a full night's rest - if you count 3am till 8am as a full night!

A piece to mark the birth of our daughter

2005-10-13T12:21:00.000+01:00

This time last week my wife was "great with child" - and I mean really great! This was our second. Our first was such a difficult labour (4 days!) that we both promised we would never have another. Funny how things turn out.

Last week our silent and private trepidation for the imminent labour grew. Would it be as bad as her last one? How would we cope?

This was coupled with an almost uncontrollable excitement at the prospect of our little addition. I was so scared for probably the first three years of our first born that I didn't really start to enjoy him until he was almost a boy - I really missed out on the baby joy and toddler joy of our first. We were being blessed with a second chance, and I'm really up for it this time.

I chose to write a piece to depict this state of affairs. It is 3 minute 49 second work for full orchestra. It starts quietly with building uncertainty, trepidation and forboding. Then it gushes into a movement of unbridled joy and finally melts into the blissful peace of a beautiful sleeping baby.

I called the piece "Becky's Birthday" and is available for streaming and downloading at my Soundclick home page, or for downloading from my own home page.