In Loving Memory - New Film Project

Got a really nice email yesterday from Elizabeth (no further details), asking if I would like to provide the soundtrack for a short film she is producing. Reading the script, it's a bit eerie with great imagery, and I love the direction Elizabeth wants the music to take.

Apparently, I was referred by Daniel Owen, who I don't actually know, but my thanks go to him for the referral!

Elizabeth reckons filming will happen this week, with a deadline of the end of the month, so I'm looking forward to getting stuck into that, with a quick turnaround!

I'll keep you posted how it goes.

... until then full steam ahead to finish "Mr No" first! (it's 75% done now so another evening and should be complete)

Been a whille...

Hey all,

Sorry it's been a while since I posted, there have been a number of musical and non-musical obstacles (including an operation on my arm) that had to be dealt with over the past 6 months. All done now so more time for projects! :-)

I've got a number of things on the go as follows:

• Spiritual Contact - feature length - about the ghostly sightings of a young boy (music and audio SFX)
• I've just finished the soundtrack for the trailer for this, which is going to be premièred at the writer/producers birthday party this Sunday 15th April!
• DIY- short and quirky comedy about DIY exploits (audio SFX)
• Mr No - short comedy - this has undergone some changes so I'm re-working the score and sound
• The Lost - feature length - this has been a labour of love for Johann Neethling but he's kept going with it and now the picture lock is almost done. I hope to be seeing the final cut in the next few weeks.

Also coming is a short horror called Arc of Violence which is about to finish shooting.

On top of that I am still studying my Cinematic Orchestration course which just keeps on getting better and better!

Domestics - Available to watch online now

FifthColumn Films web site was recently relaunched, with a new look and lots of content.

One of their shorts, Domestics, for which I provided the music, is now available to watch online through the BBC Film Network.

Check out the video of Domestics.

The Point of Regret - DVD release

I've been told by the director of The Point of Regret that the DVD release of the film is imminent i.e. the next week or two.

So, I did a quick Google search to see if there were any updates and found that the DVD has been added to Amazon, with a release date of June 1st 2011. I'm guessing this date will come forward based on what Simon and Dave from Emanation Films told me.

Check it out and pre-order your copy from Amazon today!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Point-Regret-DVD-AJ-Nicol/dp/B003ZIWRTG

(No I won't be getting any of the proceeds as it will go to fund the next film that Simon and Dave make... but more about that soon...)

Dave also mentioned that Empire magazine may be doing a review in the coming months, but I'll keep you posted on that if it happens.

"The Lost" - New Feature Commission

I received some great news a few days ago... just a week after I started looking for projects, I've landed another feature film! (somebody is looking out for me ;-D )

I've been chosen to provide the score and the sound design for an upcoming horror feature film called "The Lost".

I was originally contacted by Johan Neethling about a year ago, with a request to provide music for the as yet un-filmed idea he had. His idea was really interesting so I said yes and just waited... and waited... and waited.

With all the other things going on, I had forgotten that this was still a possibility, and then got the email from Johan telling me they were in post-production, just finalising the editing and would I still be interested. Of course I am!

Film details 

...on Johan's site: http://www.thamesgatefilms.com/page_1260808487101.html

...on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1622565/

...on British Film Council: http://www.britfilms.com/britishfilms/catalogue/browse/?id=4F4613221136e2D319tnp1B058D8

Teaser trailer http://www.vimeo.com/10689269 which gives you tiny taster - the music is not mine, it's just something Johan picked as a temp track:

Anyway, I'm awaiting delivery of the picture lock version which should be with me in the next couple of weeks. Then its onto the spotting session and some hard graft to get some ideas cooking.

Really looking forward to this one!

Cheers
Stootz.

New Commission - The Point of Regret

I've kept this under wraps for a while... until I was well into it and felt like I'd really got my feet under the table. I've been commissioned to produce the score and sound design for a really cool feature length film called "The Point of Regret". Written and directed by Simon Tate of Emanation Films, "The Point of Regret" is a thriller with a twist, which has also broken new ground in gaining permission to film in Worcester Cathedral.

Everything about this film is really, really good from the story, to the direction, the actors and the production values... I've now got to match it with a great soundtrack!

I've been working on it for a number of weeks now, but only a week ago got the final locked edit, so now I'm syncing the music I already have to the picture - I think it does live up to the film, and both Simon and Dave really like what they've heard so far.

I've got about 5 weeks left til the first test screening (unfortunately I'll be away on holiday when it happens) but I've no doubt I'll get lots of feedback and probably some re-work. There may also be another test screening before the final version is locked for premiering and distribution.

Check it out www.emanationfilms.net

What I'm Using...

I thought I would post more about the process I'm going thru, the libraries I'm using and the challenges I'm facing as it may help others. For now I thought I'd quickly mention some of the great sound libraries I'm using...

I've been using a combination of the following sound libraries:

VSL, Special Edition

Native Instruments Kontakt3, Absynth4

Cinesamples "Drums of War" - (amazing value)

...and a number of the excellent Tonehammer libraries: Anti-Drum2, Epic Toms, Bamblong and the icing on the cake is Barbary which has really lifted the soundtrack.

Bye for now