Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell won the award for Original Song for a Comedy or Musical for their Oscar-nominated “Barbie” tune “What Was I Made For?” while past Academy Award winner and 2024 nominee Ludwig Göransson took home the Original Score for a Studio Film honor for “Oppenheimer” to pace the Society of Composers & Lyricists Scl Awards tonight at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles in a ceremony hosted by singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett.
Also picking up trophies were Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro for Original Song for a Drama or Documentary for their tune “Can’t Catch Me Now” from “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” while John Powell was awarded the prize for Original Score for an Independent Film for scoring the documentary feature “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.”
SEE5th Annual Scl Awards Nominations: Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Lenny Kravitz among contenders [Full List]
Director...
Also picking up trophies were Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro for Original Song for a Drama or Documentary for their tune “Can’t Catch Me Now” from “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” while John Powell was awarded the prize for Original Score for an Independent Film for scoring the documentary feature “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.”
SEE5th Annual Scl Awards Nominations: Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Lenny Kravitz among contenders [Full List]
Director...
- 2/14/2024
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Billie Eilish and her brother and songwriting partner Finneas took home best original song for a comedy at the 2024 Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards on Tuesday. Olivia Rodrigo, Ludwig Göransson, Nicholas Britell and John Powell were among other winners.
Eilish and Finneas won the award for their hit Barbie track “What Was I Made For,” less than two weeks after winning a Grammy for the same song, which is also nominated for an Oscar. It beat its fellow Barbie song “I’m Just Ken” Flamin’ Hot‘s “The Fire Inside,” The L Word: Generation Q’s “All About Me” and Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s “Peaches.”
Rodrigo and music producer Dan Nigro took home the award for best original song for a drama or documentary for her viral “Can’t Catch Me Now” from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. She beat songs from American Symphony,...
Eilish and Finneas won the award for their hit Barbie track “What Was I Made For,” less than two weeks after winning a Grammy for the same song, which is also nominated for an Oscar. It beat its fellow Barbie song “I’m Just Ken” Flamin’ Hot‘s “The Fire Inside,” The L Word: Generation Q’s “All About Me” and Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s “Peaches.”
Rodrigo and music producer Dan Nigro took home the award for best original song for a drama or documentary for her viral “Can’t Catch Me Now” from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. She beat songs from American Symphony,...
- 2/14/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Billie Eilish, Finneas, Ludwig Göransson and Nicholas Britell were among the winners Tuesday evening at the 5th annual Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards.
Eilish and Finneas took home the award for outstanding original song for a comedy or musical for “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie.” The win continued their sweep of the season from the Golden Globes and the Grammy Awards.
Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro won outstanding original song for a drama or documentary for “Can’t Catch Me Now” from “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Britell took home the prize for outstanding original score for a television production for “Succession.”
Göransson, who was honored with Variety’s Artisans Award in Santa Barbara this past weekend, won outstanding original score for a studio film for “Oppenheimer.” John Powell won outstanding original score for an independent film, “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” and Stephen Barton...
Eilish and Finneas took home the award for outstanding original song for a comedy or musical for “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie.” The win continued their sweep of the season from the Golden Globes and the Grammy Awards.
Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro won outstanding original song for a drama or documentary for “Can’t Catch Me Now” from “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Britell took home the prize for outstanding original score for a television production for “Succession.”
Göransson, who was honored with Variety’s Artisans Award in Santa Barbara this past weekend, won outstanding original score for a studio film for “Oppenheimer.” John Powell won outstanding original score for an independent film, “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” and Stephen Barton...
- 2/14/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay and Diego Ramos Bechara
- Variety Film + TV
Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Lenny Kravitz, Diane Warren and Jon Batiste are among the nominees announced Thursday morning for the Fifth Annual Scl Awards from the Society of Composers & Lyricists honoring scores and songs in visual media. The five music titans were all nominated in the Best Song categories for Drama/Documentary or Comedy/Musical, Eilish with her brother Finneas for their tune “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie,” Rodrigo along with Dan Nigro for “Can’t Catch Me Now” from “The Hunger Games: Ball of Songbirds and Snakes,” Kravitz for “Road to Freedom” from “Rustin,” Warren for “The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot” and Batiste along with Dan Wilson for “It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony.”
Rounding out the Drama/Documentary nominees are Nicholas Britell and Laura Stinson for “Slip Away” from “Carmen” along with Sharon Farber and Noah Benshea for “Better Times” from “Jacob the Baker.
Rounding out the Drama/Documentary nominees are Nicholas Britell and Laura Stinson for “Slip Away” from “Carmen” along with Sharon Farber and Noah Benshea for “Better Times” from “Jacob the Baker.
- 12/22/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
The Society of Composers and Lyricists (Scl) has announced the nominees for the 2024 Scl Awards, including songwriters Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Lenny Kravitz, Diane Warren, and Jon Batiste, all who earned spots on the Academy Awards shortlist for Best Original Song.
Also among the dual nominees are composers Anthony Willis for Saltburn, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt for Barbie, Laura Karpman for American Fiction, the late Robbie Robertson for Killers of the Flower Moon, and Mica Levi for The Zone of Interest.
The awards will be presented on February 13, 2024, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Other categories still to be announced include the Spirit of Collaboration Award which honors the long relationship between a composer and a director.
The Society of Composers & Lyricists is for professional film, television, video game, and musical theater composers and songwriters. The 78-year-old organization is focused on education and addressing the creative, technological...
Also among the dual nominees are composers Anthony Willis for Saltburn, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt for Barbie, Laura Karpman for American Fiction, the late Robbie Robertson for Killers of the Flower Moon, and Mica Levi for The Zone of Interest.
The awards will be presented on February 13, 2024, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Other categories still to be announced include the Spirit of Collaboration Award which honors the long relationship between a composer and a director.
The Society of Composers & Lyricists is for professional film, television, video game, and musical theater composers and songwriters. The 78-year-old organization is focused on education and addressing the creative, technological...
- 12/22/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Barbie, Spider-Man, Black Panther – visions of dolls and comic-book characters inevitably will be dancing in the heads of Grammy voters when they sit down to nominate movie music for this year’s golden gramophones.
“Barbie: The Album” seems a shoo-in to compete for best compilation soundtrack, the category for movies dominated by songs. But the Metro Boomin-curated album for the animated “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” also topped Billboard’s soundtrack chart this year and seems likely to swing into competition.
On a similar note, the third edition of “Guardians of the Galaxy” film inspired another “Awesome Mix” that was hugely popular and seems poised to join its two predecessors as a Grammy nominee. The “Fast X” album and Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid,” with its new songs by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, could also make it onto the ballot.
The Grammy eligibility year always complicates matters for Recording...
“Barbie: The Album” seems a shoo-in to compete for best compilation soundtrack, the category for movies dominated by songs. But the Metro Boomin-curated album for the animated “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” also topped Billboard’s soundtrack chart this year and seems likely to swing into competition.
On a similar note, the third edition of “Guardians of the Galaxy” film inspired another “Awesome Mix” that was hugely popular and seems poised to join its two predecessors as a Grammy nominee. The “Fast X” album and Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid,” with its new songs by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, could also make it onto the ballot.
The Grammy eligibility year always complicates matters for Recording...
- 10/16/2023
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Nominees in the categories of discovery of the year, public choice award and the new game music award have been revealed.
Film Fest Gent and The World Soundtrack Academy has unveiled the second and final wave of nominations for the 2023 World Soundtrack Awards, which will take place on October 21 at the Film Fest Gent in Belgium, with Golda, Avatar: The Way Of Water and The Menu among the additional titles represented.
Nominations for discovery of the year, public choice award, Wsa game music award, best original score for a Belgian production and the Sabam Award for best original composition by...
Film Fest Gent and The World Soundtrack Academy has unveiled the second and final wave of nominations for the 2023 World Soundtrack Awards, which will take place on October 21 at the Film Fest Gent in Belgium, with Golda, Avatar: The Way Of Water and The Menu among the additional titles represented.
Nominations for discovery of the year, public choice award, Wsa game music award, best original score for a Belgian production and the Sabam Award for best original composition by...
- 9/5/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
By its very nature as a minimalist experience, there’s very little for Strayed Lights to hide behind as a game. Aside from Austin Wintory’s evocative score, the debut title for Stratsbourg-based development studio Embers is about as stripped down as you can get without resorting to Thomas Was Alone levels of sentient geometric shapes.
As far as one can tell, the game tells the story of a bipedal creature held together by pure light. They’re ripped apart by an encroaching darkness, and the only thing that can fix them is to traipse through a portal and confront the various hideously mutated entities born of their wayward sparks. There’s no dialogue in the game, and no text outside of menus, just a few neon character models emoting their fluorescent asses off in a purgatorial world.
Strayed Lights asks a lot of the player, and while it gives...
As far as one can tell, the game tells the story of a bipedal creature held together by pure light. They’re ripped apart by an encroaching darkness, and the only thing that can fix them is to traipse through a portal and confront the various hideously mutated entities born of their wayward sparks. There’s no dialogue in the game, and no text outside of menus, just a few neon character models emoting their fluorescent asses off in a purgatorial world.
Strayed Lights asks a lot of the player, and while it gives...
- 4/25/2023
- by Justin Clark
- Slant Magazine
Game music isn’t just for gaming nerds anymore. It’s finally being recognized as real, “serious” music. This year, the Grammys introduced a new category for video game music: Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media. The music has evolved along with the video game artform, as scores increasingly lay the emotional groundwork for an immersive experience.
What’s notable about numerous modern game soundtracks is their cinematic scope, involving lush orchestrations, heavy percussions, kinetic solos, propulsive vocals, and eurythmic atmosphere. Just like people become emotionally...
What’s notable about numerous modern game soundtracks is their cinematic scope, involving lush orchestrations, heavy percussions, kinetic solos, propulsive vocals, and eurythmic atmosphere. Just like people become emotionally...
- 2/26/2023
- by Sonya Alexander
- Rollingstone.com
Female composers are shining bright at the 2023 Grammys.
Germaine Franco won best score soundtrack for visual media for composing Encanto, telling the audience she believes she’s the first woman of color to take home the honor.
That was followed by Stephanie Economou’s win for best score soundtrack for video games and other interactive media — a new award at the Grammys. Economou earned the honor for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok.
Franco and Economou were the solo female nominees in their categories.
Franco beat out Hans Zimmer (No Time to Die), Jonny Greenwood (The Power of the Dog), Nicholas Britell (Succession: Season 3) and Michael Giacchino (The Batman). Economou edged out Bear McCreary (Call of Duty: Vanguard), Richard Jacques (Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy), Austin Wintory (Aliens: Fireteam Elite) and Christopher Tin (Old World).
The Encanto soundtrack — which topped the charts, became a platinum success and launched multiple...
Germaine Franco won best score soundtrack for visual media for composing Encanto, telling the audience she believes she’s the first woman of color to take home the honor.
That was followed by Stephanie Economou’s win for best score soundtrack for video games and other interactive media — a new award at the Grammys. Economou earned the honor for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok.
Franco and Economou were the solo female nominees in their categories.
Franco beat out Hans Zimmer (No Time to Die), Jonny Greenwood (The Power of the Dog), Nicholas Britell (Succession: Season 3) and Michael Giacchino (The Batman). Economou edged out Bear McCreary (Call of Duty: Vanguard), Richard Jacques (Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy), Austin Wintory (Aliens: Fireteam Elite) and Christopher Tin (Old World).
The Encanto soundtrack — which topped the charts, became a platinum success and launched multiple...
- 2/6/2023
- by Mesfin Fekadu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Photo: 'Journey' The Setting of a New Benchmark 2012 saw a deluge of franchise titles in the video game industry, including (but not limited to) ‘Far Cry 3’, ‘Mass Effect 3’, ‘Max Payne 3’, ‘Halo 4’, and so on seemingly into infinity. There were, however, also some original properties from both major studios and the independent market that are well worth remembering — perhaps the best of these being ‘Journey’, co-developed by Thatgamecompany and Santa Monica Studio. ‘Journey’ was originally released on the PlayStation 3, at a time when that console was going through a sort of Indian summer; despite having been out for six years already, it was seeing some of its strongest new titles. Despite being noted for its brevity, ‘Journey’ made an immediate impression with critics and audiences, to the point where its score (composed by Austin Wintory) became the first video game soundtrack to garner a Grammy nomination. The success of ‘Journey’ was...
- 7/25/2022
- by Brian Collins
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
The Society of Composers & Lyricists announced the winners of its 3rd Annual Scl Awards this evening at The Skirball Cultural Center. The event, which was hosted by rapper Aloe Blacc, recognizes composers and songwriters in all visual media.
Oscar-nominated siblings Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell accepted their award virtually for Outstanding Original Song for a Drama/Documentary for the theme from No Time To Die.
Outstanding Original Song for a Musical/Comedy went to “Just Look up”, co-written by Nicholas Britell, Taura Stinson, Ariana Grande and Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, from Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up.
Germaine Franco, also nominated for an Oscar this year and the first woman to score an animated feature film for Disney, won in the category of Outstanding Original Score for a Studio film for Encanto, while Daniel Hart was awarded in the Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film category for A24’s The Green Knight.
Oscar-nominated siblings Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell accepted their award virtually for Outstanding Original Song for a Drama/Documentary for the theme from No Time To Die.
Outstanding Original Song for a Musical/Comedy went to “Just Look up”, co-written by Nicholas Britell, Taura Stinson, Ariana Grande and Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, from Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up.
Germaine Franco, also nominated for an Oscar this year and the first woman to score an animated feature film for Disney, won in the category of Outstanding Original Score for a Studio film for Encanto, while Daniel Hart was awarded in the Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film category for A24’s The Green Knight.
- 3/9/2022
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Nominees for this year’s ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards have been announced, with scores for films like “Dune” and “The Power of the Dog,” TV series like “Loki” and “The White Lotus” and video games like “Call of Duty” among the contenders.
These competitive awards, voted on by members of ASCAP, will be given out during the week of May 2 as part of the 2022 ASCAP Screen Music Awards, alongside the non-voted honors that reward the composers of the most-performed scores and themes of the year.
Up for film score of the year are Hans Zimmer, for “Dune”; Germaine Franco, for “Encanto”; Daniel Hart, for “The Green Knight”; Dan Romer, for “Luca”; and Radiohead member-turned-maestro Jonny Greenwood for “The Power of the Dog.”
Zimmer, Franco and Greenwood have already been nominated for the Academy Awards this month for their work on those films.
Nods for television score went to Michael Abels,...
These competitive awards, voted on by members of ASCAP, will be given out during the week of May 2 as part of the 2022 ASCAP Screen Music Awards, alongside the non-voted honors that reward the composers of the most-performed scores and themes of the year.
Up for film score of the year are Hans Zimmer, for “Dune”; Germaine Franco, for “Encanto”; Daniel Hart, for “The Green Knight”; Dan Romer, for “Luca”; and Radiohead member-turned-maestro Jonny Greenwood for “The Power of the Dog.”
Zimmer, Franco and Greenwood have already been nominated for the Academy Awards this month for their work on those films.
Nods for television score went to Michael Abels,...
- 2/22/2022
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
To celebrate the release of A Violent Man – available now on Digital HD – we’re giving away a quad poster signed by the cast and director!
A Violent Man is Ross McCall’s directorial debut from his own script, and stars Craig Fairbrass, Stephen Odubola (Blue Story), Jason Flemyng and Zoe Tapper (Liar).
Bleak, brutal and brilliant, A Violent Man showcases a towering performance from Fairbrass, never better and riding high off acclaim from his recent string of well-reviewed thrillers including Villain and Muscle. The film sees Fairbrass teaming up again with the producers of Villain, who are also behind Boiling Point starring Stephen Graham.
The film features an impressive supporting cast including Jason Flemyng and Stephen Odubola, who is outstanding as Fairbrass’ troubled cellmate Marcus. A Violent Man is a gritty portrayal of the harsh realities of prison life, with a brooding score by two time BAFTA award-winning composer Austin Wintory.
A Violent Man is Ross McCall’s directorial debut from his own script, and stars Craig Fairbrass, Stephen Odubola (Blue Story), Jason Flemyng and Zoe Tapper (Liar).
Bleak, brutal and brilliant, A Violent Man showcases a towering performance from Fairbrass, never better and riding high off acclaim from his recent string of well-reviewed thrillers including Villain and Muscle. The film sees Fairbrass teaming up again with the producers of Villain, who are also behind Boiling Point starring Stephen Graham.
The film features an impressive supporting cast including Jason Flemyng and Stephen Odubola, who is outstanding as Fairbrass’ troubled cellmate Marcus. A Violent Man is a gritty portrayal of the harsh realities of prison life, with a brooding score by two time BAFTA award-winning composer Austin Wintory.
- 2/9/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
2Nd Update, 6:00 Pm: The Society of Composers & Lyricists has rescheduled its Covid-delayed third annual Scl Awards for Tuesday, March 8, at the Skirball Cultural Center in L.A.
“After much deliberation, we have also decided to extend out final voting period,” the group said this evening. “This will allow our many mem bers who have been impacted by the surge in Covid-19 additional time to review all the nominees’ excellent work.” The voting period now will begin Monday and run through February 25.
See the list of nominations below.
Updated, 4:30 Pm: The Society of Composers & Lyricists has postponed its third annual Scl Awards amid the surge in Covid cases tied to the Omicron variant. No new date was set for the ceremony that had been set for February 1 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Here is the statement from the group’s president, Ashley Irwin:
Upon...
“After much deliberation, we have also decided to extend out final voting period,” the group said this evening. “This will allow our many mem bers who have been impacted by the surge in Covid-19 additional time to review all the nominees’ excellent work.” The voting period now will begin Monday and run through February 25.
See the list of nominations below.
Updated, 4:30 Pm: The Society of Composers & Lyricists has postponed its third annual Scl Awards amid the surge in Covid cases tied to the Omicron variant. No new date was set for the ceremony that had been set for February 1 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Here is the statement from the group’s president, Ashley Irwin:
Upon...
- 1/14/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Society of Composers & Lyricists have announced the full list of Scl Awards’ nominees, to be presented the 3rd Annual Scl Awards for score and songs in visual media on February 1st at the Skirball Cultural Center (Covid permitting). Awards are presented in seven competitive categories: Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film, Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film, Outstanding Original Score for a Television Production, Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production, Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production, Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media, and the David Raksin Award for Emerging Talent.
The evening hosted by Darren Criss will include musical performances from Grammy-nominated singers/songwriters of Bridgerton: The Unofficial Musical Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy winner Judith Hill, and more. A musical tribute will accompany the spirit of collaboration award.
Full list of nominees below:
Outstanding...
The evening hosted by Darren Criss will include musical performances from Grammy-nominated singers/songwriters of Bridgerton: The Unofficial Musical Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy winner Judith Hill, and more. A musical tribute will accompany the spirit of collaboration award.
Full list of nominees below:
Outstanding...
- 1/4/2022
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Nicholas Britell has a leading three nominations from the Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards, with Tuesday’s announcement of this year’s nominees for music in visual media finding Britell in contention for both song and score for his work on Adam McKay’s satire “Don’t Look Up,” as well as a nom for TV score for “Succession.”
The Scl’s third annual awards program is slated for Feb. 1 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Women composers and songwriters had a surprisingly strong showing this year. Fifteen of the 35 individuals nominated, or nearly 43% of the total, are female. They are nominees in all six competitive categories, and took all three slots for the newly established David Raksin Award for emerging talent.
Four contenders received two nominations each: Jonny Greenwood, Kid Cudi (songs in “Don’t Look Up” and “The Harder They Fall”), Germaine Franco (scores for “Encanto” and the...
The Scl’s third annual awards program is slated for Feb. 1 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Women composers and songwriters had a surprisingly strong showing this year. Fifteen of the 35 individuals nominated, or nearly 43% of the total, are female. They are nominees in all six competitive categories, and took all three slots for the newly established David Raksin Award for emerging talent.
Four contenders received two nominations each: Jonny Greenwood, Kid Cudi (songs in “Don’t Look Up” and “The Harder They Fall”), Germaine Franco (scores for “Encanto” and the...
- 1/4/2022
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Nicholas Britell led all composers with three nominations for the third annual Society of Composers and Lyricists’ Scl Awards, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Britell was nominated for his scores to the film “Don’t Look Up” and the television series “Succession,” as well as for co-writing the song “Just Look Up” from “Don’t Look Up.”
Other composers or songwriters with multiple nominations in the seven categories were Germaine Franco, nominated for her scores to “Encanto” and “Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness”; Jonny Greenwood, nominated for “The Power of the Dog” and “Spencer”; Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, nominated for songs from “Don’t Look Up” and “The Harder They Fall”; and Diane Warren, nominated for songs from “Four Good Days” and “The Mustangs.”
Nominees in the Studio Film category were Britell, Franco, Greenwood, Alexandre Desplat for “The French Dispatch” and Hans Zimmer for “Dune.” In the Independent Film category, Greenwood was...
Britell was nominated for his scores to the film “Don’t Look Up” and the television series “Succession,” as well as for co-writing the song “Just Look Up” from “Don’t Look Up.”
Other composers or songwriters with multiple nominations in the seven categories were Germaine Franco, nominated for her scores to “Encanto” and “Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness”; Jonny Greenwood, nominated for “The Power of the Dog” and “Spencer”; Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, nominated for songs from “Don’t Look Up” and “The Harder They Fall”; and Diane Warren, nominated for songs from “Four Good Days” and “The Mustangs.”
Nominees in the Studio Film category were Britell, Franco, Greenwood, Alexandre Desplat for “The French Dispatch” and Hans Zimmer for “Dune.” In the Independent Film category, Greenwood was...
- 1/4/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
There’s a whole lot of ammo going blammo over the course of “One Shot,” an action movie couched as a battle in real time between Navy SEALs and insurgents on a U.S.-controlled, Guantanamo-style island detention facility, presented in what appears to be a single, continuous shot.
Of course, as in other recent films like “Birdman” and “1917,” the “real time” is an illusion created by hard-to-detect editing together of several long, elaborately blocked individual shots — this movie was shot in 20 days, not 90 minutes. Still, director James Nunn’s reunion with star Scott Adkins does effectively use that device to heighten immediacy in an effort that may not transcend their usual B-grade, adrenaline-fueled macho fare, but does bring some welcome novelty to the genre.
Seal Lieutenant Jake Harris (Scott Harris) has been emergency-tasked with flying a CIA representative to an ambiguously located high-security isle whose unwilling guests represent a “United Nations of terror,...
Of course, as in other recent films like “Birdman” and “1917,” the “real time” is an illusion created by hard-to-detect editing together of several long, elaborately blocked individual shots — this movie was shot in 20 days, not 90 minutes. Still, director James Nunn’s reunion with star Scott Adkins does effectively use that device to heighten immediacy in an effort that may not transcend their usual B-grade, adrenaline-fueled macho fare, but does bring some welcome novelty to the genre.
Seal Lieutenant Jake Harris (Scott Harris) has been emergency-tasked with flying a CIA representative to an ambiguously located high-security isle whose unwilling guests represent a “United Nations of terror,...
- 11/5/2021
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
The Game Audio Network Guild announced the full list of its 19th annual G.A.N.G. Awards winners for 30 categories in music, sound design, dialogue, mixing and more.
Co-hosted by composers Rachel Robison and Cody Matthew Johnson, the virtual event was streamed live on Twitch.tv for the second year in a row. “The Last of Us Part II” took home the most awards of the night with eight wins including audio of the year, followed by “Ghost of Tsushima” with five wins. Composer Gordy Haab, who won the music of the year award for his work on “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,” received the titular prize for the second year in a row for composing the score for “Star Wars: Squadrons.” With three wins, “Hades” was the indie game to take home the most awards.
See the full list of winners below:
Audio of The Year
Cyberpunk 2077 — CD Projekt Red...
Co-hosted by composers Rachel Robison and Cody Matthew Johnson, the virtual event was streamed live on Twitch.tv for the second year in a row. “The Last of Us Part II” took home the most awards of the night with eight wins including audio of the year, followed by “Ghost of Tsushima” with five wins. Composer Gordy Haab, who won the music of the year award for his work on “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,” received the titular prize for the second year in a row for composing the score for “Star Wars: Squadrons.” With three wins, “Hades” was the indie game to take home the most awards.
See the full list of winners below:
Audio of The Year
Cyberpunk 2077 — CD Projekt Red...
- 4/29/2021
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
“Death Stranding” swept the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) Awards, including winning the top prize of audio of the year. For the first time, the G.A.N.G. Awards were streamed live on Twitch.tv and featured a pre- and post-show on Wednesday night.
A genre-defying action experience by Kojima Productions, “Death Stranding” also won sound design of the year. Other winners of the evening included “Cordova’s Theme” from “Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” for best original choral composition and “Call of Duty: Mobile” for best sound design in a casual/social game.
Said G.A.N.G. president Brian Schmidt: “In this our 18th year, we again recognize the highest achievements in game music, sound and dialogue. We are also excited to round out our indie categories with the new best dialogue for an indie game award, helping recognize the amazing work done by the smallest of teams.
A genre-defying action experience by Kojima Productions, “Death Stranding” also won sound design of the year. Other winners of the evening included “Cordova’s Theme” from “Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” for best original choral composition and “Call of Duty: Mobile” for best sound design in a casual/social game.
Said G.A.N.G. president Brian Schmidt: “In this our 18th year, we again recognize the highest achievements in game music, sound and dialogue. We are also excited to round out our indie categories with the new best dialogue for an indie game award, helping recognize the amazing work done by the smallest of teams.
- 5/7/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Good news is hard to come by right now while everyone is stuck inside due to the current Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, but Sony is coming to the rescue with an exciting announcement for those looking for fantastic games to play. As part of their new Play at Home initiative, Sony will be letting PlayStation 4 owners download Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey completely free from April 15th through May 15th.
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection was available free on PlayStation Plus back in January of this year, while Journey was last seen free on the service way back in 2016, so many gamers may have already gotten their hands on these gems. Regardless, anyone who hasn’t had a chance to play them would be remiss to pass up on the opportunity now, as both are excellent experiences.
Uncharted is an action/adventure series that casts players as treasure hunter...
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection was available free on PlayStation Plus back in January of this year, while Journey was last seen free on the service way back in 2016, so many gamers may have already gotten their hands on these gems. Regardless, anyone who hasn’t had a chance to play them would be remiss to pass up on the opportunity now, as both are excellent experiences.
Uncharted is an action/adventure series that casts players as treasure hunter...
- 4/14/2020
- by Billy Givens
- We Got This Covered
Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir continued her winning streak, claiming top honors for both her “Joker” and “Chernobyl” scores at Tuesday night’s inaugural awards of the Society of Composers & Lyricists at Los Angeles’ Skirball Cultural Center.
Her music for “Joker” was named outstanding original score for a studio film and her score for HBO’s “Chernobyl” was cited as outstanding original score for a television or streaming production. They followed her Golden Globe win Sunday night for “Joker” and BAFTA nomination earlier Tuesday. She won the Emmy in September for her score to the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl.”
Guðnadóttir is among the most talked-about newcomers in film music, first for her “Chernobyl” score (built largely on sounds she recorded while visiting the nuclear power plant where it was shot) and more recently her “Joker” music (her electro-acoustic cello providing the accompaniment for star Joaquin Phoenix’s on-screen dancing). She...
Her music for “Joker” was named outstanding original score for a studio film and her score for HBO’s “Chernobyl” was cited as outstanding original score for a television or streaming production. They followed her Golden Globe win Sunday night for “Joker” and BAFTA nomination earlier Tuesday. She won the Emmy in September for her score to the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl.”
Guðnadóttir is among the most talked-about newcomers in film music, first for her “Chernobyl” score (built largely on sounds she recorded while visiting the nuclear power plant where it was shot) and more recently her “Joker” music (her electro-acoustic cello providing the accompaniment for star Joaquin Phoenix’s on-screen dancing). She...
- 1/8/2020
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Four months after winning an Emmy for her score to the miniseries “Chernobyl” and two days after taking home a Golden Globe for her music to “Joker,” composer Hildur Gudnadottir won new awards for both of those scores at the first annual Scl Awards, presented by the Society of Composers and Lyricists.
Although the Scl was formed in 1983 as an offshoot of previous organizations that had dated back to 1945, its efforts to promote the interests of composers and lyricists working in visual media did not include giving out awards until this year.
“What took you guys so long with the awards?” composer Bill Conti asked at the beginning of the show. “People who work in Hollywood, we need constant approval.”
Also Read: BAFTA Nominations Put '1917' in the Awards Spotlight Again - and 'Joker,' Too
The Icelandic composer Gudnadottir received that approval to the point where she was visibly embarrassed,...
Although the Scl was formed in 1983 as an offshoot of previous organizations that had dated back to 1945, its efforts to promote the interests of composers and lyricists working in visual media did not include giving out awards until this year.
“What took you guys so long with the awards?” composer Bill Conti asked at the beginning of the show. “People who work in Hollywood, we need constant approval.”
Also Read: BAFTA Nominations Put '1917' in the Awards Spotlight Again - and 'Joker,' Too
The Icelandic composer Gudnadottir received that approval to the point where she was visibly embarrassed,...
- 1/8/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Society of Composers & Lyricists has been around for nearly 75 years, but not until this year did the organization start its own annual awards program for music appearing in film, TV and videogames — and the nominees announced Tuesday for the inaugural show are certain to be scrutinized as a bellwether for what to expect as the Motion Picture Academy’s music branch votes on shortlists for the song and score categories.
As expected, Hildur Gudnadóttir scored nominations in film and TV categories alike, with nods for her work on “Joker” and “Chernobyl,” respectively. The latter limited series already won her an Emmy, and she’s being seen as a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination for scoring the blockbuster supervillain origin story.
The Scl Awards have instituted separate categories for scores of studio films and independent films. In the studio division, Gudnadóttir’s “Joker” music will face the scores written by Michael Abels for “Us,...
As expected, Hildur Gudnadóttir scored nominations in film and TV categories alike, with nods for her work on “Joker” and “Chernobyl,” respectively. The latter limited series already won her an Emmy, and she’s being seen as a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination for scoring the blockbuster supervillain origin story.
The Scl Awards have instituted separate categories for scores of studio films and independent films. In the studio division, Gudnadóttir’s “Joker” music will face the scores written by Michael Abels for “Us,...
- 12/4/2019
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
The 31st annual Ascap Film Scoring Workshop got underway today with 12 composers from eight countries around the world. (Participants are listed below.)
Supported by The Ascap Foundation, the comprehensive four-week program takes place in Los Angeles and is designed to equip the selected composers with the knowledge and connections they need to succeed in the film industry. Participants get access to “A list” Hollywood composers and top industry professionals including studio executives, agents, attorneys, music supervisors and more.
The workshop culminates at the historic Newman Scoring Stage at Fox Studios, where each composer has the chance to conduct and record their own original score for a major motion picture scene with a 64-piece orchestra and the same professional tools used by world-class composers.
This year, several high-profile composers will mentor the group, including Oscar nominees (and multiple Emmy winners) John Debney and Bruce Broughton, Grammy-nominated Tom Holkenborg, as well as...
Supported by The Ascap Foundation, the comprehensive four-week program takes place in Los Angeles and is designed to equip the selected composers with the knowledge and connections they need to succeed in the film industry. Participants get access to “A list” Hollywood composers and top industry professionals including studio executives, agents, attorneys, music supervisors and more.
The workshop culminates at the historic Newman Scoring Stage at Fox Studios, where each composer has the chance to conduct and record their own original score for a major motion picture scene with a 64-piece orchestra and the same professional tools used by world-class composers.
This year, several high-profile composers will mentor the group, including Oscar nominees (and multiple Emmy winners) John Debney and Bruce Broughton, Grammy-nominated Tom Holkenborg, as well as...
- 7/8/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
The winners of the 10th Annual Indie Series Awards were announced in a ceremony on Wednesday, April 3, hosted by Eric Martsolf, Kevin Spirtas and Patrika Darbo, all former hosts who returned. Not announced prior to the ceremony, one by one they took the stage declaring they were the best former host and should, obviously, host the milestone 10th anniversary celebration.
Top honors went to Giants and Indoor Boys, named best drama and best comedy series of the year. Giants won awards in a record-breaking seven categories, including best writing, lead actress (Vanessa Baden Kelly), supporting actress (Tanee McCall), score (Austin Wintory) and original song ("More Love" by Kareem James and Ashly Williams). Indoor Boys took home four ISAs, including best writing (Wesley Taylor and Alex Wyse), guest actress in a comedy (Krysta Rodriguez) and guest actor in a comedy (Michael Kostroff).
Other acting winners included Alex Wyse (Only Children), Lou Diamond Phillips (Conversations in L.
Top honors went to Giants and Indoor Boys, named best drama and best comedy series of the year. Giants won awards in a record-breaking seven categories, including best writing, lead actress (Vanessa Baden Kelly), supporting actress (Tanee McCall), score (Austin Wintory) and original song ("More Love" by Kareem James and Ashly Williams). Indoor Boys took home four ISAs, including best writing (Wesley Taylor and Alex Wyse), guest actress in a comedy (Krysta Rodriguez) and guest actor in a comedy (Michael Kostroff).
Other acting winners included Alex Wyse (Only Children), Lou Diamond Phillips (Conversations in L.
- 4/4/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
The Newman scoring stage at 20th Century-Fox was overflowing with people – and good will – as Ascap last night celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Film Scoring Workshop with a studio recording session for the 12 lucky young composers chosen to participate.
“This is like a window into the time continuum, where you can look into the future and see those who are going to make a real contribution to film music,” Ascap president and chairman Paul Williams said. “It’s a cultural gift in one sense, but on another level it’s a really smart business investment.”
The performing-rights society sponsors this four-week event for emerging film and TV composers every summer, with Emmy winner Richard Bellis at the helm. Ascap arranges meetings with agents, lawyers, studio executives and experienced composers; this year’s field trips included visits to the studios of Junkie Xl (“Mad Max Fury Road”), Matthew Margeson...
“This is like a window into the time continuum, where you can look into the future and see those who are going to make a real contribution to film music,” Ascap president and chairman Paul Williams said. “It’s a cultural gift in one sense, but on another level it’s a really smart business investment.”
The performing-rights society sponsors this four-week event for emerging film and TV composers every summer, with Emmy winner Richard Bellis at the helm. Ascap arranges meetings with agents, lawyers, studio executives and experienced composers; this year’s field trips included visits to the studios of Junkie Xl (“Mad Max Fury Road”), Matthew Margeson...
- 8/2/2018
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Nashville is making a major play for film and TV scoring work that, for economic and political reasons, has typically been going overseas. New legislation in Tennessee, which took effect July 1, is designed to attract that work, and some say it’s already having an impact.
When it comes to music for major studio films, most composers’ first choice is to record in Los Angeles and London. But independent films with smaller budgets and video-game producers tasked with creating many hours of gameplay music, two sectors that have been unable to strike a deal with American musicians’ union officials, have been taking their business elsewhere and making a show of it.
Tennessee state officials recently made a pilgrimage to L.A. to pitch the country-music capital as an American alternative. The state’s Visual Content Modernization Act, passed in May and signed by Gov. Bill Haslam, contains provisions for recording...
When it comes to music for major studio films, most composers’ first choice is to record in Los Angeles and London. But independent films with smaller budgets and video-game producers tasked with creating many hours of gameplay music, two sectors that have been unable to strike a deal with American musicians’ union officials, have been taking their business elsewhere and making a show of it.
Tennessee state officials recently made a pilgrimage to L.A. to pitch the country-music capital as an American alternative. The state’s Visual Content Modernization Act, passed in May and signed by Gov. Bill Haslam, contains provisions for recording...
- 7/19/2018
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Two major performance-rights organizations announced this week the launch of workshops designed to aid up-and-coming film and TV composers: Ascap, for film scoring; and Bmi, for conducting.
Both are multi-week events for which hundreds apply annually, and the two will culminate in live recording sessions at Los Angeles area studios later this month.
Ascap began its 30th annual Film Scoring Workshop today, with Emmy-winning composer Richard Bellis as mentor and Ascap film and TV executives Michael Todd and Jennifer Harmon producing.
It’s a comprehensive, four-week program that has proven a launching pad for many composers in the past, including Jim Dooley (“Pushing Daisies”), Rob Duncan (“Castle”), Matthew Margeson (the “Kingsman” movies), Cliff Martinez (“Drive”), Mateo Messina (“Juno”) and Austin Wintory (“Journey”).
This year’s 12 composers — chosen from nearly 400 applicants — include Shaun Crawford of Cape Town, South Africa; Damien Lane of Cambewarra, Australia; Kyle Laporte of Playa Del Rey, Calif.
Both are multi-week events for which hundreds apply annually, and the two will culminate in live recording sessions at Los Angeles area studios later this month.
Ascap began its 30th annual Film Scoring Workshop today, with Emmy-winning composer Richard Bellis as mentor and Ascap film and TV executives Michael Todd and Jennifer Harmon producing.
It’s a comprehensive, four-week program that has proven a launching pad for many composers in the past, including Jim Dooley (“Pushing Daisies”), Rob Duncan (“Castle”), Matthew Margeson (the “Kingsman” movies), Cliff Martinez (“Drive”), Mateo Messina (“Juno”) and Austin Wintory (“Journey”).
This year’s 12 composers — chosen from nearly 400 applicants — include Shaun Crawford of Cape Town, South Africa; Damien Lane of Cambewarra, Australia; Kyle Laporte of Playa Del Rey, Calif.
- 7/9/2018
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Indie studio Stoic is bringing its critically-acclaimed turn-based strategy title “The Banner Saga” to Nintendo Switch on May 17, the company announced on Thursday.
“The Banner Saga” is a single-player Viking-themed game, where a player’s choices about travel, conversation, and combat affect the outcome of the story. There are over 25 playable characters and seven different classes with their own unique abilities and upgrade options.
“Launching ‘The Banner Saga’ on Nintendo Switch is an exciting moment for us. As we gear up in 2018 to enter the third and final chapter of the series, it’s only fitting we give Nintendo players an opportunity to enjoy this award winning Viking-inspired saga where the journey begins,” said Versus Evil general manager Steve Escalante.
“We’ve always strived to share this epic series and the narrative of the saga across a variety of platforms and we are thrilled to now bring ‘The...
“The Banner Saga” is a single-player Viking-themed game, where a player’s choices about travel, conversation, and combat affect the outcome of the story. There are over 25 playable characters and seven different classes with their own unique abilities and upgrade options.
“Launching ‘The Banner Saga’ on Nintendo Switch is an exciting moment for us. As we gear up in 2018 to enter the third and final chapter of the series, it’s only fitting we give Nintendo players an opportunity to enjoy this award winning Viking-inspired saga where the journey begins,” said Versus Evil general manager Steve Escalante.
“We’ve always strived to share this epic series and the narrative of the saga across a variety of platforms and we are thrilled to now bring ‘The...
- 5/10/2018
- by Stefanie Fogel
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Chaos Walking director Doug Liman has joined upcoming documentary Tread, about the Colorado welder who rampaged through his local town in a weaponized bulldozer. Liman will produce the Paul Solet-directed (Grace) movie alongside Undefeated producer Glen Zipper and Sean Stuart, producer on Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming Muhammad Ali documentary for HBO. Great Point Media will launch the project in Cannes next month. CAA reps U.S.
The project charts the story of Marvin John Heemeyer, the American welder who in 2004 became known for his rampage with a modified bulldozer. Outraged over zoning disputes, he armored a Komatsu D355A bulldozer with layers of steel and concrete and used it to demolish the town hall, the former mayor’s house, and other buildings in Granby, Colorado. The rampage ended when the bulldozer got stuck in the basement of a Gambles store he was in the process of destroying. Heemeyer...
The project charts the story of Marvin John Heemeyer, the American welder who in 2004 became known for his rampage with a modified bulldozer. Outraged over zoning disputes, he armored a Komatsu D355A bulldozer with layers of steel and concrete and used it to demolish the town hall, the former mayor’s house, and other buildings in Granby, Colorado. The rampage ended when the bulldozer got stuck in the basement of a Gambles store he was in the process of destroying. Heemeyer...
- 4/27/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Beta invitations for “Sky,” the next game from “Journey” developer Thatgamecompany, are being sent out to players now on iOS and AppleTV, ResetEra member Francesco reports.
Thatgamecompany currently hasn’t said anything about the beta invitations. But, judging by the ResetEra post, replies and images from the game, invitations are being sent out via email. Prospective players can request early access to the game on the developer’s website.
While there aren’t many details about the game in the thread, original poster Francesco did reveal the game requires iOS firmware 8.0 or later to run. Additionally, only one other user in the thread writes that the game is “beautiful, but there is too much bloom.”
Bloom is a graphics effect to reproduce the image artifacting of real-world cameras, creating an illusion that light is very bright in an effort to catch the eye.
“Sky” is expected to be released sometime later this year,...
Thatgamecompany currently hasn’t said anything about the beta invitations. But, judging by the ResetEra post, replies and images from the game, invitations are being sent out via email. Prospective players can request early access to the game on the developer’s website.
While there aren’t many details about the game in the thread, original poster Francesco did reveal the game requires iOS firmware 8.0 or later to run. Additionally, only one other user in the thread writes that the game is “beautiful, but there is too much bloom.”
Bloom is a graphics effect to reproduce the image artifacting of real-world cameras, creating an illusion that light is very bright in an effort to catch the eye.
“Sky” is expected to be released sometime later this year,...
- 4/17/2018
- by Blake Hester
- Variety Film + TV
November 28, 2017 was a note-worthy evening as Education Through Music-Los Angeles (Etm-la) hosted its 12th Anniversary Benefit Gala.
Vincent Womack and Joshua Bell with Host Malcolm McDowell
Credit/Copyright: Danny Moloshok
Supporters from the music, film and education communities gathered to honor Grammy-Winning Violinist Joshua Bell, and Veteran Music Teacher (Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles Unified School District) Vincent Womack at the Skirball Cultural Center.
The event was hosted by Malcolm McDowell (Mozart in the Jungle), and featured special performances and presentations by Joshua Bell (Grammy winning violinist), Billy Childs (Grammy winning pianist/composer), Judith Hill (The Voice, Prince, Michael Jackson), Joanne Pearce Martin (pianist, Los Angeles Philharmonic,) Dr. Lemmon McMillan, guest Chris Botti (Grammy winning trumpeter), Foshay Learning Center Students and Education Through Music-La Students. Executive Director of Etm-la Victoria Lanier welcomed co-chair hosts Lola Debney and Alecia Spendlove. Honorary chairs of the gala include music education champions and...
Vincent Womack and Joshua Bell with Host Malcolm McDowell
Credit/Copyright: Danny Moloshok
Supporters from the music, film and education communities gathered to honor Grammy-Winning Violinist Joshua Bell, and Veteran Music Teacher (Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles Unified School District) Vincent Womack at the Skirball Cultural Center.
The event was hosted by Malcolm McDowell (Mozart in the Jungle), and featured special performances and presentations by Joshua Bell (Grammy winning violinist), Billy Childs (Grammy winning pianist/composer), Judith Hill (The Voice, Prince, Michael Jackson), Joanne Pearce Martin (pianist, Los Angeles Philharmonic,) Dr. Lemmon McMillan, guest Chris Botti (Grammy winning trumpeter), Foshay Learning Center Students and Education Through Music-La Students. Executive Director of Etm-la Victoria Lanier welcomed co-chair hosts Lola Debney and Alecia Spendlove. Honorary chairs of the gala include music education champions and...
- 12/7/2017
- Look to the Stars
Epic Pictures Group has a special season treat for horror fans this fall: a four-disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray / DVD release of their Tales of Halloween anthology film.
Scheduled for a September 13th release, the Tales of Halloween Blu-ray / DVD is brimming with ghoulish goodies, including a CD of the movie’s soundtrack, video diaries, exclusive short films from Neil Marshall and Lucky Mckee, and much more:
Press Release (via Rama’s Screen): Los Angeles, CA – August 10, 2016 – Epic Pictures Group announced today that they will release a limited edition Blu-Ray and DVD collector’s set of Tales of Halloween on September 13, 2016. “Certified Fresh” by Rotten Tomatoes, the horror anthology film which brings together an all-star lineup of horror heavyweight directors and actors, premiered to strong critical acclaim at the 2015 Fantasia International Film Festival. Epic Pictures Releasing, the Us distribution division of Epic Pictures Group, released the film in theaters...
Scheduled for a September 13th release, the Tales of Halloween Blu-ray / DVD is brimming with ghoulish goodies, including a CD of the movie’s soundtrack, video diaries, exclusive short films from Neil Marshall and Lucky Mckee, and much more:
Press Release (via Rama’s Screen): Los Angeles, CA – August 10, 2016 – Epic Pictures Group announced today that they will release a limited edition Blu-Ray and DVD collector’s set of Tales of Halloween on September 13, 2016. “Certified Fresh” by Rotten Tomatoes, the horror anthology film which brings together an all-star lineup of horror heavyweight directors and actors, premiered to strong critical acclaim at the 2015 Fantasia International Film Festival. Epic Pictures Releasing, the Us distribution division of Epic Pictures Group, released the film in theaters...
- 8/11/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Expectations for art are often determined by who is involved in the creation. As someone who adored ThatGameCompany’s Journey, I was naturally excited when I heard that the critically acclaimed game’s art director and composer were teaming up for a brand new experience. Called ABZÛ, the debut title from developer Giant Squid is a gorgeous third-person adventure that allows gamers to explore the wondrous ocean.
From the opening sequence where I was floating in the sea waiting to take my first dive into the unknown depths, Matt Nava’s artwork is immediately impressive. ABZÛ isn’t a completely accurate interpretation of the ocean; instead, it’s meant to represent the ideal version of it, capturing all of the sense of wonder without any of the disappointing realities.
Unlike Afrika, the aquatic wildlife here isn’t modelled to a lifelike degree, and instead presents exaggerated versions of each sea creature,...
From the opening sequence where I was floating in the sea waiting to take my first dive into the unknown depths, Matt Nava’s artwork is immediately impressive. ABZÛ isn’t a completely accurate interpretation of the ocean; instead, it’s meant to represent the ideal version of it, capturing all of the sense of wonder without any of the disappointing realities.
Unlike Afrika, the aquatic wildlife here isn’t modelled to a lifelike degree, and instead presents exaggerated versions of each sea creature,...
- 8/2/2016
- by Tyler Treese
- We Got This Covered
In advance of the launch of the video game’ “Abzu” on Aug. 2, TheWrap has been given a pair of exclusive tracks from Austin Wintory’s score for the game, and you can take a listen to them below. When it comes to video game soundtracks, Wintory is one of the names to know. His score for the PlayStation 3 title “Journey” was the first video game soundtrack ever to be nominated for a Grammy, for one thing. “Abzu” was developed by Giant Squid Studios and published by 505 Games. Giant Squid was founded by Matt Nava, best known as the art director...
- 7/28/2016
- by Phil Owen
- The Wrap
Like it or love it, The Banner Saga 2 struck an emotional chord with PC audiences when it launched in April. The continued toils of Rook (or Alette) brought forth brand-new, disastrous battles and conversations that fans needed to navigate, and players confined to the Xbox One don’t have to wait long to experience this game’s antarctic apocalypse.
They don’t have to wait at all, actually. Stoic Studios released The Banner Saga 2 to the Xbox One masses today. If you purchased Xbox Live Gold, too, you can download this heartbreaking fusion of turn-based skirmishes, Viking folklore, and The Oregon Trail for free (courtesy of this month’s Games With Gold).
PS4 fans must wait until July 5, as reported by the PlayStation Blog, but The Banner Saga 2 offers a bonus accessory on consoles.
Per the developers:
Xbox One gamers will all get an exclusive passive ability boost, the Tome of X,...
They don’t have to wait at all, actually. Stoic Studios released The Banner Saga 2 to the Xbox One masses today. If you purchased Xbox Live Gold, too, you can download this heartbreaking fusion of turn-based skirmishes, Viking folklore, and The Oregon Trail for free (courtesy of this month’s Games With Gold).
PS4 fans must wait until July 5, as reported by the PlayStation Blog, but The Banner Saga 2 offers a bonus accessory on consoles.
Per the developers:
Xbox One gamers will all get an exclusive passive ability boost, the Tome of X,...
- 7/2/2016
- by Joshua Kowbel
- We Got This Covered
TopDollarPR
It’s not every day you get to sit down with a seasoned composer of the industry, and it was with great pleasure I got the chance to talk to Jason Graves, the man behind Far Cry Primal’s composition, as well as many other prolific games such as Dead Space, Tomb Raider’s 2013 reboot and Until Dawn, to name but three.
Primal itself is Ubisoft’s prominent left-turn from the otherwise modern setting the franchise had been routed in to this point. By literally having the game with an onscreen graphic rewinding time from 2016 all the way back to 10,000 BC, it required the team to reevaluate every game mechanic and ability, reworking them for an entirely new time period.
Honestly, whilst the game itself seems to be coming under fire for reusing too many of the same aspects as Far Cry 4, it’s become a personal early highlight of the year,...
It’s not every day you get to sit down with a seasoned composer of the industry, and it was with great pleasure I got the chance to talk to Jason Graves, the man behind Far Cry Primal’s composition, as well as many other prolific games such as Dead Space, Tomb Raider’s 2013 reboot and Until Dawn, to name but three.
Primal itself is Ubisoft’s prominent left-turn from the otherwise modern setting the franchise had been routed in to this point. By literally having the game with an onscreen graphic rewinding time from 2016 all the way back to 10,000 BC, it required the team to reevaluate every game mechanic and ability, reworking them for an entirely new time period.
Honestly, whilst the game itself seems to be coming under fire for reusing too many of the same aspects as Far Cry 4, it’s become a personal early highlight of the year,...
- 3/3/2016
- by Scott Tailford
- Obsessed with Film
Aleph Records will release the Tales Of Halloween – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack exclusively on iTunes on October 23, 2015.
The film is a horror anthology featuring original music by Joseph Bishara (The Conjuring), Michael Sean Colin (Killjoy Goes To Hell), Christopher Drake (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns video games), Christian Henson (The Devil’S Double), Bobby Johnston (Wristcutters: A Love Story), Jimmy Psycho (The Jimmy Psycho Experiment), Sean Spillane (Jug Face), Edwin Wendler (Unnatural), and Austin Wintory (Dark Summer).
The film features main titles by legendary composer Lalo Schifrin (The Amityville Horror), whose son Ryan Schifrin directed one of the segments.
“This film is our love letter to the holiday of Halloween. And to have a main title from the man that wrote the Academy Award nominated score for The Amityville Horror is setting the bar even higher,” said Ryan. “What makes Tales Of Halloween really special is that you have one...
The film is a horror anthology featuring original music by Joseph Bishara (The Conjuring), Michael Sean Colin (Killjoy Goes To Hell), Christopher Drake (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns video games), Christian Henson (The Devil’S Double), Bobby Johnston (Wristcutters: A Love Story), Jimmy Psycho (The Jimmy Psycho Experiment), Sean Spillane (Jug Face), Edwin Wendler (Unnatural), and Austin Wintory (Dark Summer).
The film features main titles by legendary composer Lalo Schifrin (The Amityville Horror), whose son Ryan Schifrin directed one of the segments.
“This film is our love letter to the holiday of Halloween. And to have a main title from the man that wrote the Academy Award nominated score for The Amityville Horror is setting the bar even higher,” said Ryan. “What makes Tales Of Halloween really special is that you have one...
- 10/15/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Whitewater Roundtable strives to facilitate community-building within the independent film industry. Through a series of face-to-face, lunch-time discussions addressing the art and craft of filmmaking, industry professionals share the freshest information on a wide spectrum of topics.
Their most recent panel featured a lively discussion on the art and commerce of short films, presented in conjunction with the Hollyshorts Film Festival. Other Roundtables, featured in The Hollywood Reporter , The Huffington Post , The Wrap and Film Closings , have addressed: how to successfully market indie films in the post-print media era, the interplay of image and music, piracy and its effect on independent films, the rise of Transmedia, the impact casting continues to have on foreign pre-sales and domestic deals, and much more. Check out highlights from the State of Independent Film roundtable on Ondi Timoner's a Total Disruption.
The Whitewater Roundtable is moderated by a professional member of the press, previously Jeremy Kay of Screen International and our very own Dana Harris of Indiewire, and guests are encouraged to participate in the discussions that follow a lunch hosted by Rick Rosenthal and the team at Whitewater Films.
A special 5th Year Anniversary Whitewater Film Roundtable titled "#Tbt - Whitewater Films Roundtable - 5 Years Later How has Independent Film Changed," featuring the original panelists from the very first Whitewater Films Roundtable will take place on April 30, 2015 from 1- 3pm in the courtyard at Whitewater Films, 2013 Beloit Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
You can RSVP to rsvp@whitewaterfilms.com
Previous panelists have included:
Lynette Howell / Silverwood Films Liesl Copland / Wme Nadine DeBarros / Voltage Pictures Austin Wintory / Composer Anne Goursaud / Editor iZLER / Composer Jordan Passman / scoreAscore Jay Fernandez / Hollywood Reporter (moderator) Sharon Waxman / The Wrap (moderator) Jeremy Kay / Screen International (moderator) Sara Vizcarrondo / Boxoffice Magazine (moderator) Dana Harris / Indiewire (Moderator) Nancy Collet / Cinema Collet Eric d'Aberloff / Roadside Attractions Naomi Despres / Producer Tom Clary / Scoundrel FX Michael Cioni / Lightiron Digital David Cole / LaserPacific Sylvia Desrochers / Big Time PR Harris Done / Writer, director, cameraman Jacob Aaron Estes / Filmmaker And many more.....
Their most recent panel featured a lively discussion on the art and commerce of short films, presented in conjunction with the Hollyshorts Film Festival. Other Roundtables, featured in The Hollywood Reporter , The Huffington Post , The Wrap and Film Closings , have addressed: how to successfully market indie films in the post-print media era, the interplay of image and music, piracy and its effect on independent films, the rise of Transmedia, the impact casting continues to have on foreign pre-sales and domestic deals, and much more. Check out highlights from the State of Independent Film roundtable on Ondi Timoner's a Total Disruption.
The Whitewater Roundtable is moderated by a professional member of the press, previously Jeremy Kay of Screen International and our very own Dana Harris of Indiewire, and guests are encouraged to participate in the discussions that follow a lunch hosted by Rick Rosenthal and the team at Whitewater Films.
A special 5th Year Anniversary Whitewater Film Roundtable titled "#Tbt - Whitewater Films Roundtable - 5 Years Later How has Independent Film Changed," featuring the original panelists from the very first Whitewater Films Roundtable will take place on April 30, 2015 from 1- 3pm in the courtyard at Whitewater Films, 2013 Beloit Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
You can RSVP to rsvp@whitewaterfilms.com
Previous panelists have included:
Lynette Howell / Silverwood Films Liesl Copland / Wme Nadine DeBarros / Voltage Pictures Austin Wintory / Composer Anne Goursaud / Editor iZLER / Composer Jordan Passman / scoreAscore Jay Fernandez / Hollywood Reporter (moderator) Sharon Waxman / The Wrap (moderator) Jeremy Kay / Screen International (moderator) Sara Vizcarrondo / Boxoffice Magazine (moderator) Dana Harris / Indiewire (Moderator) Nancy Collet / Cinema Collet Eric d'Aberloff / Roadside Attractions Naomi Despres / Producer Tom Clary / Scoundrel FX Michael Cioni / Lightiron Digital David Cole / LaserPacific Sylvia Desrochers / Big Time PR Harris Done / Writer, director, cameraman Jacob Aaron Estes / Filmmaker And many more.....
- 4/22/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The International Film Music Critics Association has revealed nominations for best in movie music from 2014, and prolific composers James Newton Howard ("The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1," "Maleficent") and Alexandre Desplat ("Godzilla," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," "The Imitation Game," "The Monuments Men") led the way with seven and six nominations respectively. Film score of the year contenders include just two Best Original Score Oscar nominees: "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and Hans Zimmer's "Interstellar." "The Imitation Game" and Jóhann Jóhannsson's "Theory of Everything," however, were both nominated in the drama category. "Maleficent" landed the most nominations for a film with four, while DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon 2" picked up three (each of them another if you count composer of the year honors for Howard and John Powell respectively). Check out the full list of nominees below. Winners will be revealed on Feb. 19. And be sure...
- 2/6/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMAs) have announced the nominees in the Visual Media categories.
Showcasing the best and brightest in musical creation for visual media, the 5th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMAs) will be held at The Fonda Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
The 2014 HMMAs welcome back celebrity hosts including Oscar nominated actor Eric Roberts, former Matchbox 20 member Adam Gaynor, acclaimed Director/Writer/Producer Andy Fickman and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Verdine White. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Education Through Music – Los Angeles (Etmla). Honorees, performers, and special guests to be announced.
The field of entrants were narrowed down to final nominees by the Hmma advisory board and selection committee. The winners will be voted upon by music-media industry professionals comprised of select members of the Society of Composers and Lyricists (Scl), The Television Academy, the AMPAS Music Branch, Naras, performing rights organizations,...
Showcasing the best and brightest in musical creation for visual media, the 5th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMAs) will be held at The Fonda Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
The 2014 HMMAs welcome back celebrity hosts including Oscar nominated actor Eric Roberts, former Matchbox 20 member Adam Gaynor, acclaimed Director/Writer/Producer Andy Fickman and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Verdine White. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Education Through Music – Los Angeles (Etmla). Honorees, performers, and special guests to be announced.
The field of entrants were narrowed down to final nominees by the Hmma advisory board and selection committee. The winners will be voted upon by music-media industry professionals comprised of select members of the Society of Composers and Lyricists (Scl), The Television Academy, the AMPAS Music Branch, Naras, performing rights organizations,...
- 10/9/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Somehow over the years the Hollywood Music in Media Awards have escaped me. The event's fifth annual slate of nominees were announced today, and it's a pretty standard assortment of names we've been considering at the forefront of this year's Best Original Score Oscar race, from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to Hans Zimmer to the ubiquitous Alexandre Desplat. The nominees were chosen by an "Hmma advisory board and selection committee," and winners will be voted upon by "music-media industry professionals comprised of select members of the Society of Composers and Lyricists, The Television Academy, the AMPAS Music Branch, Naras, performing rights organizations, film music journalists and music executives," according to the press release. You might raise your eyebrow at something like "Interstellar" being on here when it hasn't been screened for these purposes (or much at all, for that matter). The nominations are also based on hearing music via...
- 10/8/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
What are the big exclusive PlayStation 4 titles to look forward to over the next year or two? Here's our round-up...
Feature
The PlayStation 4 remains the dominant console of this generation so far, and even though the Xbox One is rapidly improving, both in terms of features and public opinion, Sony still has the upper hand. Heading into E3 with this in mind certainly gave Sony an edge, and although Microsoft nailed it with a great conference, Sony had plenty of reveals and announcements to counter. There were remasters of older games, long awaited sequels and some new IPs, with some exclusives that would make any Xbox owner a little jealous.
Here's our list of the best upcoming exclusives coming to the PS4 in the next year.
20. Road Not Taken
This is an interesting one. Coming from Spry Fox, best known for mobile game, Triple Town, Road Not Taken is a...
Feature
The PlayStation 4 remains the dominant console of this generation so far, and even though the Xbox One is rapidly improving, both in terms of features and public opinion, Sony still has the upper hand. Heading into E3 with this in mind certainly gave Sony an edge, and although Microsoft nailed it with a great conference, Sony had plenty of reveals and announcements to counter. There were remasters of older games, long awaited sequels and some new IPs, with some exclusives that would make any Xbox owner a little jealous.
Here's our list of the best upcoming exclusives coming to the PS4 in the next year.
20. Road Not Taken
This is an interesting one. Coming from Spry Fox, best known for mobile game, Triple Town, Road Not Taken is a...
- 6/16/2014
- by aaronbirch
- Den of Geek
Join us this week as we spooge all over Dragon Age: Inquisition some more, as well as talk new games like Lifeless Planet and The Road Not Taken, and go over the new Dlc for Diablo III. We also spotlight The Mighty 9 in our Kickstart This, and much to JDot's chagrin feature a mashup of Tmnt and Mario in the Colartibles. Finally we touch on Rocket Racoon and who the guy was that Bradley Cooper played in the A Team. Make sure to give our Extra Life donation page a look or a share as well! The Music featured in this episode was from Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded (by Austin Wintory) and Gunpoint (by Ryan Ike). Enjoy the show!
- 9/4/2013
- by Matthew Mueller
- GeekTyrant
Gaming may be a few decades old, having long ago ridden its light cycle out of the arcade, yet many still seem to think game music consists of bloops and bleeps.
It's an idea as outdated as disco. So it;s fitting that Nile Rodgers -- the legendary producer and Chic member who best connects that era to this one thanks to his Daft Punk collab "Get Lucky" -- is the person most responsible for giving game music a proper hearing in North America.
Back in 1998, three years after the first PlayStation popularized CD technology in gaming -- dramatically increasing game music's complexity by allowing prerecorded streaming rather than just live sequencing -- Rodgers launched Sumthing Else Music and Sumthing Distribution to get game soundtracks off screen and into stores.
But this story really begins back in the late '70s, when Rodgers first became a gamer.
“When we first started making records,...
It's an idea as outdated as disco. So it;s fitting that Nile Rodgers -- the legendary producer and Chic member who best connects that era to this one thanks to his Daft Punk collab "Get Lucky" -- is the person most responsible for giving game music a proper hearing in North America.
Back in 1998, three years after the first PlayStation popularized CD technology in gaming -- dramatically increasing game music's complexity by allowing prerecorded streaming rather than just live sequencing -- Rodgers launched Sumthing Else Music and Sumthing Distribution to get game soundtracks off screen and into stores.
But this story really begins back in the late '70s, when Rodgers first became a gamer.
“When we first started making records,...
- 8/8/2013
- by HuffPost Canada Music
- Huffington Post
Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is a game. Scratch that. Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is an interactive musical experience, which I’ve been looking to get my hands on since Pax East. Created by the indie developer Threaks, the game’s mechanics are built around an original soundtrack created by a range of talented musicians, including Austin Wintory and Sabrepulse. Every creature in the game has its own unique musical rhythm and interactions with them create a living song that the player has control over.
As a musical action-adventure game, Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians belongs to a genre that doesn’t come across my desk very often. Unlike most other rhythm games, which generally consist of button mashing or bad singing, this one was actually a pleasure to play through. Furthermore, it isn’t about simply dancing or following a rhythm, but instead the whole game is alive...
As a musical action-adventure game, Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians belongs to a genre that doesn’t come across my desk very often. Unlike most other rhythm games, which generally consist of button mashing or bad singing, this one was actually a pleasure to play through. Furthermore, it isn’t about simply dancing or following a rhythm, but instead the whole game is alive...
- 8/6/2013
- by Nick Shively
- We Got This Covered
We caught up with actor and producer Marc Senter over the weekend to chat with him regarding his role in Grace director Paul Solet’s BlackBoxTV short Going Down as well as his growing musical inclinations and more. Read on!
Senter, who came to horror audiences’ attention with his starring role of “Ray Pye” in Chris Sivertson’s 2006 indie darling The Lost, and who subsequently has appeared in Darren Lynn Bousman’s The Devil’s Carnival and Simon Rumley’s Red, White & Blue, riffed on his collaboration with Solet on the Angel Heart’esque Going Down.
“Paul and I met a handful of years back,” said Senter, who portrays “Gunther Clearly” opposite actress Dinora Walcott in Going Down, of the collaboration. “We've wanted to work together for a while now so it was a blast finally getting the opportunity to do so. Aside from being a great director, Paul's also a really positive guy.
Senter, who came to horror audiences’ attention with his starring role of “Ray Pye” in Chris Sivertson’s 2006 indie darling The Lost, and who subsequently has appeared in Darren Lynn Bousman’s The Devil’s Carnival and Simon Rumley’s Red, White & Blue, riffed on his collaboration with Solet on the Angel Heart’esque Going Down.
“Paul and I met a handful of years back,” said Senter, who portrays “Gunther Clearly” opposite actress Dinora Walcott in Going Down, of the collaboration. “We've wanted to work together for a while now so it was a blast finally getting the opportunity to do so. Aside from being a great director, Paul's also a really positive guy.
- 4/23/2013
- by Sean Decker
- DreadCentral.com
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. Like, what's more off-putting than an elevator ride? It's claustrophobic; you're trapped in a tiny box with strange people. Any number of bad things can happen. And that's the premise behind a dastardly short entitled Going Down.
Directed by Paul Solet, Going Down was shot in one day and edited in three, and it's a testament to what can be done with minimal time and resources. It's a truly effective vehicle, and the whole thing takes about five minutes. Nicely done. The film stars the amazing Marc Senter and Dinora Walcott with a score by Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory.
Synopsis
Gunther Cleary has his whole day mapped out, but a simple elevator ride shows him that life doesn't always go as planned.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Go down on someone in the comments section below!
Directed by Paul Solet, Going Down was shot in one day and edited in three, and it's a testament to what can be done with minimal time and resources. It's a truly effective vehicle, and the whole thing takes about five minutes. Nicely done. The film stars the amazing Marc Senter and Dinora Walcott with a score by Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory.
Synopsis
Gunther Cleary has his whole day mapped out, but a simple elevator ride shows him that life doesn't always go as planned.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Go down on someone in the comments section below!
- 4/15/2013
- by Scott Hallam
- DreadCentral.com
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