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  4. My very first REAL score to a short film

  • My very first REAL score to a short film

    W
    W
    Please, listen, comment and opinionate on the following pieces:

    http://home.hetnet.nl/~weslldeckers66/Headache_finale_wo-limited.mp3
    http://home.hetnet.nl/~weslldeckers66/Paranoia%20Suite-E2_wo-limited2.mp3
    http://home.hetnet.nl/~weslldeckers66/Pots_wo-limited.mp3
    http://home.hetnet.nl/~weslldeckers66/The%20Job-E2_wo-limited.mp3

    These are cues from a project I've been working on with friends for two weeks. It is a last-minute project for a festival with an entry closing date just last weekend, leaving us two and half weeks for scripting, prep, shooting and the entire post.

    Starring Alex van de Ven, the film (set in 1896) is about some student applying for a job as a nightwatch in the archives of a university, for a smudgy congierge. The biology archive... meaning horror staples like glasses with dead animals, stuffed animals, creaking wood...
    Needles to say, the student is overcome by paranoia.
    I won't give away the ending, since I probably can show the film after the festival late next month.
    Written and directed by Joris van Os. I was DP, as well as editor and composer.

    For this score (14 minutes of score for a 16 minute movie) I had only one day, and therefore I HAD to rely on gut feeling and skip my idea of using notation software for composing. Instead I played evrything layer for layer.

    Instruments used: waterphone (modulated and FX), tam tam, thundersheet, plate bells, cow bells (metal and bowed), bass, piano, clarinet, trombone (just for three short instances), glockenspiel and celesta.
    All VSL Opus, except the piano (GigaPianoII).
    SOme sounds may trick you, but it is all VSL!

    There's much low noises throughout the picture, echoing FX (Bartok pizz on the bass very remniscent of the echoplex effect in Alien, by Jerry Goldsmith), and 'total' chaos in the "Paranoia Suite".

    In total, I've worked some 16 to 18 hours on the score.
    For these examples, I've used the film-cues which were limited to reduce the great volume/dynamic range of the originals.

    Enjoy!! [6]
  • W
    W
    BTW: the title of the short is "Biggetje" (Dutch for "Piglet": a young pig).


    [EDIT] ...well, enough views! But nobody willing to comment? Or is it THAT bad??
  • M
    M
    I guess nobody answers because it is that good ... boy ... you are a genius!

    Great respect!

    That's an extraordinary film score ... new stuff, new sound ... I'm shure that you and your work will be definately a great success!

    I'm blown away !!!

    All the best,
    Hans-Peter
  • W
    W
    [:O]ops: ...not embarrased, but blushing... Genius? Blown away by it? ...Anyway, thanks for liking it! That's always great.

    Of course, these four are the best tracks to represent the score. I've started working on some extended 'album' pieces, where I can explore the thematic (or rather motivic) content a bit more, and strive for some more melody, since we didn't want much of that in the score.

    All in all, I thought to stay away from the standard horror sound by not including strings (but DID include bass at the last moment) and yet, to 'flirt' with the conventions for a little irony, by mimicking some onscreen things (a pot with a piglet, a stuffed bird, glass sounds) and twisting them to make them musical FX instead of sound design.

    Of course, more of these very positive reactions are welcome! (And useful critisism as well!!)
  • H
    H
    Ok Wes, here goes.

    I like this. The use of sound is excellent and the transition is good from rythmic (Piano? and something else?) to mysterioso with only one comment. The tom tom or bass tom you used for this isn't profound enough. It's just me no doubt, but i think a decent wallop here with a traling reverb (not too much) would really give the change something extra, and keep the tension up a little longer, highlighting the release in a more significant way. Maybe double the tom with a Grande Casse or something like that.
    Otherwise this is really interesting to listen to.

    I'll listen to the others a little later and get back to you.

    Regards,

    Alex.
  • H
    H
    Ok Wes, here we go again! [:D]

    Paranoia is a great concept, really interesting, and i enjoyed the listen.

    What is paranoia. The extrapolation of unreality from reality. How long does it take? Depends on the individual. Generally there is a gradual seepage, and then descent from reality into chaotic unreality.
    I think you got this going just a little too early, and introduced the manic sounds before the 'twitch' of descent had time to develop. I can appreciate the time limit you worked under, but i still think a liitle patience would have a far greater impact.

    I'd really like to hear this over a longer time span, so if you ever do it let me know.

    This is good work Wes,

    Regards,

    Alex.
  • H
    H
    Wes, excellent.
    This is really listenable, and in my opinion, (and i only ever speak for myself) the best so far. The balance of 'oddities' is almost perfect. Near the end, the etheral fairy swimming through mollasses sound goes one step too far.[:D]

    This is outstanding and a refreshing change from so many other ethereal attempts i've heard.

    Well done Wes,

    Regards,

    Alex.
  • H
    H
    Wes, again excellent.
    The ethereal fairy (lol) seems to tie the last two movements together, and they do fit together that's for sure.

    Overall, a listenable, interesting work that doesn't tire or bore. I'm impressed with your choice of sound, and counter sounds, and most importantly of all you didn't go OTT attempting to make it as weird as possible by including more. Once again, if you consider extending Paranoia a few more minutes, allowing more time between events, i'd be interested in hearing it.

    My respects to you,

    Alex.
  • G
    G
    Listening to 'the job' -- very effective, got both my daughters interested.

    One just walked in, said, "I like this music!", before that, they were both screaming along with some of the sounds.

    Pretty economical use of sounds and ideas, keeping everything effective.

    Pots lost their interest, and mine a little. Maybe too scattered or something, and the single note repeated with ritardando, accelerando sounds 20 years or more out of date for me.

    Hope to return for the others soon.
  • W
    W
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    @Another User said:

    Near the end, the etheral fairy swimming through mollasses sound goes one step too far.


    LOL!! I called it the piggy-squeal, because it reminded me of that. Like your description even more!
    Looking back now I can still appreciate what I've done, especially with the stressful timeframe. Some things could've been better... But that's for (hopefully) a new project at the end of the year...

    Thanks for your comments. An extended Paranoia Suite (probably in a real suite) is definately slated for this month. I'll have to hurry though, because I can't wait to start on my next concept album!
  • W
    W
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    @Another User said:

    One just walked in, said, "I like this music!", before that, they were both screaming along with some of the sounds.


    Best compliment yet! [[;)]] Have to keep the youth interested!


    In a few days I should be able to post one of the 'album' pieces for evaluation. I hope you guys wil be enthousiastic about that.
    Kind regards,
    Wesll Deckers
  • PaulP Paul moved this topic from Orchestration & Composition on