MUSIC SUPERVISION

Music Supervising entails a number of responsibilities, some creative, some strictly business. In regards to the creative, the music supervisor must understand what the director feels is the overall purpose of the music in the film. Whether enhanced by an original score written specifically for the scenes, or by pre-recorded music from a band or solo artist, the film must have a music coordinator who can choose music that will compliment the sensibilities of the director and the direction of the score. This usually calls for a knowledge of music history, be it classical, pop, jazz, country, etc. Especially in the case of documentary films, the music must be accurate in it's support of the scene and the emotion. If the setting is Mexico in 1846 and the scene calls for military music to accompany the Mexican Army into battle, research would be conducted to determine what music would be appropriate, whether it be an original score or music licensed from a pre-existing recording.

The business part comes into play when it is decided that a pre- existing composition and/or recording is to be used in a scene. At that point, the music supervisor must find and contact the publisher of the composition and the record label of the particular recording and negotiate a deal for usage of the music in the film, and perhaps the soundtrack. Many times a producer will hope to generate money from the release of a CD soundtrack of the film. Whether it turns out to be the director's favorite band, or a record label anxious to make a deal to get publicity for a new artist, the details fall into the experienced hands of the Music Supervisor.

BRYANT-HAMES MUSIC HAS SERVED AS MUSIC SUPERVISOR ON THE FOLLOWING FILMS:

THE U.S.-MEXICAN WAR •1998 Emmy Award winner for Best Documentary, 4 hour episodic film for PBS.

CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS • (additional music supervision assisting Anita Camarata) starring James Woods, Kathy Bates, Lou Gossett, and Randy Quaid. Written by Sam Shepard. Bruce Beresford-Executive Producer. Michael McClary-Director.

A FIGHT TO THE FINISH: STORIES OF POLIO • Important new Documentary film to be released in 2000. Produced and directed by Ken Mandel.

ANNIE O • Showtime Movie Channel. Feature film produced by Larry Sugar for Showtime.

FRIDA KAHLO...A RIBBON AROUND A BOMB • U.S. Theatrical release and broadcast on PBS.