Score(2017)

Storyline

• For a predominately visual medium like cinema, its musical component plays a vital role as well, especially its score. In that essential musical accompaniment, the soul of the film is expressed whether it be sweepingly majestic fanfares or delicate lyrical pieces. This documentary explores the artistic role of this special musical discipline that completes the cinematic artistic creation process and the artists who have devoted their careers to this contribution. We explore the form's history and examine the masters who defined it with their own distinctive artistic vision. In doing so, the various components of this delicate creative process are revealed as they create a musical compositional work that has inspired a popular appreciation of music in all its forms, which gave some old musical ways their own new lease on life. — Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com) The work of the movie music composer is featured, and the importance of their work within the overall fabric of the movie highlighted, the composer often described as being just like another screenwriter in advancing the movie story. Some iconic movie theme music has moved into the realm of general culture. Landmark scores for specific movies mark turning points in the way composers in general have approached movie scoring. The science of the effect of movie music is discussed from a psychologist's perspective. The work of key film composers are highlighted. The advance of of technology and changing musical tastes have also affected the approach to movie scoring over time. Some composers talk about the reason they either do or do not take on the associated role of conductor. The hijacking of movie scores for other uses, sometimes without the consent of the composer, is discussed. And the move from other roles within the music industry into film scorer is discussed. — Huggo