Short Film

As mentioned in a previous post, my friend Andy entered a short film halloween contest. He'd asked me to create some music for it... here is the film. It's about a guy that keeps on bleeding, but can't die. Enjoy!

Assignment 05: Nemo Style

He wrote:


She wrote:


One score Liam and I both really like is for the movie Finding Nemo. This particular assignment is in the style of Finding Nemo (score by Thomas Newton). That means: use of harp, pizzicato strings, and piano. Throughout the movie, different events happen, so the score ranges. I chose to do one with a bit more movement (ie. fish swimming around), whereas Liam chose something more sullen (ie. at the beginning of the movie when the Nemo's dad finds the Nemo egg.) For those who aren't familiar with the score, I've uploaded a small clip below:



This next bit is on temperamental music software. Music software is pretty high-maintenance. In that, any little change has a high chance of causing it to not work. These changes include: loading other software on the computer, connecting the computer to the internet, software updates, having other programs in use at the same time. For this reason, I (with a lot of other people who do music composition) have a completely separate computer for music only. It is not connected to the internet, and it has only the music software installed. I never do any security or software updates on it or load anything non-music onto it for fear of the headache that will ensue. This also circumvents the problem of getting sidetracked on things like the internet and messenger... (which I have a tendency to do frequently - easily distracted am I).

Liam, however, is not as fortunate... with only one computer, he made the mistake of installing a security update. That was a couple weeks ago. Yeahhh. Things still not working properly. Since he didn't have access to all his sounds, his instrumentation includes only piano and strings.

This time around, I think we're both not too excited about the pieces we came up with, but... I suppose that's just how the creative cookie crumbles. Can't write something excellent every time. My excuse? None really. I just procrastinated. :P

'til next time.

Halloweeny 09

My friend is entering a 48-hour film-making contest in honour of Halloween. Starting on Friday, each film-making team will be given a subgenre (zombie movie, revenge, etc.), a phrase, and a weapon they must incorporate into their short film. Each team will have 48 hours to create a short horror film. There's not really a whole lot that one can prepare, but he did ask if I could prepare some halloween-y scary-movie music for him. So I did. Nothing fancy, since it was kind of on a tight deadline (remind me SOONER! This means you, Monsieur Leblanc!) Not sure if it'll be used, but thought I'd share anyway. Enjoy!

Assignment 04: Fairy Tale Land

He wrote:

She wrote:

The theme for this exercise was "Fairy Tale," that is, in the style of Danny Elfman in Edward Scissorhands. So the guidelines given were pretty sparse - just fairy tale-like, using 2 very fairy tale sounds: glockenspiel and choir. That combo seems to make a piece sounds mystical, and magical. It's weird... there is something about fairy tale music that makes it fairy tale.

So my music buddy was saying how it's kind of sad how the comments are always at "0". I know there are only like 3 readers for this blog, but if you listened to the song, comment! Say something! So we know this is not all in vain.

My glockenspiel "ding" is cut off :( I must do better mixing. I am not a mixer. I am a writer. Boo.

Midnight Madness Stamp Sale

Due to popular demand (one request), I have posted this set of stamps which I purchased at the Midnight Madness sale at "I'm Impressed" on Granville Island. I like it. It's an elephant-themed birthday set. The birds, grass, and tree elements can also be used in a non-birthday context. I guess the elephants could be used that way too... WeEEeEeE! New stamps! My wallet is a little thinner, but my heart is a little happier. Worth it.

Baby Girl Card

A friend of mine is having a baby girl - well, technically she should have already have had it already. This is a little card for her. The carriage stamp and sentiment is from Michael's 1.50 spot, and the embossed paper is from Michael's as well. I love Michael's. Nothing too terribly remarkable about this card, except that I made it with my friend Angela, who is very particular about everything on a handmade card being 100% perfect. If a cut of mine is off by 1/32nd of an inch, I'd still use the piece. She would start over again. Yeeeeesh. No need to be THAT perfect! It's handmade, all part of the charm.

Owl Card

I made this card with my friend Eunice. That's her owl stamp there... Love it! At approximately 9:30pm at night, this is the conversation that went down:

Eunice (with caution): "Sooooo... are you... finished buying stamps for the year?"
Me (with caution): "Nooooo..."
Eunice: "Soooo... The stamp store at Granville Island is having a midnight madness sale tonight, the whole store 40% off - 50% off, if you wear your pyjamas..."
Me: "You waited THIS LONG to tell me!?"

Less than 15 minutes later, we were on our way. :D Weee! I love stamps!