Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Interlude music

This is topic Interlude music in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Dominique Replogle (Member # 2387) on 05-01-2004, 05:50 PM:

Hey everyobody,

I work in a large dinosaur museum in the booth. I was asked the other day to overhaul our music we pipe into the theatre between shows. Given our somewhat family oriented demographic it can't be anything too edgy. However, I would appreciate some input from you all on suggestions of peices to put on the disks. [Confused]

Posted by Andy Muirhead (Member # 712) on 05-01-2004, 06:39 PM:

How about the soundtrack to Jurassic Park?

Seriously though, that's about the best answer somebody can give you without any specifics regarding your particular site.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 05-01-2004, 07:22 PM:

Here's an old thread where people listed their favorites for non-sync music:

http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000971#000000

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 05-01-2004, 07:26 PM:

Given the choice, I would put together a "greatist hits" mix of movie scores created in recent years.

"Jurassic Park" is a good suggestion, and I would probably feature either the track "Dennis Steals the Embryo" or "Welcome to Jurrasic Park" (the real end titles music) from that disc.

John Williams has created lots of great movie music. You have the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" movies. There's "E.T." Even lesser efforts from Steven Spielberg, such as "1941", featured really great music scored by Williams. The United States Marine Corps band has regularly performed the march theme of 1941. It certainly gives anything written by John Phillip Sousa a run for his money. Speaking of march themes, you could use Williams' opening march from "Superman: The Movie".

Of course, in creating a good movie music mix disc, I would not just center it around John Williams, even though you could fill up several custom mix CDs with great moments of his work.

James Horner has created a lot of great movie music too. I would definitely use parts of his incredible score to "Glory." He has also done memorable in lots of other films, such as "Apollo 13" and "Titanic."

Thomas Newman is one of the most popular movie music composers working today. He has a more unusual style, evident in films like "American Beauty," "Road to Perdition" and "Finding Nemo."

I like some of James Newton Howard's work. His score on "The Fugitive" was really good.

You might want to check out a related thread in Film Yak on this subject on favorite show tunes. Theres lots more suggestions there.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-01-2004, 08:27 PM:

Dominique,
At your place you've got to be careful that what you play has either copyright clearance or that it is clearance free. Like the music thats played in the lobby when you enter the museum.... why not just pipe that into your system??? You don't want ASCAP going after the Museum and believe me that will and can!!

Mark

Posted by Dominique Replogle (Member # 2387) on 05-01-2004, 09:01 PM:

your right Mark. Thats why it is not as simple as it sounds to just pick music. I think classical stuff is safe, right?

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 05-01-2004, 09:49 PM:

Not always. Though the composition may be in the public domain, in most cases the performance is not. So you will still need to clear rights. Since this is for a museum you may find that performance rights are not all that expensive to obtain.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-01-2004, 10:11 PM:

Perhaps have Corey contact the Utah Synphony and see if they have someting that you could use. Keeping it all local might make things easier... Or find out where that music in the lobby is comming fomr and I could run a line over from there. They must already have clearance for that stuff.

Mark

Posted by Dominique Replogle (Member # 2387) on 05-01-2004, 10:17 PM:

Good idea Mark. I will ask him about it. Thanks.
Dom

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 05-01-2004, 10:56 PM:

We are (A) Non-profit. (B) A full-stage performing arts center.

A lot of the time, agencies who book our upcoming acts will send us sample CDs of the groups we are planning to host. We play these as lobby music. The agencies don't mind because it's free advertising for them. (Yes, we asked.)

My old formula for picking music to play in public is, "When in doubt, play classical music." You will virtually never offend somebody with classical. You may BORE them to death but you won't offend.

If you STILL don't know what to play, use Vivaldi's "Four Seasons". That's about the most middle of the road music you can play. Virtually everybody can recognize it. Most adults will appreciate it on some level, even if they only think to themselves, "Oh, it's THAT old thing!" The worst thing that can happen is that some teenager will think, "BOR-ing!!" [Wink]

I have worn out several copies of "Four Seasons". It's our standard lobby music when we don't have anything else to play.

Posted by Joe Schmidt (Member # 822) on 05-02-2004, 03:36 AM:

[Cool]

Clearance issues aside, all movie theatres should play theatre pipe organ for intermission music. I am presently working on transferring my library of theatre organ LPs, most of which are 20+ years out-of-print, to CD. Going to take a long time to do them all, plus there are thousands of other LPs. Then, as my friend Mark G. is aware, if we build a new multiplex here in Billings, the purpose of the multiplex is to defray the costs of having a home for a big pipe organ which I could play. [One theatre having about 6-800 seats with pipe organ, two 35/70mm projectors and a stage house for the performing arts. In other words, multi-purpose, but FILM DONE RIGHT.] Depending on how far the sound will carry, this might also frighten the cattle for miles. Cows will cease to give milk. But it will be fun and challenging.

Remaining theatres in the multiplex will be film-only.

[Eek!]

Posted by Dominique Replogle (Member # 2387) on 05-04-2004, 06:42 PM:

[thumbsup]

Joe, that sounds cool. Any chance I could hear some of that?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-04-2004, 09:01 PM:

Dom,
He sent some home with me when I was in Billings last week. Lemme know if ya want copies......

Mark

Posted by Dominique Replogle (Member # 2387) on 05-04-2004, 09:09 PM:

I do. Thanks Mark! [thumbsup]

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 05-05-2004, 03:49 AM:

If you're going for theater organ music, be aware that some of it can be absolutely funereal and unsuited for theatrical use.

For pre-show theatre organ music, the overall best bet CD I've found is George Wright Goes South Pacific. I'm not particularly a fan of George Wright or show tunes, but the music works great for movie walk-in music in big houses. The recording technique was also particularly well suited. I have had THREE of the things swiped at gigs (and been talked out of another). Still available at Amazon; I'll need to get another.