Leading Australian Music & Sound Craftsmen and “Computer Whisperer”

SIMON LEADLEY

1956 - 2010

Simon Leadley was one of Australia’s leading audio and music for film craftsmen. He was a founder of Trackdown Digital, now a world renowned orchestral recording facility in Sydney. Simon was a “Computer Whisperer” who had a sixth sense for how to do things smarter and break through many of the outmoded conventions in his field of expertise.

Simon Charles Anthony Leadley was born in Henley on Thames, UK on October 28, 1956. He came to Melbourne, with his parents, brother and sister as Ten Pound Poms. When he was seven his family moved to Sydney. He attended Vaucluse Boys High School and then UNSW, studying electronic engineering.

He played rock guitar in a number of local bands, touring the country. It was when he set up one of Sydney’s first recording / rehearsal studios in Oxford Street in 1976 that his career path began to really take shape.

This small, three man business quickly evolved into one of Sydney’s premiere contemporary music rehearsal/demo studios with clients such as INXS, The Divinyls, Midnight Oil, Icehouse, Do re Mi, to name just a few.

The next step for Simon was to create Sydney’s first half inch 16 track recording studio underneath Hutchings Keyboards in Bondi Junction. This studio became the recording home of a significant proportion of the Sydney independent music fraternity. It also became one of the first studios in Australia to master their albums using digital technology.

Simon then moved his focus to film and TV audio and music. This began with a move to Camperdown where Simon introduced digital technology to Australia’s largest children’s animation production company, Yoram Gross Films. He started with sound and soon had almost all the studio’s processes running digitally – this helped increase Yoram Gross’s production output five-fold. This time also saw Simon driving the audio for animated versions of Blinky Bill, Flipper and Skippy.

It was 1998 when the Australian live action film industry truly recognized Simon’s extraordinary skills. He was asked to set up a music for film division at Australia’s leading feature film audio production house, Soundfirm, at Sydney’s Fox Studios. Over the next ten years Simon was music editor for films such as Dark City, Master & Commander, Happy Feet, The Bank Job, Australia and Moulin Rouge for which he received a Hollywood technical Oscar (AKA an MPSE Award).

The pinnacle for Simon was the creation of the Trackdown Scoring Stage at Fox Studios. This room has become recognized as one of the five best orchestral recording rooms in the World. It has been a favourite home for music groups as diverse as the Sydney Symphony, the ACO, The Whitlams, John Mayer, The Angels and many more.

Simon was also a keen snow skier and bike rider, having completed many Sydney to the Gong rides as well often being spotted on the black runs on the Australian and New Zealand slopes.

Simon Leadley passed away on February 24, 2010 from cancer. He is survived by his partner Kerry, his brother Phillip, sister Sally and father Tony.

Written by Geoff Watson

Entries are invited for the Johnny Dennis Music Awards.

There are three awards and each award carries a cash prize of $5,000. Entry is free and open to all. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday, 16 March 2010 (they can be received or postmarked 16 March or earlier.)  The categories are as follows and for an entry form and regulations please email the Australian Guild of Screen Composers at agsc@cia.com.au with “JD Awards - Request for Entry Form” in the title.

• Best Popular Song Award                        Prize:  $5,000 cash
  
• Best Instrumental Award                        Prize:  $5,000 cash
  
• Best Movie Theme Award                        Prize:  $5,000 cash

MAX TROPSCORE is the exciting national competition where film and music come together like never before. In its second year, MAX TROPSCORE provides a creative platform for musicians to participate in the art of writing a score for a short film as well as to be part of the world’s largest short film festival – Movie Extra Tropfest. MAX TROPSCORE entrants must create an original musical score or synch for a three- minute short film that has been produced by Sam Curtain, one of Australia’s talented up and coming directors and producers.

Following the entry deadline, a panel of industry representatives will review a shortlist of twenty, which will be culled to three finalists. Of these three, one winner will get the chance to perform their score live at the festival to a live national audience of more than 150,000 people, and have their piece included on the 2010 Movie Extra Tropfest Finalist DVD in The Sydney Morning Herald. They will also receive a fantastic Gibson DSM Dreadnaught acoustic guitar and one-year membership for the Australian Guild of Screen Composers. Conditions apply.

To be a part of MAX TROPSCORE 2010, register your entry online at www.maxtv.com.au/tropscore and supply your completed score or synch compiled with the vision on DVD to Movie Extra Tropfest by Thursday 14 January 2010.

Balibo Strikes a Chord at 2009 Screen Music Awards!

At a glamorous black tie event presented by APRA and the AGSC, the music compositions for the critically acclaimed Australian feature film Balibo have come up trumps at the 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS. A number of first time winners have also received maiden nods at the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS reflecting the healthy state of screen composition in Australia.

Best Television Theme
Title    Satisfaction
Composers    Cameron Giles-Webb / Colin Simkins
Publisher    Gusto Music Pty Ltd

Best Music for Children’s Television
Title    The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry
Composer    Sean Peter

The music scores for two major feature films that portray unique reflections of Australian history, Australia and Balibo, lead the 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS nominations.

To be held on Monday November 2nd, the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS presented by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers) recognise excellence in screen composition, and this year’s nominees are no exception. Acknowledging music composers across 12 categories representing feature films, children’s television, advertising, documentaries, short films and everything in between, the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS hold a unique place on the entertainment calendar, being the only ceremony celebrating the achievements of Australian screen composers.

Music compositions for Baz Luhrmann’s epic blockbuster Australia and Robert Connolly’s political thriller Balibo feature heavily across this year’s nominations. Distinguished composers David Hirschfelder and Lisa Gerrard are both nominated for their work in the category of Best Feature Film Score for Australia and Balibo respectively. This category also features nominations for composers Graeme Koehne and Antony Partos for Disgrace and David Bridie for Two Fists One Heart.

Music compositions for Balibo and Australia appear again in the category of Best Soundtrack Album along with nominations for accomplished composers Cezary Skubiszewski for Death Defying Acts and Elliott Wheeler for Restraint. They also appear in the category of Best Original Song Composed for the Screen with composer Ego Lemos acknowledged for the Balibo title track, and composers Angela Little, Baz Luhrmann, Felix Meagher, Anton Monsted and Schuyler Weiss for their song By the Boab Tree from Australia. They are joined in the category for Best Original Song by Jamie Saxe for his piece Mother’s Lament from Essence of the Game and Cameron Bruce for This Isn’t Easy from the TV series Chandon Pictures.

Internationally awarded Sydney-based composer Antony Partos has received three nominations for the 2009 Screen Music Awards. In addition to his abovementioned nomination in the Best Feature Film Score category he is also nominated for Best Music for a Documentary for Contact and Best Music for a Mini Series or Telemovie for Saved which starred Claudia Karvan.

A number of composers have received two Screen Music Awards nominations. They include previous Screen Music Award winner Burkhard Dallwitz who is nominated for in the category of Best Music for a Television Series or Serial for Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities - Episode 9 - Judas Kiss and also in the category of Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie for his work on False Witness. Other composers who have also received two nominations for the 2009 Screen Music Awards are Elliott Wheeler, Cezary Skubiszewski, Alastair Ford, Neil Sutherland and Guy Gross.

Composers to receive nominations in Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia category are Nick Perjanik, Jay Stewart, Neil Sutherland and Brenton White. Nominated in the category of Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas category are Alastair Ford, Ric Formosa / Danny Beckerman, Guy Gross and Neil Sutherland.

Other nominees for the 2009 Screen Music Awards are: Scott Langley, Basil Hogios, Ash Gibson Greig, Bruce Heald, Yantra de Vilder, Amanda Brown, Benjamin Speed, Alan Harding, Pete E Neville, Brett Aplin, Michael Darren and Luke Jurevicius, Russell Thornton, Sean Peter, Jan Skubiszewski, Travis Conneeley, Martin Eden, Cameron Giles-Webb and Colin Simkins, Nerida Tyson-Chew, Michael Lira, Stephen Rae, Eric Chapus (Endorphin) and Roger Mason.

On this year’s Screen Music Awards nominations AGSC President Clive Harrison said, “This year’s nominations show the depth and diversity of Australian screen composing talent. From advertisements to feature films, and all in between, Australian composers are producing some extraordinary music. Congratulations to all nominees.”

The recipient of the INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD will be announced prior to the awards and awarded on the night.

The incomparable composer Paul Grabowsky, will be conducting a live orchestra performing a selection of this year’s nominated compositions, and will also direct musical proceedings for the 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS. Chris Taylor and Andrew Hansen from The Chaser’s War On Everything will host the event.

APRA and the AGSC would like to congratulate all nominees for the 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS and the 2009 Screen Music Awards nominees are:

Best Music for an Advertisement
Earth Hour Candle Everybody’s Singing This Song   Composer:  Elliott Wheeler
H & R Block Paper-Man  Composer:  Scott Langley   Publisher:  Nylon Publishing Pty Ltd
Wedgwood  Timeless  Composer: Basil Hogios
Whale Song (Optus)   Composer:  Bruce Heald   Publisher:   Noise International Pty Ltd

Best Music for a Documentary
Contact   Composer:  Antony Partos
Death of the Megabeasts   Composer:  Ash Gibson Greig
Rainforest the Secret of Life   Composer:  Yantra de Vilder
Sidney Nolan: Mask and Memory   Composer:  Amanda Brown   Publishers:  Sandcastle Music Pty Ltd

Best Music for a Short Film
Cat Piano   Composer:   Benjamin Speed
Dear Diary   Composer:  Alan Harding
Liebermans in the Sky   Composer:  Pete E Neville
Lucy Wants to Kill Herself   Composer:  Brett Aplin

Best Soundtrack Album
Australia   Composer:  Various   Publishers:  EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo TCF Music Publishing Inc
Balibo   Composer:   Various   Publisher:  Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Death Defying Acts   Composer:  Cezary Skubiszewski   Publisher:  Albert Music
Restraint   Composer:  Elliott Wheeler   Publisher: Nylon Publishing Pty Ltd

Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
Balibo   Composer:  Ego Lemos   Publisher:  SFM Publishing administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
By the Boab Tree – Australia   Composers: Angela Little, Baz Luhrmann*, Felix Meagher, Anton Monsted, Schuyler Weiss   Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo TCF Music Publishing Inc / Bazmark*
Mother’s Lament from Essence of the Game   Composer:  Jamie Saxe
This Isn’t Easy from Chandon Pictures   Composer:  Cameron Bruce   Publisher:  Shadowfax TV Pty Ltd

Best Music for Children’s Television
Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist - Episode 26 – Hidden Assets   Composer:  Guy Gross   Publisher:  SLR Productions Pty Ltd
Figaro Pho   Composers:  Michael Darren & Luke Jurevicius
Master Raindrop - Episode 126 – Wisdom   Composer: Russell Thornton
The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry   Composer:  Sean Peter

Best Television Theme
Carla Cametti PD   Composers:   Cezary Skubiszewski* / Jan Skubiszewski   Publisher:  Albert Music*
Gonna Be On Top (Australia’s Next Top Model, Opening Theme)  Composers:  Travis Conneeley, Martin Eden*   Publisher: Song Zu Publishing Pty Ltd*
Satisfaction   Composers:  Cameron Giles-Webb / Colin Simkins   Publisher:  Gusto Music Pty Ltd
The Stamp of Australia   Composer:  Nerida Tyson-Chew

Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
Bogan Pride - Episode 6 - The Dance Battle   Composer:  Michael Lira
McLeod’s Daughters - Episode 224 - The Long Paddock   Composer:  Alastair Ford   Publisher:  Nine Films & Television Pty Ltd
Rush - Episode 11   Composer:  Stephen Rae   Publishers:  Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities - Episode 9 - Judas Kiss   Composer: Burkhard Dallwitz

Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
False Witness   Composer:  Burkhard Dallwitz
Saved   Composer:  Antony Partos
The Informant   Composer:  Eric Chapus   Publisher:   Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce   Composer:  Roger Mason   Publisher:  Sandcastle Music Pty Ltd

Best Feature Film Score
Australia  Composer:  David Hirschfelder   Publishers:  EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo TCF Music Publishing Inc
Balibo   Composer:  Lisa Gerrard   Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Disgrace   Composers:  Graeme Koehne / Antony Partos
Two Fists One Heart   Composer:  David Bridie   Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd

Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia (based on statistical analysis)
Composer:  Nick Perjanik
Composer:  Jay Stewart
Composer:  Neil Sutherland
Composer:  Brenton White

Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas (based on statistical analysis)
Composer:  Alastair Ford
Composer:  Ric Formosa/Danny Beckerman
Composer:  Guy Gross
Composer:  Neil Sutherland

The Australian Guild of Screen Composers and APRA are pleased to invite nominations for the 2009 APRA-AGSC Screen Music Awards.

The closing date for entries is Monday, 3 August 2009.

Categories open for nominations are:

• Best Music for an Advertisement
• Best Music for a Documentary
• Best Music for a Short Film
• Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
• Best Soundtrack Album
• Best Music for Children’s Television
• Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
• Best Television Theme
• Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
• Best Feature Film Score

Please find attached Entry Form.
09-screenawards_callforentries.pdf

For further information please contact:

Jana Gibson
Ph: 02 9935 7986
Fax: 02 9935 7970
Email: jgibson@apra.com.au

8 April, 2009

A joint submission into the Federal Government review into the Producer Offset was signed by the Australian Guild of Screen Composers, Australian Cinematographers Society, Australian Screen Editors Guild, Australian Screen Sound Guild, Australian Writers’ Guild and Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance. It stated:

“The fees and/or salaries for anyone engaged on an approved production who is neither an Australian citizen nor an Australian resident should not qualify for QAPE
(Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure), even when that person physically performs that work in Australia. This position is not intended to oppose the employment of non-Australian residents or citizens per se in approved productions. However, the use of Australian taxpayers money should not go towards subsidising the salaries of non-Australians.”

Other groups that put in submissions to the Review were the ABC, ASTRA, Australian Directors Guild, Australian Screen Editors and Australian Cinematographers Society (joint submission), Beyond International, Free TV Australia, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Premium Movie Partnership, SBS, Screen Australia and the Screen Producers Association of Australia. Please see the media release below.


Federal Govt Media Release

The Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Chris Bowen MP and Minister for the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett MP, today released the review into the refundable tax offsets contained in Division 376 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. The review examined the impact of the film tax offsets, introduced in 2007, on levels of production by independent and in-house production by Australian television broadcasters.

The refundable tax offsets are designed to support and develop Australia’s screen media industry by providing producers with tax offsets for their Australian expenditure when making films and television programs.

Thirteen submissions to the review were received in response to an issues paper released by the Government last October.

The review found that the overall level of Australian and co-production television drama was higher in 2007-08 than in previous years, and the balance of television production between independent and in-house production has remained stable since the offsets were introduced.

“Although the review has not found that the tax offsets have affected the share of independent production, it is still early days for the new tax arrangements for television and film production in Australia,” Mr Bowen said.

“Several industry stakeholders raised other issues regarding the ongoing operation and administration of the tax offsets. These issues were outside the scope of this statutory review, but will be examined in a broader review into the independent production sector expected in 2010.”

“A number of submissions to the statutory review specifically raised concerns with the current timing of payments from the offsets. The Government recognises the importance of this issue to the industry and is examining the issue more closely as a matter of priority,” Arts Minister, Peter Garrett said.

“The tax offset is a new arrangement and it is essential that we allow further production and other data to be collected before undertaking the broader review we committed to in New Directions for the Arts.”

The issues paper, submissions and review report are available at www.treasury.gov.au

The review report can also be downloaded as a PDF review_of_film_tax_offsets.pdf

In May 2008 the Australian Government announced the review of Australia’s tax system. The AGSC will be putting in a submission (due 1 May, 2009) and invites comments from composers.

Comments to the AGSC should be received by 1 April, 2009.

Please refer to Policy page of the website for further information.

Hitting the Right Notes The Composer/Director/Sound Designer Relationship 

Jointly presented by the Australian Directors Guild, Australian Guild of Screen Composers and Australian Screen Sound Guild

The right music and sound is integral to the success of any production. And an excellent working relationship between the director, composer and sound designer is essential to achieving that success. This free seminar will reveal the secrets on how the director, composer and sound designer can effectively collaborate (and communicate) to obtain the best possible music and sound for a production. And how it can be done on a budget.

With a swag of awards - and pedigrees in film, sound and music - the presenters are Jonathan Ogilvie (writer/director), Chris Abrahams (composer) and Liam Egan (sound designer). Jonathan and Chris first worked together in 1995 on the short film, The Despondent Divorcee (which will be screened at the seminar) which went on to have international success including being nominated for the prestigious Palme D’Or, the highest award at the Cannes Film Festival. Jonathan then went on to win first prize at Tropfest with his next short, This Film is a Dog.

The seminar will include case studies of their recent feature films, The Tender Hook (starring Rose Byrne and Hugo Weaving, it was nominated for five AFI Awards, including Best Sound and Best Original Music Score) and the nano-budget  feature film Emulsion (it cost the same as a mid range new car).

Jointly presented by the Australian Directors Guild, Australian Guild of Screen Composers, and the Australian Screen Sound Guild, this promises to be an informative and entertaining seminar. The evening will include complimentary wine and a light supper and will be an ideal opportunity to chat to other filmmakers, directors, producers, composers and sound designers.

Date:       JULY 2009 FOR REPEAT SESSION. DATE TO BE ADVISED.
Time:       6pm - 8pm
Venue:     APRA, 16 Mountain Street, Ultimo
Cost:       Free. Includes complimentary wine and light supper.
Book:     agsc@cia.com.au

“The Tender Hook is a refreshingly stylish, slick and sexy change of pace for Australian cinema.”
Check out the trailer for Emulsion at http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ARL0UKHOc (Warning: adult content)

Special thanks to APRA and the NSW Film & TV Offices for their generous support for this event.