Beating out a strong field, the visceral score composed for the gritty, unsettling film Snowtown has taken out the prestigious category of FEATURE FILM SCORE OF THE YEAR at the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS held tonight at the City Recital Hall in Sydney. Composed by musician and songwriter JED KURZEL of Sydney band The Mess Hall, it’s the debut feature film composition by Kurzel who closely collaborated with brother and film director Justin Kurzel on the film based on the crimes of Australia’s most notorious serial killer, John Bunting. Winning two awards at the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS is screen composer MILES NICHOLAS. He has been acknowledged in the category BEST ORIGINAL SONG COMPOSED FOR THE SCREEN for Dream On from The Missing Key, a short animated film that has been described as “a tour de force of animation, music and sound”. Miles’ score veers from luscious orchestral pieces to lustrous, chamber-pop torch songs all the way down to uncanny imitations of 1920’s jazz, bluegrass and pop 78rpm records. MILES NICHOLAS is also recognised for his collaboration with KATHRYN BROWNHILL and The Missing Key director JONATHAN NIX in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A SHORT FILM for The Missing Key. The collaboration of multi Screen Music Award winner MICHAEL LIRA, DAVID MCCORMACK and ANTONY PARTOS of Sonar Music has proven to be a winner with the trio taking out the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A TELEVISION SERIES OR SERIAL for their work on the ABC series Rake starring Richard Roxburgh. This is the first SCREEN MUSIC AWARD for Custard frontman, David McCormack. Antony Partos most recently composed music for ABC drama series Crownies and the screen adaptation of The Slap. RAFAEL MAY has won the award in the category of BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM for Road Train: Road Kill Soundtrack. The film, which was released in 2009 starred Sophie Lowe and Xavier Samuel and Rafael May’s score has been described as “a tremendous score….with atonal screeches, chunky seventies riffing and some very well chosen songs.” A collaboration with Sophie Lowe, ‘A Runner’ was a finalist in the 2010 Screen Music Awards for best song for the screen. Sydney based composer ELLIOTT WHEELER has taken out the SCREEN MUSIC AWARD in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR AN ADVERTISEMENT for the 2nd year in a row, in 2011 for VW Passat: Change Rooms. Classically trained, Elliott has worked continuously as a screen composer, providing hundreds of scores for film, documentary, drama, theatre and advertising. This is Elliott Wheeler’s fourth Screen Music Award in this category. The winner in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A DOCUMENTARY is Sydney composer MATTEO ZINGALES for his work on the feature length documentary Lachlan Macquarie: Father of Australia. An AFTRS graduate, Matteo has worked across a wide spectrum of original music scores with a special focus on television, film and new media and his experience includes scores for the award-winning films Unfinished Sky (co-composer) and Broken Sun. He is currently the composer for the Seven Network’s Winners and Losers and also works with Sonar Music team. Prolific Brisbane based composed CHRISTOPHER ELVES has received the SCREEN MUSIC AWARD in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR CHILDREN’S TELEVISION for K9: Eclipse of the Korven. From classical piano recitalist to hit rock musician to multi-award winning screen composer – Christopher’s prolific career covers an eclectic range of music and sound design which is in constant use around the world on radio, TV and at the movies. His score for K9, a spin off from the highly successful ‘Doctor Who’ franchise, sees Christopher Elves win his 6th Screen Music Award. Composer of the BEST TELEVISION THEME for 2011 is HAYDN WALKER with Scariacs a series of short, scary movies. He represented Australia in the highly prestigious Paris International Rostrum of Composers and has been a contributor composing, arranging and/or performing with various artists including Inga Liljestrom, Grinspoon, Darren Hayes and The Potbelleez. Haydn is currently a composer and Creative Director at Song Zu Studios. Multiple SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS’ winner BURKHARD DALLWITZ has done it again, this year in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A MINI-SERIES OR TELEMOVIE for Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here. This highly accomplished screen composer has been behind the music scores Caterpillar Wish, The Truman Show and The Way Back. Burkhard Dallwitz’ wonderful scores for the acclaimed Underbelly series have seen him win four Screen Music Awards since 2008. The MOST PERFORMED SCREEN COMPOSER – AUSTRALIA* is the collaboration of screen composers ADAM GOCK and DINESH WICKS. In May 2006, Adam Gock & Dinesh Wicks established The D.A.’s Office, a music & sound design company for film, television, radio & television commercials. Recent productions include Masterchef (Worldwide), Junior Masterchef, The Apprentice Australia,The Renovators, Sea Patrol, Ten News, Compass (Theme), as well as commercials for Qantas, Virgin, Instyle Magazine, Hyundai, Optus & many more. NEIL SUTHERLAND has been named the MOST PERFORMED SCREEN COMPOSER – OVERSEAS*. Neil has created some of Australia’s most memorable themes and these music scores have played a vital role in many popular shows, both in Australia and abroad including Keeping up with The Joneses, Colour of War – The ANZACS, Border Security and Mythbusters – a worldwide success story which keeps getting bigger. APRA and the AGSC would like to congratulate all the winners of the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS. The 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS featured host NONI HAZLEHURST and special guest presenters DON HANY, CLAUDIA KARVAN, JAY LAGA’AIA, SIGRID THORNTON, STEVE BISLEY, DAMON GAMEAU, AMANDA BROWN, NELSON WOSS, RICHARD BRANCATISANO and BRENDAN MOAR with performances by SARAH BLASKO and CHRISTA HUGHES & PAUL CAPSIS. Musical director and composer CEZARY SKUBISZEWSKI conducted a live orchestra. The 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS would not be possible without the generous support of PSK Financial Services, the Seven Network and Mediasuper. Full List of Winners Best Music for an Advertisement VW Passat: Change Rooms Composer: Elliott Wheeler Best Music for a Documentary Lachlan Macquarie: Father of Australia Composer: Matteo Zingales Publisher: Sonar Music Pty Ltd Best Music for a Short Film The Missing Key Composers: Kathryn Brownhill / Miles Nicholas / Jonathan Nix Best Soundtrack Album Road Train: Road Kill Soundtrack Composer: Rafael May Best Original Song Composed for the Screen Dream On from The Missing Key Composer: Miles Nicholas Best Music for Children’s Television K9: Eclipse of the Korven Composer: Christopher Elves Publishers: Fintage Publishing and Collection Australia obo Resonant Music 1 Limited Partners Best Television Theme Scariacs Composer: Haydn Walker Publisher: Song Zu Publishing Pty Ltd Best Music for a Television Series or Serial Rake Composers: Michael Lira / David McCormack / Antony Partos Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here Composer: Burkhard Dallwitz Feature Film Score of the Year Snowtown Composer: Jed Kurzel Publishers: Ivy League Music administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia Composers: Adam Gock/Dinesh Wicks Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas Composer: Neil Sutherland Congratulations to all winners and special thanks to all nominees.
APRA and the AGSC are delighted to announce details of presenters and guest performers who will take to the stage at the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS on Monday November 14th at Sydney’s illustrious City Recital Hall. The event, to be hosted by NONI HAZLEHURST, pays tribute to the often-unsung heroes of screen composition.
Best known for his part on Australian children’s TV show Playschool JAY LAGA’AIA will join in the celebrations at the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS. Jay currently narrates each of the characters on the children’s show Larry the Lawnmower and is part of the cast of Australian soap opera Home and Away, as Reverend Elijah Johnson. Jay released his second CD for children, I Can Play Anything, in August 2010.
Also taking on presenter duties at the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS is multi talented actor DON HANY. He was nominated for AFI’s in 2008 and 2009 and in 2010 won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor for the role of Zane Malik in the series East West 101. Don Hany was nominated for Most Popular Actor for his role on Offspring and Tangle at the 2011 Logies.
Joining Don Hany on the Screen Awards stage will be the wonderful CLAUDIA KARVAN whose credits as a producer, writer and actor are too great to list. As one of Australia’s most recognised actresses, she has achieved popular success and critical acclaim through her work in film and television. In August 2010, the Australian series Spirited was launched which Claudia Karvan co-created, produced and starred in.
Another of Australia’s leading and best loved actresses, SIGRID THORNTON will also take her place on the podium on the night. She has starred in many of the films, which are now regarded as classics of the Australian cinema along with several very successful television productions including the landmark Sea Change. Sigrid was most recently seen in feature film Face To Face, a film that has won 15 international awards and counting. Widely respected producer NELSON WOSS will also join the presenters’ line-up for 2011. In 2000 Nelson Woss set up his own production company and went on to produce the Aussie film Ned Kelly back in 2003. His most recent accomplishment is as producer of the acclaimed film Red Dog.
Also taking on a presenter role at the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS is television presenter and gardener extraordinaire BRENDAN MOAR. A television host with more than 15 years on the small screen, best known for hosting several lifestyle genre shows on Foxtel, and being the host of program Dry Spell Gardening Brendan Moar is also host to Ten’s, The Renovators. Acclaimed television and stage actor STEVE BISLEY will join the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS festivities. His major television roles have included Water Rats, Police Rescue and most recently in Sea Patrol as Commander Steve Marshall.
Currently playing the part of Guido Calletti in Underbelly: Razor RICHARD BRANCATISANO is an Australian television actor and musician, also known for his role as Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger, in Power Rangers: Mystic Force. He studied for three years at Theatre Nepean and continues to work, both as an actor and musician, nationally and internationally.
Australian television and film actor DAMON GAMEAU, who has appeared in the Australian series Love My Way, Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities and the 2009 feature film Balibo is a confirmed presenter for the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS. He also starred in Spirited as Adrian Brixton alongside Claudia Karvan and Matt King and is currently appearing in RTÉ’s latest Irish drama, RAW, based in an exclusive Dublin restaurant. AMANDA BROWN has been composing for stage and screen since 2000 and before that enjoyed a career as a multi-instrumentalist in several bands. She was a member of cherished Australian independent band The Go-Betweens, with whom she toured the world and recorded two albums, Tallulah and 16 Lovers Lane.
Multi award winner singer / songwriter SARAH BLASKO will make a special guest appearance to perform Miles Nicholasʼ Dream On from THE MISSING KEY, a composition nominated in the category of BEST ORIGINAL SONG COMPOSED FOR THE SCREEN.
Closing the nightʼs proceedings will be a special performance by two of Australiaʼs most daring and original performers PAUL CAPSIS AND CHRISTA HUGHES who will perform a selection of songs from PAPER GIANTS: THE BIRTH OF CLEO soundtrack.
A live orchestra conducted by musical director and composer CEZARY SKUBISZEWSKI will perform a selection of nominated compositions at the event.
The 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS (presented by APRA and the AGSC) will be held on Monday November 14th at City Recital Hall in Sydney.
Featuring host NONI HAZLEHURST and special guest presenters DON HANY, CLAUDIA KARVAN, JAY LAGA’AIA, SIGRID THORNTON, STEVE BISLEY, RICHARD BRANCATISANO, DAMON GAMEAU, AMANDA BROWN, NELSON WOSS and BRENDAN MOAR with performances by SARAH BLASKO and CHRISTA HUGHES & PAUL CAPSIS.
The AFTRS presented Glories of the Score on 10 October, 2011 with Martin as the Music Director. The event was co-produced by the AGSC and photos of the evening can be seen at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/ set=a.126382130798332.15587.126377147465497&type=1
APRA and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers are proud to announce the nominees for the 2011 Screen Music Awards.
The Screen Music Awards sees the spotlight shines on the often unsung heroes of the small and large screens with the announcement of nominees for the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS, jointly presented by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers).
Each year the music industry gathers to celebrate excellence in the composition of music for film and television. Nominees across 12 categories have today been recognised and the list includes some of the country’s most respected screen composers alongside some exciting new faces. Some of the nominated
pieces include compositions from some of the year’s most talked about screen events including Snowtown, Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo, Rush, Rake, Mad Bastards, Yes We Canberra, The Legend of the Guardians and Cloudstreet.
With a roll call of multiple nominees that includes Alex Lloyd, Alan Pigram and Stephen Pigram, Bryony Marks, Christopher Elves, David Hirschfelder, Burkhard Dallwitz, Miles Nicholas, Ash Gibson Greig, Stephen Rae, Neil Sutherland and Michael Yezerski, drum roll please for the finalists of the 2011
SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS.
The prestigious FEATURE FILM SCORE OF THE YEAR category features a mixture of newcomers to the world of screen composition alongside established heavyweights. Screen composition debutante Jed Kurzel (of Sydney band The Mess Hall) has been nominated for his work on the eerie film Snowtown. The stunning collaboration between musicians Alex Lloyd and Alan and Stephen Pigram has been nominated for Mad Bastards. Multiple Screen Music Awards’ nominee and winner David Hirschfelder has been nominated for The Legend of the Guardians as has another multiple Screen Music Awards winner Burkhard Dallwitz who has been nominated for his work on The Way Back. Alex Lloyd, Alan Pigram and Stephen Pigram return as nominees in the category of BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM, again for their work on Mad Bastards. In his first Screen Music Awards nomination is Dmitri Golovko who is recognised for his work on Red Hill. Rafael May is nominated for Road Train: Road Kill Soundtrack and composer Michael Yezerski returns as a nominee in 2011 for his work on The Lost Thing.
With the addition of composer Brendan Fletcher, Alex Lloyd, Alan Pigram and Stephen Pigram make it 3 Screen Music Awards’ nominations, this time receiving a nod in the category of BEST ORIGINAL SONG COMPOSED FOR THE SCREEN. They are nominated for Won’t Look Back from Mad Bastards. The multi talented Andrew Hansen and Chris Taylor from The Chaser make an appearance in this category for their composition Negotiate from Yes, We Canberra. Composer Miles Nicholas makes his first of two appearances in the 2011 Screen Music Awards nominees list for Dream On from The Missing Key. And Cain Horton and Paul Kingston are nominated for Sweet Dreams: Sky Boat from Giggle & Hoot.
The category of BEST MUSIC FOR A SHORT FILM features a collection of exciting composers including Mike Darren (for Collision), Dale Cornelius (for Polo’s Robot), Paul Haley (for The Maker) and Kathryn Brownhill, Miles Nicholas and Jonathan Nix for their collaboration on The Missing Key.
Composer Martin Armiger is nominated in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A DOCUMENTARY for Cane Toads: The Conquest. He is nominated alongside Ash Gibson Greig and Petris Torres for Jandamarra’s War, Matteo Zingales for Lachlan Macquarie: Father of Australia and Christopher Elves
for The Silent Epidemic.
Another first time Screen Music Awards nominee is Kit Warhurst, composer of Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight, which is nominated in the category of BEST TELEVISION THEME. Also in the running for this award is composer David Chapman for AFP, Cliff Bradley for Message Stick and Haydn Walker for
Scariacs.
The collaboration of Michael Lira, David McCormack and Antony Partos has seen a nomination garnered for Rake in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A TELEVISION SERIES OR SERIAL. Stephen Rae is nominated for Rush: Series 3: Episode 16 and Ash Gibson Greig for Who Do You Think You Are:
Series 3. In the first of two Screen Music Awards nominations for 2011 respected composer Bryony Marks appears on the 2011 nominees roll call for Tangle: Season 2: Lost and Found. Bryony Marks returns with a nomination in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A MINI-SERIES OR TELEMOVIE for her work on the adaptation of Tim Winton’s classic Cloudstreet. She is joined in this category by fellow nominees Guy Gross (for East West 101: Series 3: Episode 1) Stephen Rae (for Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo) and the prolific Burkhard Dallwitz for Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here.
The composition of the Giggle & Hoot: Christmas Special by Sean Pete has been nominated for BEST MUSIC FOR CHILDREN’S TELEVISION, along with Henrique Dib for Gravity, Christopher Elves (in his 2nd nomination for 2011) for K9: Eclipse of the Korven and Roger Mason for My Place II: Henry. In the category of BEST MUSIC FOR AN ADVERTISEMENT, Blair Joscelyne is nominated for Cascade: The Feel, composers Ramesh Sathiah and Gerard Fitzgerald are given a nod for their collaboration of Pure Blonde Pardon, Michael Yezerski scores his 2nd nomination for 2011 for his composition of SBS Films 2 and Elliott Wheeler for his work on VW Passat: Change Rooms.
Neil Sutherland has been nominated for the MOST PERFORMED SCREEN COMPOSER in both AUSTRALIA and OVERSEAS. The other most performed nominees are: Adam Gock, Dinesh Wicks, Jay Stewart, Brenton White, Ricky Edwards, Ric Formosa and David Hirschfelder.
The diversity of the 2011 nominees announced today show the depth of Australia’s screen composing talent. The 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS, presented by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers) will be held at the City Recital Hall,
Angel Place, Sydney on Monday November 14th. A live orchestra conducted by musical director and composer CEZARY SKUBISZEWSKI will perform a selection of nominated compositions at the event and multi-talented actor NONI HAZLEHURST will host the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS.
Congratulations to all nominees, and special thanks to all who entered the 2011 Screen Music Award.
Best Music for an Advertisement
Title Cascade: The Feel
Composer Blair Joscelyne
Publisher Nylon Publishing Pty Ltd
Title Pure Blonde Pardon
Composers Ramesh Sathiah / Gerard Fitzgerald
Publisher Song Zu Publishing Pty Ltd
Title SBS Films 2
Composer Michael Yezerski
Publisher Nylon Publishing Pty Ltd
Title VW Passat: Change Rooms
Composer Elliott Wheeler
Best Music for a Documentary
Title Cane Toads: The Conquest
Composer Martin Armiger
Publishers Mushroom Music Pty Ltd / M L R P Music (BMI)
Title Jandamarra’s War
Composers Ash Gibson Greig / Petris Torres
Title Lachlan Macquarie: Father of Australia
Composer Matteo Zingales
Publisher Sonar Music Pty Ltd
Title The Silent Epidemic
Composer Christopher Elves
Publishers Beyond Properties Pty Ltd administered by
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Best Music for a Short Film
Title Collision
Composer Mike Darren
Title Polo’s Robot
Composer Dale Cornelius
Publisher Native Tongue Music Publishing
Title The Maker
Composer Paul Halley
Title The Missing Key
Composers Kathryn Brownhill / Miles Nicholas / Jonathan Nix
Best Soundtrack Album
Title Mad Bastards
Composers Alex Lloyd* / Alan Pigram / Stephen Pigram
Publisher Rondor Music Australia Pty Ltd*
Title Red Hill
Composer Dmitri Golovko
Title Road Train: Road Kill Soundtrack
Composer Rafael May
Title The Lost Thing
Composer Michael Yezerski
Publisher Source Music Pty Ltd
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
Title Dream On from The Missing Key
Composer Miles Nicholas
Title Negotiate from Yes, We Canberra
Composers Andrew Hansen / Chris Taylor
Publishers ABC Music Publishing Pty Ltd administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title Sweet Dreams: Sky Boat from Giggle & Hoot
Composers Cain Horton / Paul Kingston
Publishers ABC Music Publishing Pty Ltd administered by Mushroom Music
Pty Ltd
Title Won’t Look Back from Mad Bastards
Composers Brendan Fletcher / Alex Lloyd* / Alan Pigram / Stephen Pigram
Publisher Rondor Music Australia Pty Ltd*
Best Music for Children’s Television
Title Giggle & Hoot: Christmas Special
Composer Sean Peter
Publishers ABC Music Publishing Pty Ltd administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title Gravity
Composer Henrique Dib
Title K9: Eclipse of the Korven
Composer Christopher Elves
Publishers Fintage Publishing & Collection Australia obo Resonant Music 1 Ltd
Partners
Title My Place II: Henry
Composer Roger Mason
Best Television Theme
Title Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight
Composer Kit Warhurst
Publisher Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title AFP
Composer David Chapman
Title Message Stick
Composer Cliff Bradley
Publishers ABC Music Publishing Pty Ltd administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title Scariacs
Composer Haydn Walker
Publisher Song Zu Publishing Pty Ltd
Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
Title Rake
Composers Michael Lira / David McCormack / Antony Partos
Title Rush: Series 3: Episode 16
Composer Stephen Rae
Publishers Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Title Tangle: Season 2: Lost and Found
Composer Bryony Marks
Publishers Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Southern Star Entertainment Pty
Ltd/Source Music Pty Ltd
Title Who Do You Think You Are: Series 3
Composer Ash Gibson Greig
Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
Title Cloudstreet
Composer Bryony Marks
Publisher Source Music Pty Ltd
Title East West 101: Series 3: Episode 1
Composer Guy Gross
Title Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo
Composer Stephen Rae
Publishers Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Title Underbelly Files : Tell Them Lucifer Was Here
Composer Burkhard Dallwitz
Feature Film Score of the Year
Title Mad Bastards
Composers Alex Lloyd* / Alan Pigram / Stephen Pigram
Publisher Rondor Music Australia Pty Ltd*
Title Snowtown
Composer Jed Kurzel
Publishers Ivy League Music administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title The Legend of the Guardians
Composer David Hirschfelder
Publishers Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Warner Olive Music LLC
Title The Way Back
Composer Burkhard Dallwitz
Publishers Fintage Publishing & Collection Australia obo Resonant Music 1 Ltd Partners
Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia*
Composer Adam Gock/Dinesh Wicks
Composer Jay Stewart
Composer Neil Sutherland
Composer Brenton White
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas*
Composer Ricky Edwards
Composer Ric Formosa
Composer David Hirschfelder
Composer Neil Sutherland
*Determined by statistical analysis
To view never-seen-before interviews with composers David Hirschfelder, Bryony Marks, Martin Armiger, Roger Mason, David McCormack and Michael Lira, Stephen Rae, Guy Gross and Kit Warhurst talking about their nominated compositions, visit the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS nominations site! For all this, plus more previously unseen content, go to: www.apra-amcos.com.au/2011ScreenMusicAwards/
The Australian Guild of Screen Composers, in association with the Australian Film Institute, invites members of the AGSC and their guest to the Samsung AFI/ACCTA Festival of Film screening of Red Dog, to be introduced by the film’s composer, Cezary Skubiszewski.
The screening followed by a Q&A with Cezary Skubiszewski & Jill Bilcock, the editor of the film.
Sunday, 16 October at 3.30pm at Sydney Hoyts EQ, Moore Park
Cost: No charge RSVP Essential: rsvp@agsc.org.au
Since its humble beginnings in 1992 in a small, smoke-filled club with just 40 guests, the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS have evolved into a premier event on the film and music industry calendars.
Now in its 10th year (in the current format), the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS, which is an event held jointly by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers Limited) remains the only Australian event to honour the unseen champions of music composition in film and television.
This year’s celebration of the marriage between screen and music will be staged at the impressive City Recital Hall at Angel Place on MONDAY NOVEMBER 14TH.
APRA|AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle said: “The Screen Music awards showcase the depth of talent and diversity of creativity of Australia’s film and television composers. Through this annual event, we can show our support for, and shine the spotlight on, the often unsung heroes of the creative experience in film.”
The 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS will honour music composers across 12 categories including compositions for documentaries, short films, miniseries, children’s television and feature film scores. A panel of highly respected Australian film and television composers will determine four nominees across 10 categories. APRA will use statistical analysis to define nominations based on performance activity as reflected by earning for the categories of Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia and Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas.
“Music is the life blood for any screen project and the Screen Music Awards honours the blood, sweat and tears spent by all composers bringing a project to life. The past year has been a rich year for screen music reflecting the creative talent across many crafts in the Australian screen industry” said AGSC President Clive Harrison
In keeping with recent tradition a live orchestra, conducted by musical director CEZARY SKUBISZEWSKI will perform a selection of nominated compositions at the event. A Screen Music Award winner himself, CEZARY SKUBISZEWSKI is one of Australia’s leading film composers and responsible for numerous well known pieces including screen compositions for Two Hands, After The Deluge, The Sound of One Hand Clapping, Bran Nue Day, Beneath Hill 60 and Red Dog.
The wildly talented actress NONI HAZLEHURST who most recently made headlines for her online narration of Go The F— to Sleep, the runaway book by American novelist Adam Mansbach and illustrator Ricardo Cortes, will host this very special black tie event.
Nominees in the following categories for the 2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS will be announced on Thursday October 13th.
2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS CATEGORIES
• Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia*
• Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas*
• Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas*
• Best Music for a Documentary
• Best Music for a Short Film
• Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
• Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
• Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
• Best Television Theme
• Best Music for Children’s Television
• Best Feature Film Score
• Best Music for an Advertisement
• Best Soundtrack Album
*Determined by statistical analysis
2011 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS
Presented by APRA and the AGSC, Hosted by Noni Hazlehurst
Monday November 14th
City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney
Do you perform original music in public places?
Then you may be entitled to royalty payments. Log in to the APRA website, submit your Live Performance Return (LPR) for the 10-11 financial year by August 31, and get paid in November!
To help with the process, APRA|AMCOS are hosting LPR Connecting Members sessions around the country in August. For more information or to submit your LPR, head to apra-amcos.com.au
by Lyn Norfor (Screenhub report, 18 July 2011)
Relief for NSW sector as new State government comes to the continuing party. Meanwhile, national cycle trends up for a bit, and the dollar continues to be dolorous. Lyn Norfor remains calm under the conflicted circumstances.
It was a wet and freezing night in old Sydney town for this year’s NSW screen industry briefing. People drizzled into the upstairs foyer at the Australian Institute of Music, and huddled in small groups, warmed only by an overpowering aroma of air-freshener. Slowly the foyer filled until the doors were opened to the impressively named but equally chilly Concert Hall.
As in the previous two briefings, Sandy George chaired the proceedings with her usual straight talking and sharp humour. She introduced the all-women panel – Ruth Harley (CEO, Screen Australia), Tania Chambers (Chief Executive, Screen NSW) and Deborah Richards (Chief Executive, Ausfilm). George blamed a confluence of factors for the economic pain she acknowledged that many people and companies she had spoken to were currently suffering. She listed the withdrawal of international productions due to the high Australian dollar, the digital revolution, the GFC and terrorism in the modern world! She even added that it’s possible that producers are taking advantage of the soft economic climate and driving prices down, especially with post houses.
Ruth Harley was the first to address the nearly three quarters full house, and she stated the obvious – the last financial year has been ‘extremely tough with the high Australia dollar a complete nightmare and no foreign productions’. But, on the bright side, more Australians are returning home to film – Baz Luhrman, Stephan Elliott, PJ Hogan and George Miller.
Harley said that our industry was cyclical and in 2009/10 there was a peak, 2010/11 was a trough and 2011/12 is predicted to be on the rise again, with The Great Gatsby leading the charge. Features to be filmed in NSW this year include The Sapphires, Dead Europe and Venice, coupled with a renaissance in quality TV adult drama. She predicted further productions would be announced next week in the latest production round.
There were many figures and graphs in Harley’s power point presentation but the big print can be summarised as Screen Australia investment totalled $66.5 million in 99 projects, which triggered $264 million worth of production. In 2010/11, SA funded 17 features, 11 TV drama projects, 4 children’s TV series and 67 documentaries. Harley also predicted that Australian films would be in every A-list international film festival this year – even though Venice and Toronto haven’t been announced, she is very confident.
Harley didn’t forget documentaries, noting that the local box office for Mrs Carey’s Concert has just hit $1million and the top 10 television documentaries were all Australian. Harley said ‘convergence is the big word for this year with the Convergence Review a great opportunity to expand and grow our industry.’ Harley finished her bullish presentation with a metaphor that even she admitted was long and complicated –something to do with the crew in the audience being the ‘heart, brains and body’, which then got entangled with other bodily organs and functions such as veins and blood. A trailer for Stephan Elliott’s A Few Good Men got everyone laughing with the antics of the handsome young leads and the many sheep shagging jokes – which Harley said she particularly enjoyed.
Tania Chambers was next up and she agreed with Harley that this has been a very tough year. She said that the new NSW Liberal government was very supportive of the industry with the Minister for the Arts, George Souris, attending the Sydney Film Festival. She also advised the audience to take special note of the important trend in regional growth, with 13 new ministers from regional areas, as compared to the 2 regional ministers in the last Labour government.
Chambers mentioned the ongoing benefits and flow-on effects of the two years of the additional $5 million funding as well as the improving film friendly practices in NSW. She said there were no international productions ahead, with The Great Gatsby and Happy Feet 2 being counted as local productions. Let’s hope that these two industry lifesavers will not suffer the same on-again off-again fate of the other much-touted saviour, Fury Road. Chambers said that all the facts and figures in her power point presentation could be found on the Screen NSW website.
Deborah Richards was the final speaker and she warned the audience that, unlike the previous two speakers, she had pages and pages of notes and only three slides. She then listed increasing both the Location and PDV Offsets as a major focus of the lobbying efforts of Ausfilm. Both pegged at 15 per cent until the latest budget, Richards said ‘they worked well when the Australian dollar was at 64 cents. But at 82 cents they were in dire straits and when the dollar hit parity and beyond, they fell off the page’.
Ausfilm decided, after commissioning an economic impact study, to recommend to the federal government a doubling of both the Location and PDV Offsets. A petition of 9,000 industry signatories, organised by Jen Cornwell, accompanied the Ausfilm submission. After much lobbying and several visits to Canberra, the PDV Offset was doubled to 30 per cent but the Location Offset was only raised to 16.5 per cent. Richards is still hopeful there will be a further increase in the Location Offset in the next budget and encouraged the audience to contact and lobby their local members. Richard’s quirky turn of phrase and wry humour added a light touch to a rather gloomy outlook.
Sandy George kick-started the question and answer part of the evening with a couple of questions that had been emailed in. The question, which sparked the strongest response from the panel, asked how to make screen agency personnel take responsibility for their decisions to back films that failed dismally. The second part of the question was about keeping agency staff on short-term contracts so they could regularly return to the industry. Tania Chambers jumped in and explained that most Screen NSW staff, including herself, are already on contracts and there were very few permanent staff. Ruth Harley agreed regarding SA personnel and then gave a spirited defence of Sleeping Beauty as an outstanding winner, even though it failed to perform at the Australian box office. This was may not have been one of the films referred to in the question as a ‘dismal failure’ – there are several other contenders, which Harley obviously ignored, vying for that coveted moniker.
Another related question concerned the issue of conflict of interest by screen agency staff and board members. Chambers answered by outlining the standard policies every agency had in place to cover this eventuality and finished by challenging the audience that the only way to completely avoid this was to have non-industry personnel assessing and approving projects.
There were a number of questions from the floor concerning the regional film offices, information on ‘greening’ the industry and the preferential treatment, via the Creative Enterprise Scheme, being given to large, established production houses rather than to small, independent documentary filmmakers.
As the audience leave this third annual industry briefing, the energy and buzz in the room rises as the ‘heart, brains and body’ of the industry look forward to yet another year of fluctuating fortunes.
Lyn Norfor
Lyn Norfor is a producer with factual and drama television projects in development.
The Australian Guild of Screen Composers is proud to be a supporter of the 2011 Sydney Film School (SFS) Festival and to award a two year membership to the AGSC for the recipient of the Best Composer Award. Congratulations to Luca Bogo for his exceptional work composing music for film.
Images from the 14th SFS Festival can be seen here 14th-sfs-festival-photos.pdf