The Orchestra: My dream comes true

How do I put this into words? I really don't know how to describe it. I can only say that it is the most thrilling experience of my life. I have been a film music fanatic since I was 13. I breathe film music. And now, to finally feel this massive live orchestra, made up of some of the best musicians in the world, people who have played for John Williams, James Newton Howard, Michael Kamen, Basil Poledouris, Danny Elfman... and now for AUSTIN WINTORY, my composer and my music partner for life... well, there are no words to describe it.

Over the past month, Austin has been working sleeplessly composing and orchestrating a score that only in my dreams would I have expected to hear put to my own film. This is the kind of score I grew up rushing to the music store to buy upon release. And now, here we are at Warner Brothers at the Clint Eastwood Scoring Stage experiencing it performed as he conducts the Hollywood Studio Symphony.

One more day of performance and this experience will be forever locked in my memory as the most special part of my life. This music is magic. It is what gives Captain Abu Raed that layer of life beyond what you see on the screen. And it is finally my dream come true.

Awaken the giant beast

... a little critter came into my apartment and started trouble late last night. I got a photograph of him. For those who don't believe cartoons are real... well, I think this here proves you wrong.

Morning Latte Premier

Ladies and Gentlemen and all humans who may be in Los Angeles on October 26th. Just in time for Halloween week, you are invited to the premier of my AFI thesis film, the black comedy, "Morning Latte". The special event premier will be held at AFI in the hills of Hollywood at 8:00pm. If you're in the area and would like to see the wacky dark side of Amin Matalqa, something very different than Captain Abu Raed, then send me a message and I will give you details.

The 20-minute supernatural absurdest black comedy was shot in January 2007 at CBS Radford studios right where they used to film Seinfield.

Sound and Music

Just an update on where we are with Captain Abu Raed. We've locked picture and are now in the semi-last phase of post production: sound and music.

We've gone through every second of the film and spotted how the sound will function as that third dimension to enhance the audience's experience. We're recording ambient sounds for the background. So it's funny that while you'll be looking at Amman, you'll be hearing the silence of the hills in Los Angeles in the background. I guess it perfectly fits the blend of east and west behind the movie.

And of course, one of my favorite parts is the music. We're recording a 46 piece orchestra at Warner Brothers at the end of the month and will blend it with a trio of Arabic instruments (Qanoon, Oud, and Tabla) which we will record in Paris.

One of the important functions of the score for me is to make this film universal. So the string orchestra along with solo Cello, solo Oboe, harp, two flutes, an English horn, and a French Horn will give the film this universality that fits the story and characters.

More on the music as it takes shape.