Scott Watkins - composer: Blog

WOW - the only word to accurately describe the young men and women of the Jacksonville University Orchestra. What an extraordinary pair of evenings of rehearsal and recording the musical score to JU's newest motion picture, "In One Brow of Woe."

Too many names to mention for outstanding service, but VERY SPECIAL THANKS goes to:
Dr. Marguerite Richardson (Music Director of the Orchestra), Dr. Jianjun He, Prof. Laura Dwyer, Prof. Shannon Lockwood, Prof. Sean Morgan, and Prof. Brent Bevis. Special recognition to Dr. Thomas Harrison who engineered the recording session, and assistant Christopher Davis (student).

Very special thanks to Peter Dutilly, (composition/viola performance double-major) for printing score and ALL of the musicians' parts for rehearsal and performance.

Special recognition, of course, to Dr. Carolina Conte (the picture's director) and all the cast and crew of "In One Brow of Woe."

Look for the film at Swisher Theater Nov. 4 at 7:30pm, and Nov. 5 at 3pm.

To the [...]

I'm THRILLED to start working on a new work ... a suite of three pieces I'm tentatively calling "Atlas of Remote Islands: Three Symphonic Poems for Soprano and Orchestra." I've just received permission from the author of the book, "Atlas of Remote Islands," to use her fascinating work for this music. One of the "Islands" is Howland Island ... write to me if you know what makes this island so important.

... put the last notes on paper TODAY, Feb. 2, 2011! It's cool!!! Mostly just a jumble of ideas. Looking forward to hearing it with Laura Dwyer and Rhonda Cassano!

Great session this afternoon with director and sound editor. Looking forward to the final product. Mr. O'Brien has poured his life into this work and the care he has shown in this picture is obvious.

This has been a two-year project for me and I'm delighted with the outcome.

It's the traditional end of the project event ... spot and drop. What the HELL does THAT mean? The director and composer (and music editor, music supervisor, producter, etc.) meet to figure out where EXACTLY the music should go in a picture. Since the composer's name is on the line, and audiences will detect instantly if the composer scored the film right, this is an imporant a step as the actual composition. Composition means scoring the film ... Scoring means puting the music in exactly the right place. This is a process entirely up to the composer. His idea of the music is basted entirely upon WHERE and WHEN music should occur in a motion picture and the content of that music. It's an exciting event for all involved because it represents a final piece of the motion picture puzzle.

Personally, and from a creative standpoint, there is almost nothing more invigorating than seeing one's music in a motion picture for the first time.

Walking Through Fires will get it's musical score [...]