ASP Masterclass: The Psychology of Music for Film and Television

31 August 2009

Organisation

The Association of Screen Professionals is delighted to announce a forthcoming Masterclass with music editor Lesley Langs.

Over the past 14 years Lesley has worked as a film and television music editor and assistant for all the major studios and networks in Hollywood.

During that time she has had the privilege to work with some of legends of the film music world, including James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith, William Ross and some of the top film directors including Robert Redford, James Cameron, Martin Campbell and Gus Van Sant.

Lesley’s professional beginnings were as an assistant picture editor but after a first meeting with a music editor early in her career, her love of film soundtracks lead her out of the cutting room and on to the scoring stage.

She has taught a class at UCLA titled Music Editing for Film, Television and Beyond which launched the careers of several other music editors working in the business today.

This ASP Masterclass will be an abbreviated version of that course with a special emphasis on the theory of music as it supports dramatic storylines and images.

Lesley’s feature credits include: Tuck Everlasting, The Devil’s Own, The Mask of Zorro, Titanic, Shanghai Noon, Finding Forrester, Blow, Speed Racer, Harrison’s Flowers, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Duets and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Television: Royal Pains, Journeyman, Windfall, What About Brian, C.S.I., Prison Break and Miss Guided.

The Masterclass will look at:

• Subjective nature of music and social conventions of score.
• How music is best used in service of a story.
• When to use score vs. source music or songs.
• Use of thematic material to convey emotional content and how music speaks to internal subtext.
• Musical POV and intention in supporting the emotional content of scenes.
• How music can help create richer characters and dynamic relationship.

The ASP will look at scenes from feature films and television shows to discuss the music chosen and why.

They will also explore our own conventions of music and what it conveys to us as viewers.

Participants are invited to bring in some of their favorite scenes on DVD or current scenes they are editing to share and discuss with the class.

6pm – 10pm Monday 14 September
Subiaco Arts Centre 180 Hamersley Road, Subiaco

Due to the kind support of ScreenWest this masterclass is available to members of the following industry associations: FTI, ASP, ADG, AWG, SPAA, MEAA, ACS and PAC. However numbers are limited so please let us know as soon as possible (and no later than 7th September) if you would like to reserve a place in this masterclass.

Please note: you must confirm your place in the masterclass by either “email”:mailto:asp@screenworkshop.com.au or phone 9384 4604.