Q : How did you become involved with the film FAQS ?
A : I had been writing and producing an electro-funk-punk album with FAQS star Allan Louis, and he told me about the film. I said "Wow - that sounds very cool; I'd like to compose a score for that," and Allan hooked me up with Everett.
Q : How was the process of creating the score? How do you identify where and what the music will sound like? Did you see dailies as it was being shot or work with Everett during post production?
A : Well, the process of creating the score was probably a more relaxed one than would be on most features in that we had ample time to create the 'sound' of the score before the final dub. In spotting a film, I really prefer to watch the film numerous times with absolutely no temp music. By doing this, I begin to receive feelings from the images and emotions in the film which I can translate into themes and a musical sound (or landscape). I was able to do this with FAQS, and several of my very first impressions remained in the film: the 'love' theme for India and Spence, and the churning groove with hymn-like synth strings and violin solo for Destiny. Also - with spotting - I always spot the film alone first, and then spot it with the music supervisor and director and they tell me where they see the music going. Then we compare notes and discuss. I did not see any dailies - all the music was written and scored post.
Q : What are some of your favorite film scores and influences? Were you trying to replicate any one style for FAQS ?
A : Hmmm - my biggest influence in film scores is one of the grandaddies - Bernard Herrmann (Citizen Kane '41, Psycho '60, Taxi Driver '75). My favorite 'electronic band' is Depeche Mode; and I am interested in dance music of many kinds - SO, it could be noted that there is a cross section of those elements in the FAQS score. I really like what Heil and Kilmek did with their techno sound a few years back for "Run Lola Run" - I would love to craft a score like that one day. Currently, I love the space in Gustavo Santaolalla's BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and I loved Alex Wurman's score for MARCH OF THE PENGUINS.
Q : For the music tech people out there - what kind of equipment did you use on the score for FAQS?
A : MOTU Digital Performer, Roland Fantom XR, Roland XV-5080, Reason 2.5, Stormdrum, String Samples: Siedlaczek, Miroslav, Roland (live guitar, live violin, live whisper vocal)
Q : Is designing a score for a "gay film" different that a "straight film"? Everett has said that FAQS is made far a gay audience, and he isn't interested in any crossover - did you take that into consideration when creating the score? In other words, is there a gay aesthetic/sensibility in your score?
A : Well, this is an interesting question - I would answer that for FAQS, I never set out to write a 'gay' score - I really tried to be open to the human emotion in the film and react to that musically. I believe that designing the score for a 'gay' film is not different than that for a 'straight' film. One might choose to musically 'do' a landscape that is germane to the characters in some way. My own experiences with different West Hollywood friends led me to incorporating some electronic and dance elements into the score - however, some of the themes are dramatic and use heavy guitar, and that came from my interpretations of the human emotions depicted in the film. I know that in at least one case, Everett wanted the source music to go against the stereotype of what one might think 'drag queens' would listen to.
Q: Were there any scenes that were extra difficult to find a sound for?
A : None I would say were extra difficult; however, I'll share a few difficult scenes: India's first sex encounter (w/hunky guy on the couch). Myself, Garret and Everett worked on several pieces of music for this scene. My first one was too on-the-nose ('obvious' in its lyrics) others just weren't compelling, one made the scene feel like a porno, and finally we fell in love with this atmospheric, and dreamy song which Allan Louis and I wrote. I worked quite a lot on the final confessional scene between India and Spence - getting the flow of their emotions just right - the background score, while quiet, does go through several mood changes, and our goal was to do this subtly, but effectively (isn't that always the goal :) ) We were pleased with the result.
Q : In your bio it says you co-wrote a song for Brokeback Mountain? With all the attention it has gotten, has that opened up any new opportunities for you?
A : Well, what ultimately happened is that one of my writing partners, Rick Garcia and I had written several songs together, and he wrote several songs with other writing partners. Two of his other songs were used in BROKEBACK, and one of ours ended up in another film, DOMINO. For yet another song, I recorded and produced the vocals (but did not compose the song), and that one was used in BROKEBACK ("Quizas"). So, yes, I am thrilled with the success of BROKEBACK, it is opening doors, and Rick and I are currently working on songs for several other projects - News ahead on our websites!
Q : You have been working with one of the stars of FAQS, Allan Louis ("Destiny"), on a music project - can you tell us more about that?
A : The website is www.thesuperstar.us We call it a funk-punk electro we-only-live-for-this-moment-let's-party-rock-groove Band. Well - something like that! - The album (called RADIO) is hot - you can hear some clips and see some videos on the website. No appearances scheduled at the moment - but please check back with the websites - One of our songs from the album "Queen of the World" is in FAQS. The atmospheric, dreamy song, "Wonderland" is new - not on the album. also - my stage name for that project is Vince dePalme. Vince did some beats for FAQS.
DOWNLOADABLE SONGS FROM THE FILM "FAQS"
Download a .zip file of 3 pieces of the Original Score by WILLIAM V. MALPEDE
(6mb MP3 file)
Download a .zip file of 2 songs by MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT
(13mb MP3 file)
Download a .zip file of 3 songs by DIRTY ACTION DOLLS
(18mb MP3 files)
Download a .zip file of 1 song by UKEFINK
(4mb MP3 file)
Hear THE BLACKSMOKE ORGANISATION song "Blacksmoke Rising (Post Terrorist Modernism Mix)". (When it loads click "Protest" - and you'll hear the song )
more songs & score from the film "FAQS" available soon....
NOTES ON THE SONGS + SCORE BY THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR:
Working and knowing Everett Lewis, the director, for over 15 years (yikes!) and working on most of his projects, I had a pretty good handle on his musical tastes for his films. But, both of us were stumped as to what the music to FAQS would be. Everett shot and cut the film with very little temp music - and then it was my job to figure out the cool glue to put the vignette-style piece together after it was 99% cut.
During production, Allan Louis (who played "Destiny" in the film), had mentioned that his friend William V. Malpede was a composer. I was hesitant at first, but very quickly realized that Billy was a highly trained and talented composer. He was fast and direct, and in some ways understood the film better than I ever did. (Or maybe his score gave the film more meaning? I don't know that's a larger philosophical discussion.) Billy created brilliant themes for each main character & took my direction to heart, and when we came to critical scenes where Everett stepped in, as only a director could, and Billy thrived in a collaborative environment.
When it came to songs in the film, I felt more comfortable; it's an area that had been visited with Everett's last film, LUSTER, but not quite like this. Most of the songs in FAQS really still needed to function as score. I tried to do this by using instrumental versions of songs, by people I knew and had worked with previously. All the bands that contributed songs to the film are really independent heroes of mine. They own all their music, they work with people they appreciate, and have a huge collaborative spirit. Some of the songs I'd been hoping to use for years, but never had the opportunity until FAQS. Working with Billy and all the bands was a pleasure.
I hope you enjoy the film - tell your friends!
xo
Garret Scullin
Music Supervisor / Associate Producer - FAQS
WILLIAM V. MALPEDE (all original score).
MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT.
THE BLACKSMOKE ORGANISATION.
UKEFINK. (Who also contributed songs to LUSTER).
DIRTY ACTION DOLLS.
SUPERSTAR (a collaboration between William V. Malpede & Allan Louis).
... and more detail on the CREDITS page.