FMS FEATURE ["Film Scoring Two: Behind the Scenes" Exhibit Now Showing

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FMS FEATURE...

January 9, 2009
Film Scoring Two: Behind the Scenes Exhibit Now Showing
Sequel to Sally Stevens' successful photo series captures movie music moments by Marilee Bradford

David Newman in rehearsal

Los Angeles, Calif.—Film scoring sessions are one of the mysteries of the entertainment world, generally closed to anyone not directly involved with the making of the music. What goes on at the scoring stage stays on the scoring stage.

But famed studio singer-turned-photojournalist Sally Stevens – who introduced the general public to the scoring stage ambiance with her 2005 exhibit of black-and-white images taken during film and television music recording sessions – now presents her second in the series, Film Scoring Two: Behind the Scenes, January 11th through February 13th at A Studio Gallery in Studio City, Calif.

Stevens' new exhibit captures many of filmdom's most important composers in their natural habitat, including Howard Shore during Doubt sessions; Tyler Bates scoring Watchmen and The Day the Earth Stood Still; and Marc Streitenfeld during American Gangster sessions. She snapped Jeff Beal and director Ed Harris at Capitol Records for the scoring of Appaloosa; and, also at Capitol, a pre-recording session for the 2007 Academy Awards, featuring composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, artist Beyoncé, and Oscars music director Bill Conti.

"I am so grateful to be involved with film music as a singer and vocal contractor," says Stevens, "but find it thrilling to be able to stand in the middle of those magnificent live orchestras with a camera in my hand, surrounded by the music and watching for the right moment to capture on film."

Director Steven Spielberg, singer Lisbeth Scott and composer John Williams during a scoring session for Munich.

Many rare moments were caught by Stevens' lens in the TODD-AO mixing booth, among them James Newton Howard conferring with orchestrator Jeff Atmajian on the podium during the scoring of Lady in the Water. "I tried to include several projects from the TODD-AO scoring stage," she notes. "It was so sad to see them close their doors early last year."

The exhibit includes an image of composer Inon Zur during the the scoring of the electronic game Prince of Persia, a first in this medium for Stevens. Other film and television composers featured are David Newman, Marco Beltrami, Terence Blanchard, Mark Snow, Steve Jablonsky, Klaus Badelt and Bill Ross.

Images of legendary composers Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams and Burt Bacharach are among those welcomed back from Stevens' first exhibit. Also included are overview shots of the scoring process – the orchestra, the recording booths, the rehearsal process and more.

Howard Shore conducting scoring session for Doubt.

With nearly 300 films and countless television, recording and radio credits to her name, Stevens' unprecedented career as studio singer, voiceover artist, choir contractor and vocal coach has placed her behind the scenes and dead center in recording sessions with the most important and talented composers in Hollywood.

It is due in great part to her stellar reputation within the industry that she has earned the musicmakers' trust – and carte blanche – with her camera during scoring sessions: "The composers and music departments have been so gracious in allowing me to do this work. I don't want to be intrusive to the creative process when shooting, [so] the shots for the most part are 'grab' shots, when suddenly the composer or the orchestrator lands under a good overhead light."

The exhibit is presented in association with Frank's Custom Lab, and is curated by Angela Cartwright. A Studio Gallery is located at 4260 Lankershim Blvd. Hours are Monday through Thursday 9 AM-4 PM, Friday 9 AM-12 PM, or by appointment.

For more information, call the gallery at (818) 980-9100 or visit www.astudiogallery.com.

©2009 Marilee Bradford