- This topic is empty.
- Posts
I would just like you to know that I just got a package today that contains the Red Dragon score CD, a DVD with the whole Red Dragon movie on it, and a letter from Brett Ratner about Elfman. All of this was sent to me because I was a Film Score Monthly subscriber I guess. The letter opens up “Dear Film Score Monthly Reader”.
How cool is that!?!
When I have more time, I will type out the whole letter and share it with you.
Anyone else receive this?Nat who was really surprised at my late gift
A DVD with the WHOLE MOVIE?! It’s not even released yet! Not fair! Do Film Score Monthly subscribers get this kinda’ stuff all the time?
Are there any supplemental features on it, or is it just a movie on a disc?
No extra features, just the movie with a streaming notice at the bottom of the screen in the middle of the film that says something like “for Oscar consideration only, not for sale”. There is also a notice at the beginning and that’s it. This is the first time I’ve gotten any CDs or DVDs from them without asking, but I do remember getting a promotion card from them about the Star Wars Episode 1 score release.
It turns out that all the U.S. subscribers received this package, because Brett Ratner is a big film score fan. He ask for a list of all the U.S. subscribers and sent us all this great gift!
Nat who is now a HUGE fan of Brett Ratner – that’s right, I can be bought.
P.S. If Mr. Ratner ever visits this site then let me honestly tell him Thank You.
. . . So where’s that letter you promised us?
Wow. Wouldn’t it be great if Danny won an oscar this time?I think Elfman has a very good chance in getting an Oscar nod for Chicago, of all movies. Mostly because the old and unenlightened Academy voters might be duped into thinking that Danny wrote the Oscar-caliber songs. Since, evidently, Chicago seems to be acclimated as such.
Just imagine how great the acceptance speech would be? “Great, I worked on this score for two weeks, obviously this the best thing I’ve ever done.”
I kid. Though if he ever does get an Oscar I’m sure his speech will be great.
Without further ado I present the Letter…
Dear Film Score Monthly Reader,
I don’t think there’s another film composer working today with the breadth of Danny Elfman’s understanding of music. From an encyclopedic knowledge of cinema through a deep appreciation of the masters who came before him to a truly revolutionary sensibility, he is an endless resource for what music has been and what it can be. My hope with RED DRAGON was to create a classic film. It raises goose bumps, to be sure, but I hope it is remembered for its moments of humanity and poignancy as well. For every chilling delivery made by Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, there are intimate scenes of heartache between Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson as our doomed lovers. Danny immediately comprehended the emotional sweep we were hoping to achieve and knew how to capture all of that in his work. As just one example: the themes around Ralph’s Dolarhyde character are both operatic and childlike, a perfect and precise musical companion of his character.
When Danny first conducted his orchestra for Red Dragon, I sat in the scoring sessions, positively thrilled and transported by what he created. His score provided the requisite scares and startles, but more than that, it delivered a far more intangible quality – heart. Danny has such gratitude for the work of those before him, particularly Bernard Herrmann and his indelible scores for Hitchcock’s classics. He is able to tip his hat musically to those forerunners while creating work that is unmistakably his own. RED DRAGON represents the first time that Danny scored a realistic thriller, but I knew that his antennae would be finely tuned to what was required, and his work went far beyond my highest and most hopeful expectations. Just as I felt a kinship to Thomas Harris through the pages of the novel RED DRAGON, I knew I’d found a brother in Danny Elfman through his continuing interpretation of the work.
I believe that Danny Elfman will be esteemed among the most unforgettable names in filmmaking music. The diversity of his work has already memorable included comedy, fantasy, science fiction, drama and animation. There is no limit to what he can do. Thank you for your consideration of his work on RED DRAGON. The way that audiences connected to the film is due in no small degree to his magic.
Warm regards,
Brett Ratner
Nat who probably made a mistake or two in typing, but this is the whole letter
Nat – hey, I got that same thing! I was surprised and overjoyed
Nice to know subscribing to that mag gives you extra perks, besides being a great read already! (Also found the “this movie is for promotional purposes only” occasional trailers across the screen very funny)…-E
cool…
only….
Pete Anthony conducted.B – you noticed that, too? Ha!
-E
It makes me wonder if Elfman did do a warm up with the orchestra though, since I remember him talking about doing that in an interview before – help here would be nice?
Nat
That was probably the best letter of recomendation I have ever read. If the Academy doesn’t at least nominate him this time, I am going to be REALLY pissed off hehehe.
Knight (I bet Brent Ratner and Danny are going to work together alot in the future)
Brett Ratner (sp) rules. What a gift to give to film music fans!
Nate, interesting to see there is an Elfman fan with with the name “Nat”!
So what is Nate short for (if it is short for anything)?
My full name is Nathaniel, meaning “gift of God” my brother ended up with a Biblical name as well, his name is Nicholas, meaning “lass with many nicks”
Sorry for the bad joke, but I couldn’t resist.
Nat, like the bug without the G (I tell people that so they won’t call me Matt)
“Lass with many nicks,” eh? Haha! Hm…I wonder how your brother feels about THAT one
-E (whose name does not start with an “N”…betcha couldn’t guess. I’ve always wanted to be named “Lenore,” but I don’t have the heart to change it…)
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.