Screening this coming Saturday September 26th, as part of MN Web Fest: We recently wrapped audio post production on the pilot for Season Five of the Theater People web series. The episode features an original musical score, sound edit and mix by yours truly. Of note is a six and a half minute back story montage, which I scored with some rustic acoustic pop that morphs “Long Goodbye”-style into diegetic country music on a bar jukebox, contemporary R&B-flavored synth pop, lilting harp to accompany a scene from “Romeo and Juliet”, and eventually back into itself. Plus I got to edit and mix dialog by some of my favorite Minnesota actors, like Stacia Rice and John Middleton! There’s also a drum solo in this episode. Don’t be afraid.
More original music by Mike Hallenbeck for film
More sound edit and mix by Mike Hallenbeck for film
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Some stuff I’ve been enjoying recently in the TV/ streaming realm.
THE AMERICANS
(Drama/ Thriller; Originally on FX; now available on Amazon Prime)
One of the best TV shows I’ve ever seen, depicting a pair of 1980s Soviet agents posing as a “normal” American couple in the suburbs of DC. In particular the acting is quite nuanced, suggesting strong direction as well.
I’m also a big fan of the dizzyingly complex opening credits, which are broken down well here.
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THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA
(Horror/ Comedy; Netflix)
This show is apparently based on an old Archie comic or something. Anyway, I love what’s it’s been rebooted as: it’s kind of like an American take on Hammer horror with a fair amount of comedy sprinkled in. There’s an awful lot going on here, so it’s difficult to explain briefly. But if a campy brew of witches, demons, clairvoyance, shapeshifting, and undead stuff sounds appealing to you, then check it out. The lighting and overall production design are particularly sumptuous. And there’s a strategically placed “Night of the Lepus” poster at one point too.
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WILD WILD COUNTRY
(Documentary; Netflix)
This has been out for a while now, but if you haven’t seen it yet then do yourself a favor. Again, a sprawling narrative that’s hard to describe, and (despite its truth) even harder to believe. Netflix’s succinct decription is effective: “When a controversial cult leader builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert, conflict with the locals escalates into a national scandal.” The series apparently won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Series. I particularly love the haunting score by Brocker Way.
