One of the cooler events I attended last year was the Southeast Film Music Festival. Sitting in the Silver Ballroom at the Read House listening to Don Davis, Peter Golub and George S. Clinton talk about how they score movies was entertaining and enlightening.
While the event is primarily for anyone interested in scoring films, any film or music buff would enjoy the experience. Learning how some of the best in the business operate and what their thought processes are was fascinating.
The event will return in 2014 but with a new name. It is now the Chattanooga International Film Music Festival, and it will be held Feb. 28-March 2. Headlining, if that's the right word, will be Alan Silvestri. His work includes "Back to the Future" and its sequels, as well as "Predator," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "A Night at the Museum," "Captain America" and "The Avengers."
He was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for "Forrest Gump" and "The Polar Express." He has won three Grammy Awards for his work on "The Bodyguard," "Cast Away" and "Polar Express."
Silvestri will join Clinton, the festival's artistic director, for a weekend of seminars with film music composers such as Golub, a panel discussion moderated by BMI's Doreen Ringer Ross, a screening of "Back to the Future" followed by a discussion with Silvestri, as well as open rehearsals and two film music concerts with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera.
The CSO will again perform live as a classic film is screened. This year, the movie will be the Academy Award-winning "Singin' in the Rain." The second concert, "Hooray for Hollywood," will feature Clinton's Austin Powers Suite, Golub's These Amazing Shadows suite, the Back to the Future Suite conducted by Silvestri and additional popular film music conducted by the CSO's music director emeritus and principal pops conductor, Bob Bernhardt.
"For three glorious days we will be exploring and celebrating the art and magic that is film music," Clinton says.
Clinton, a Brainerd High School graduate who serves on the CSO board, is chair of the Berklee College of Music. He has said that he wants to gro this film composing festival into one of the best in the world.
Registration for the festival begins Oct. 1. The cost is $195. Film, composing and conducting students can attend for $50. Register at www.chattfilmmusic.com.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6354.