Film Score for 'Birdsong'

By Ewan Clark

PledgeMe.Project

Music,



NZ $3,235 pledged


79 people pledged


Closed


NZ $3,000 minimum target


100 100% Complete

This campaign was successful and closed on 05/06/2013 at 7:11 AM.

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About

Film Score For 'Birdsong'

Project 2013-05-07 02:49:35 +1200

Birdsong is an exciting new short film that’s currently being made in Wellington by talented young director Ben Childs, and is set to be processed at Park Road Post.

Ben has invited me, Ewan Clark, to compose the music, and we feel that a score featuring a live professional orchestra will really bring this story to life. But orchestral music is rarely within the budget of small productions in NZ, so I'm using Pledgeme to raise $3000 towards recording an orchestra of 10-15 players. The money will go towards studio costs and player fees. By pledging, you’ll be providing paid work for local musicians and making it possible for Birdsong to have that extra warmth, humanity and power that only a professional orchestra can bring.



About me

I’ve recently returned from the Royal College of Music in London, coming home with an MMus in Composition for Screen. While in the UK I composed and recorded scores for a number of films (shorts, documentaries and a feature), which has lead to my work going to film festivals around the world, including Festival de Cannes. I also provided music for a BBC documentary and orchestrations for an event at Buckingham Palace. Soon after coming back to Wellington, I recorded a score at Park Road Post with 15 members of Orchestra Wellington, for an Indian documentary.


About Birdsong

With Birdsong I’m looking forward to devoting my efforts to a truly kiwi project once again! Birdsong is a quirky coming-of-age film set in a stylized 1991 New Zealand. It follows twelve-year-old Kevin’s changing perception of his eccentric, bird-mask wearing father. It is one of the last movies in New Zealand to be processed at Park Road Post before they close their film lab as the industry moves entirely to the cheaper digital workflow. 

 

Birdsong & the big picture

I have an ambition to record a score with the full New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in a few years time, but in the meantime, Birdsong and other small to medium sized projects will be an essential way of building towards that goal. I’m passionate about contributing to the growth of the orchestral film music scene here in Wellington and would greatly appreciate your support.

For an audiovisual glimpse into this exciting project, watch this great little video we’ve made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAsUtjjsp44

My website: www.ewanclarkmusic.com

Comments

Updates 9

Birdsong Wins at American Festival

15/11/2013 at 12:01 AM

Dear supporters,

Birdsong, the short film which you generously supported, has now screened at two international film festivals and won "Best Foreign Film" at Indie Fest USA International Film Festival in Los Angeles. Your financial support helped to make the film such a success, specifically in terms of its music, so thank you again- your money has gone to excellent use!

This will likely be the last update you'll get from me through Pledgeme, but do choose from the following ways to stay in touch with my musical activities:

Twitter: @EwanClarkMusic

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ewanclarkmusic

Quarterly email newsletter: Sign up at http://eepurl.com/z74eb

Website: www.ewanclarkmusic.com


Finally, here is a longer article about Birdsong's recent success:

http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/connect/media-releases/2013/nov/136129-birdsong-wins-at-american-festival

Thanks again for your kind support.

Best wishes,

Ewan


You need to pledge to see this update.

Target reached!

03/06/2013 at 11:24 PM

Dear wonderful, generous pledgers,

Hooray!! With your help we've done it!! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It's fantastic news not only for me but for Birdsong's director, Ben Childs, for the recording studio Marmalade Audio and for the 15 or so orchestral musicians who get a paid gig and increased studio experience.

Now it's time for me to focus on writing the music in time for the recording session on the 18th of June, a process which will begin in earnest later this week, once a rough cut of the film is available. Details of the rewards will follow, with mp3s being sent out by the end of June, and the Q&A Screening probably happening in July. We'll be in touch!

Thanks again, I'm blown away by your support!

With lots of love and gratitude,

Ewan

78% of target raised!

28/05/2013 at 9:49 PM

Thanks to your generosity, the end is now in sight, with $2340 of the $3000 target raised and 8 days till the deadline! Of the recent pledgers, I would like to make particularly honourable mention of our second VIP supporter, Vicki Brown, who has pledged a hugely generous $500. I am blown away by the generousity of all of you in helping 'Birdsong' get its orchestral score.

To join a quarterly email newsletter about my ongoing film music work, please follow this link and type your email address into the form: http://eepurl.com/z74eb

For those who missed the Radio NZ National interview from Sunday, it can be heard at: http://snd.sc/156DdDV

With warm wishes on this cold day and much gratitude,

Ewan

Interview with Radio NZ National

25/05/2013 at 3:00 AM

I'm delighted to say that I'm now over 40% of the way towards my target of $3000, so thank you all so much! In particular, I'd like to thank the most recent pledgers, which include our first VIP pledger, the hugely generous Angela Roestenburg. Together, you've made a huge difference!

If any of you have a spare 5 minutes tomorrow (Sunday) at 12:43, I'll be talking on Radio NZ National about my work, including a little plug for 'Birdsong', of course. I'll also be talking about my newly confirmed role as orchestrator on the upcoming feature film about Sir Edmund Hillary, Beyond the Edge. Please continue to tell friends about my 'Birdsong' campaign, and thanks so much again for what you've already done! The final sprint to the finish line is about to begin. 12 days left!

With HUGE gratitude,

Ewan

Radio interview now online

21/05/2013 at 8:07 AM

A huge thank you to all my generous supporters, particularly those who have pledged since last time I sent an update. Thanks to you all we've now raised $855 of the $3000! Woo hoo!!

Here is the radio interview I did the other day:

https://soundcloud.com/pledgeme/wellington-access-radio-bird

Please have a go at convincing one friend to pledge, that way we may double the funds in a couple of days!

Thanks again and have a great evening.

Cheers,

Ewan


First draft of Birdsong's music

15/05/2013 at 10:50 AM

Here's my first concept sketch for the film score for 'Birdsong', mocked-up artificially on my computer, to be replaced later by (hopefully!) a real and far superior orchestra: http://snd.sc/10oBTfj. Ben Childs the director is confident it's heading in the right direction, but it will evolve into something else (perhaps completely different), once I see the rough cut of the film and try out different kinds of music against the picture to see what works best. I hope you enjoyed this little clip. Thanks again for your generous support of the project!



Radio interview tonight!

13/05/2013 at 2:59 AM


Hi all,

Thanks so much to the 14 discerning and gererous souls who have pledged since my last update! And thanks to all of you, we've raised $540 so far! Every pledge is HUGEly appreciated!

If you're in Wellington, why not tune into Access Radio (783AM) tonight at 5:15pm. I'm being interviewed about the campaign to spread the word a little.

Ewan :)

Off to a flying start!

08/05/2013 at 9:23 AM

Thanks so much to our first 9 pledgers!! Thanks to you we're off to a great start. We're 5% of the way there in 3% of the time. Huge thanks and warm wishes going out to you!

    Pledgers 79

    Vicki Brown
    28/05/2013 at 1:52pm
    Vincent Fry
    28/05/2013 at 12:45pm
    Erana Sitterle
    26/05/2013 at 9:00pm
    F Clark
    26/05/2013 at 7:56pm
    Stephanie Pettigrew
    26/05/2013 at 1:04pm
    Peter Thomas
    25/05/2013 at 3:03pm
    Angela Roestenburg
    25/05/2013 at 1:25pm
    judy potts
    24/05/2013 at 3:40pm
    Susannah Potts
    24/05/2013 at 3:22pm
    Stephen Clark
    24/05/2013 at 7:49am
    Anonymous pledger
    23/05/2013 at 1:29pm
    Georgina Sivier
    22/05/2013 at 11:07pm
    Penny Hunt
    21/05/2013 at 9:07am
    Anonymous pledger
    20/05/2013 at 2:26pm
    Stephen Clark
    20/05/2013 at 10:13am
    Rudi Theunissen
    20/05/2013 at 8:00am
    Matthew Gan
    19/05/2013 at 4:48pm
    Anonymous pledger
    17/05/2013 at 4:55pm
    Carolyn and David
    17/05/2013 at 9:52am
    Anonymous pledger
    15/05/2013 at 10:32pm
    Thalia Kehoe Rowden
    15/05/2013 at 5:07pm
    Matt S
    15/05/2013 at 10:52am
    holly mathieson
    14/05/2013 at 8:38am
    Stuart McKenzie
    13/05/2013 at 6:26pm
    naomi hurley
    13/05/2013 at 2:48pm
    jackie romanovsky
    13/05/2013 at 2:44pm
    Suzanne Hawes
    13/05/2013 at 1:44pm
    James Bryant
    13/05/2013 at 1:13pm
    Anonymous pledger
    12/05/2013 at 10:37pm
    Anna-Marie Green
    12/05/2013 at 9:38pm

    Followers

    Followers of Film Score for 'Birdsong'

    Film Score For 'Birdsong'

    Project 2013-05-07 02:49:35 +1200

    Birdsong is an exciting new short film that’s currently being made in Wellington by talented young director Ben Childs, and is set to be processed at Park Road Post.

    Ben has invited me, Ewan Clark, to compose the music, and we feel that a score featuring a live professional orchestra will really bring this story to life. But orchestral music is rarely within the budget of small productions in NZ, so I'm using Pledgeme to raise $3000 towards recording an orchestra of 10-15 players. The money will go towards studio costs and player fees. By pledging, you’ll be providing paid work for local musicians and making it possible for Birdsong to have that extra warmth, humanity and power that only a professional orchestra can bring.



    About me

    I’ve recently returned from the Royal College of Music in London, coming home with an MMus in Composition for Screen. While in the UK I composed and recorded scores for a number of films (shorts, documentaries and a feature), which has lead to my work going to film festivals around the world, including Festival de Cannes. I also provided music for a BBC documentary and orchestrations for an event at Buckingham Palace. Soon after coming back to Wellington, I recorded a score at Park Road Post with 15 members of Orchestra Wellington, for an Indian documentary.


    About Birdsong

    With Birdsong I’m looking forward to devoting my efforts to a truly kiwi project once again! Birdsong is a quirky coming-of-age film set in a stylized 1991 New Zealand. It follows twelve-year-old Kevin’s changing perception of his eccentric, bird-mask wearing father. It is one of the last movies in New Zealand to be processed at Park Road Post before they close their film lab as the industry moves entirely to the cheaper digital workflow. 

     

    Birdsong & the big picture

    I have an ambition to record a score with the full New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in a few years time, but in the meantime, Birdsong and other small to medium sized projects will be an essential way of building towards that goal. I’m passionate about contributing to the growth of the orchestral film music scene here in Wellington and would greatly appreciate your support.

    For an audiovisual glimpse into this exciting project, watch this great little video we’ve made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAsUtjjsp44

    My website: www.ewanclarkmusic.com

    Comments

    Birdsong Wins at American Festival

    15/11/2013 at 12:01 AM

    Dear supporters,

    Birdsong, the short film which you generously supported, has now screened at two international film festivals and won "Best Foreign Film" at Indie Fest USA International Film Festival in Los Angeles. Your financial support helped to make the film such a success, specifically in terms of its music, so thank you again- your money has gone to excellent use!

    This will likely be the last update you'll get from me through Pledgeme, but do choose from the following ways to stay in touch with my musical activities:

    Twitter: @EwanClarkMusic

    Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ewanclarkmusic

    Quarterly email newsletter: Sign up at http://eepurl.com/z74eb

    Website: www.ewanclarkmusic.com


    Finally, here is a longer article about Birdsong's recent success:

    http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/connect/media-releases/2013/nov/136129-birdsong-wins-at-american-festival

    Thanks again for your kind support.

    Best wishes,

    Ewan


    You need to pledge to see this update.

    Target reached!

    03/06/2013 at 11:24 PM

    Dear wonderful, generous pledgers,

    Hooray!! With your help we've done it!! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It's fantastic news not only for me but for Birdsong's director, Ben Childs, for the recording studio Marmalade Audio and for the 15 or so orchestral musicians who get a paid gig and increased studio experience.

    Now it's time for me to focus on writing the music in time for the recording session on the 18th of June, a process which will begin in earnest later this week, once a rough cut of the film is available. Details of the rewards will follow, with mp3s being sent out by the end of June, and the Q&A Screening probably happening in July. We'll be in touch!

    Thanks again, I'm blown away by your support!

    With lots of love and gratitude,

    Ewan

    78% of target raised!

    28/05/2013 at 9:49 PM

    Thanks to your generosity, the end is now in sight, with $2340 of the $3000 target raised and 8 days till the deadline! Of the recent pledgers, I would like to make particularly honourable mention of our second VIP supporter, Vicki Brown, who has pledged a hugely generous $500. I am blown away by the generousity of all of you in helping 'Birdsong' get its orchestral score.

    To join a quarterly email newsletter about my ongoing film music work, please follow this link and type your email address into the form: http://eepurl.com/z74eb

    For those who missed the Radio NZ National interview from Sunday, it can be heard at: http://snd.sc/156DdDV

    With warm wishes on this cold day and much gratitude,

    Ewan

    Interview with Radio NZ National

    25/05/2013 at 3:00 AM

    I'm delighted to say that I'm now over 40% of the way towards my target of $3000, so thank you all so much! In particular, I'd like to thank the most recent pledgers, which include our first VIP pledger, the hugely generous Angela Roestenburg. Together, you've made a huge difference!

    If any of you have a spare 5 minutes tomorrow (Sunday) at 12:43, I'll be talking on Radio NZ National about my work, including a little plug for 'Birdsong', of course. I'll also be talking about my newly confirmed role as orchestrator on the upcoming feature film about Sir Edmund Hillary, Beyond the Edge. Please continue to tell friends about my 'Birdsong' campaign, and thanks so much again for what you've already done! The final sprint to the finish line is about to begin. 12 days left!

    With HUGE gratitude,

    Ewan

    Radio interview now online

    21/05/2013 at 8:07 AM

    A huge thank you to all my generous supporters, particularly those who have pledged since last time I sent an update. Thanks to you all we've now raised $855 of the $3000! Woo hoo!!

    Here is the radio interview I did the other day:

    https://soundcloud.com/pledgeme/wellington-access-radio-bird

    Please have a go at convincing one friend to pledge, that way we may double the funds in a couple of days!

    Thanks again and have a great evening.

    Cheers,

    Ewan


    First draft of Birdsong's music

    15/05/2013 at 10:50 AM

    Here's my first concept sketch for the film score for 'Birdsong', mocked-up artificially on my computer, to be replaced later by (hopefully!) a real and far superior orchestra: http://snd.sc/10oBTfj. Ben Childs the director is confident it's heading in the right direction, but it will evolve into something else (perhaps completely different), once I see the rough cut of the film and try out different kinds of music against the picture to see what works best. I hope you enjoyed this little clip. Thanks again for your generous support of the project!



    Radio interview tonight!

    13/05/2013 at 2:59 AM


    Hi all,

    Thanks so much to the 14 discerning and gererous souls who have pledged since my last update! And thanks to all of you, we've raised $540 so far! Every pledge is HUGEly appreciated!

    If you're in Wellington, why not tune into Access Radio (783AM) tonight at 5:15pm. I'm being interviewed about the campaign to spread the word a little.

    Ewan :)

    Off to a flying start!

    08/05/2013 at 9:23 AM

    Thanks so much to our first 9 pledgers!! Thanks to you we're off to a great start. We're 5% of the way there in 3% of the time. Huge thanks and warm wishes going out to you!

      Vicki Brown
      28/05/2013 at 1:52pm
      Vincent Fry
      28/05/2013 at 12:45pm
      Erana Sitterle
      26/05/2013 at 9:00pm
      F Clark
      26/05/2013 at 7:56pm
      Stephanie Pettigrew
      26/05/2013 at 1:04pm
      Peter Thomas
      25/05/2013 at 3:03pm
      Angela Roestenburg
      25/05/2013 at 1:25pm
      judy potts
      24/05/2013 at 3:40pm
      Susannah Potts
      24/05/2013 at 3:22pm
      Stephen Clark
      24/05/2013 at 7:49am
      Anonymous pledger
      23/05/2013 at 1:29pm
      Georgina Sivier
      22/05/2013 at 11:07pm
      Penny Hunt
      21/05/2013 at 9:07am
      Anonymous pledger
      20/05/2013 at 2:26pm
      Stephen Clark
      20/05/2013 at 10:13am
      Rudi Theunissen
      20/05/2013 at 8:00am
      Matthew Gan
      19/05/2013 at 4:48pm
      Anonymous pledger
      17/05/2013 at 4:55pm
      Carolyn and David
      17/05/2013 at 9:52am
      Anonymous pledger
      15/05/2013 at 10:32pm
      Thalia Kehoe Rowden
      15/05/2013 at 5:07pm
      Matt S
      15/05/2013 at 10:52am
      holly mathieson
      14/05/2013 at 8:38am
      Stuart McKenzie
      13/05/2013 at 6:26pm
      naomi hurley
      13/05/2013 at 2:48pm
      jackie romanovsky
      13/05/2013 at 2:44pm
      Suzanne Hawes
      13/05/2013 at 1:44pm
      James Bryant
      13/05/2013 at 1:13pm
      Anonymous pledger
      12/05/2013 at 10:37pm
      Anna-Marie Green
      12/05/2013 at 9:38pm

      Followers of Film Score for 'Birdsong'

      This campaign was successful and got its funding on 05/06/2013 at 7:11 AM.