The score for Good Time (A24) by Oneohtrix Point Never (aka Daniel Lopatin) received the Hollywood Music and Media Award for Best Original Feature Film Score last night (11/16) during a gala ceremony at the Avalon-Hollywood. Also scoring were composers Alexandre Desplat in the Original Score–SciFi/Fantasy/Horror Film category for The Shape of Water (Fox Searchlight), Michael Giacchiuno for Best Original Animated Film Score on the strength of Coco (Pixar/Disney) and Philip Glass for Jane (NatGeo/Abramorama) which topped the Original Documentary Score competition.
Oneohtrix Point Never directed the majority of his acceptance speech to esteemed presenters Earth, Wind and Fire. “I am so honored for this award and to be in the same room with Earth, Wind and Fire. You guys were such an influence to me, and you really created some amazing new sounds in your music. 'Let’s Groove' is amazing, I could say so much, but it was such an inspiration to me as an artist. The film [Good Time] is an amazing ride and the Safdie brothers [the directors] are such unique storytellers. They really let me loose creatively and I think that’s truly the best way for artists to work. I am incredibly honored and I want to thank everyone for giving a small film this great recognition.”
Accepting the award for Jane on behalf of composer Glass was producer Bryan Burk. “I’m incredibly proud of the film and of Philip’s work on it. I really respect all the work that everyone does in this room. On behalf of Philip, I thank you for this award.”
Desplat thanked the voters and Guillermo del Toro, director of The Shape of Water. “It was a real privilege to work on this amazing film, with Guillermo del Toro, that is so unique and beautiful.”
A turnout of 2,000-plus, including leading songwriters, composers and recording artists attended the HMMA proceedings. The event, hosted by comedian Ron Pearson, brought together songwriting royalty, Academy Award winners, and the new voices in TV, film and videogame music. The night included the presentation of the HMMA Career Achievement Award to Diane Warren.
Outstanding Song in a Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or Horror Film went to legendary songwriters Alan Menken and Tim Rice for Beauty and the Beast’s “How does a Moment Last Forever?” Menken delivered an acceptance video from overseas, where he is currently working. “It was a joy to write new songs for Beauty and the Beast with Tim. I am so thrilled the film and the songs are being so well received.” The house band, made up of musicians from rock bands including, Quiet Riot, Journey, Pat Benatar and more delivered an emotional rendition of the winning song performed by Maureen Davis, from the original cast of Into The Woods.
Legendary music producer, Journey bass player, and American Idol judge Randy Jackson received a warm welcome as he presented songwriter Diane Warren with the HMMA Outstanding Career Achievement Award. Jackson said, “I have known Diane over 30 years and have watched her extraordinary career unfold. She has been the Queen of pop music for the better part of those three decades and she still is. Her songs have been recorded by hundreds of artists and at one time she had 4 of the top 5 songs on the Billboard pop charts. She has two of Billboard’s Top 10 greatest songs of all time, ‘Unbreak my Heart’ and ‘How do I Live?’ Diane is one of those writers when she puts pen to paper it turns to gold. She is a force of nature and is a great friend too.” Warren humbly accepted the award, stating that she felt like she had so much more to do.
Following the presentation, Warren rushed back on stage to receive the award in the following category, Outstanding Song in a Feature Film. Her song, “Stand Up for Something,” co-written with Common and performed by Andra Day and Common, was met with rapturous applause. Warren then gave an impassioned speech, “This is the most important song that I’ve ever written. In these times, it’s especially important that we all stand up for something.”
Here’s a rundown of the evening’s winners:
ORIGINAL SCORE – FEATURE FILM
Oneohtrix Point Never (aka Daniel Lopatin) – Good Time (A24)
ORIGINAL SCORE – SCIFI/FANTASY/HORROR FILM
Alexandre Desplat – The Shape of Water (Fox Searchlight)
ORIGINAL SCORE – ANIMATED FILM
Michael Giacchino – Coco (Pixar/Disney)
ORIGINAL SCORE – DOCUMENTARY
Philip Glass – Jane (NatGeo/Abramorama)
ORIGINAL SONG – FEATURE FILM
“Stand Up For Something” (Marshall) Music by Diane Warren, Lyrics by Diane Warren and Lonnie R. Lynn. Performed by Andra Day, featuring Common
ORIGINAL SONG – DOCUMENTARY
“Jump” (Step) Written by Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson, & Laura Karpman. Performed by Cynthia Erivo
ORIGINAL SONG – ANIMATED FILM
“Confident” (Leap) Written by Demi Lovato, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Max Martin and Savan Kotecha. Performed by Demi Lovato
MUSIC DOCUMENTARY/SPECIAL PROGRAM
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives (Apple) Directed by Chris Perkel, original music by Paul S. Henning
ORIGINAL SCORE – TV SHOW/LIMITED SERIES
Laura Karpman | Raphael Saadiq – Underground (WGN America)
ORIGINAL SONG – TV SHOW/LIMITED SERIES
“Power” (The Get Down) by Elliott Wheeler, Baz Luhrmann, Homer Steinweiss, Donna Missal, performed by Donna Missal and Travis Jones (Netflix)
MAIN TITLE THEME – TV SHOW/LIMITED SERIES
Nick Urata and Daniel Handler – A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix)
OUTSTANDING MUSIC SUPERVISION – FILM
Brian Ross – Lady Bird (A24)
OUTSTANDING MUSIC SUPERVISION – TELEVISION
Robin Urdang – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
Baby Driver (30th Century Records)
ORIGINAL SCORE – VIDEO GAME
Stephen Cox (Farpoint)
ORIGINAL SCORE – INDEPENDENT FILM
Corey Allen Jackson (Chuck)
ORIGINAL SONG – INDEPENDENT FILM
“Speak To Me” (Voice from the Stone) Written by Amy Lee & Michael Wandmacher. Performed by Amy Lee
ORIGINAL SCORE – SHORT FILM
David Longoria (Becoming A Man)
SONG/SCORE – TRAILER
Oleksa Lozowchuk – Dead Rising 4 (Trailer)
INDEPENDENT MUSIC VIDEO
Alexa Friedman (Enraptured) Written by Estani Frizzell. Performed by Alexa Friedman. Directed by Spencer D. Evans and produced by Spirinity Production
ORIGINAL SCORE – SHORT FILM (FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
Christoph Zirngibl (König Opa)
ORIGINAL SCORE – SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
Arturo Cardelús (In a Heartbeat)
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More