VP
Manhattan Production Music
1) We have been having a lot of back and forths with a major Hollywood Studio that needed Organ cues for a funeral scene in a major TV show. As can be expected there were several changes of direction over the course of 2 weeks and the most recent was to request Cathedral Organ versions of specific recognizable hymns. We approached a partner catalog who has a very talented organist readily available and was able to create several versions in just 3 hours to make the deadline. Its always gratifying to be able to deliver such quality so quickly in this business. The lesson is to always have good and talented people readily available.
2) We’re most proud of a recent Bud Lite national radio and web campaign that was done in conjunction with the post house and agency. It should be airing by the time this article comes out.
3) More than ever before this business has become about relationships and in sustaining them. You can have the best music in the world and have it heard by the top decision makers but without those relationships you’ll have very little chance of getting the placements. The problem is in forming new relationships as technology actually acts as a barrier whereas nobody ever wants to pick up a phone anymore.
4) The unfortunate trend of lower budgets seems to continue, especially in new media where more content is actually being produced then traditional broadcast, but at significantly lower budgets. Despite that, we’re pleased to see more short form content being produced specifically for platforms like Snapchat and Facebook.
Another unfortunate trend in music licensing, albeit not in advertising, is that many music companies are allowing their music used gratis for no up front synch license fees. This brings the overall value of music down and hurts the industry.
5) Our sister company is leading audiophile label Chesky Records who is known for high quality binaural recordings. I had a meetings at NAB with several VR companies to discuss audio for VR and thus far it doesn’t seem to resonate, despite the advantages of what we can bring to the table. Thus, we’re quite not there yet audio-wise in VR.
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More