The Creative Bent to BMI
by Karen Pecota

BMI hosted the festival’s eleventh annual roundtable panel discussion between composers and directors called Music and Film: The Creative Process. The panel consisted of at least eight filmmakers together with their composers whose films were being showcased at Sundance 2009. The discussion was moderated by BMI Vice President, Film/TV Relations, Doreen Ringer Ross. She was assisted by Sundance Composer Lab Advisors, George S. Clinton and Rolfe Kent, as well as, the Director of the Sundance Composers Lab, Peter Golub.

The twenty-two member panel representing some of the most incredible talent the industry has to offer was visually impressive. They looked like one big happy family! The first half hour illustrated that this was more than just an event. It was a fascinating workshop all its own. The information revealed was insightful and each story of collaboration was unique. One focus was to explore the importance of the appropriate dialogue between a director and composer. Another focus was to explain how to find the formula for creating a successful film score and the foundation necessary for an effective director/composer relationship. The event lasted two hours but it was similar to watching a good narrative: time passed quickly. Hungry for more “input”, no one was anxious to leave. The discussion incorporated audience participation that added to the appetite for “food for thought” presented on a silver platter for all the guests in attendance.

Other panelists included composers Chris Lennertz (Adam), Craig Richey (The September Issue), Duncan Sheik (Dare), Lili Haydn (Over The Hills & Far Away), Michael Bacon (Boy Interrupted), Anton Sanko (When You’re Strange & Against the Current), Marco D’Ambrosio (We Live In Public), T. Griffin (Children of Invention), David Poe (Dare) and Ben Decter (We Live In Public) as well as film directors Michel Orion Scott (Over the Hills and Far Away), Max Mayer (Adam), R.J. Cutler (The September Issue), Dana Heinz Perry (Boy Interrupted), Ondi Timoner (We Live In Public) and Tze Chun (Children of Invention).