Author: Ben Model
-
ep. 56: Back to scoring silent feature films
In this episode: Ben and Kerr talk about the current theme music for the podcast and its impending replacement; Ben talks about playing for a recent screening of the newly restored Chaney film “The Unknown” and how he musically meets the issues of possible inadvertent laughter in this and other silent dramas; Ben and Kerr…
-
Episode 55 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 55 Show Notes: Music for unconventional silent films and other purposes Accompaniments for documentaries, post-silent era films, and underscoring television. The Wizardry of Wireless with a score by Ben Discussing The Pottery Maker (1926) directed by Robert Flaherty (Nanook of the North); and A Visit to the Home of Childe Hasam in Episode 35…
-
ep. 55: Music for unconventional silent films and other purposes
In this episode: Ben talks about scoring silent films that lack a traditional narrative – films made for educational purposes – and creating music that is more “visual” than what is usually done for silents; films discussed are the 1922 “Making of a Bronze Statue” and the 1970 “Spirals” produced by the Metropolitan Museum of…
-
ep. 54: playing different theatre or pipe organs at shows in Oct & Nov 2022
In this episode: Ben talks about the fun and challenges of playing a number of different organs at silent film shows during October and November in Ocean Grove NJ, Ursinus College in PA, and at the historic Everett Theatre in Delaware; Ben and Kerr discuss how often to use leitmotivs and some techniques Ben uses…
-
Episode 54 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 54 Show Notes: Playing Different Theatre/Pipe Organs Responding and adapting to the onsite organs at performances of silent film Our Hospitality at the Great Auditorium of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association Robert Hope Jones designed organ Silent Comedy Watch Party t-shirt and other merch Under Two Flags at the Everett Theatre in Middletown,…
-
DVD: “Not Dead Yet”
I’ve been producing and releasing DVDs via my Undercrank Productions label since 2013 and, in January, began releasing our titles on Blu-ray as well. All new releases in 2022 were issued on both formats. At a time when some other labels catering to classic and silent film are releasing only on Blu-ray, I was curious…
-
Episode 53 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 53 Show Notes: Playing For The Talkies Reflection on Episodes 51–52, Interview with William Perry, the impact and the quality of his accompaniments to silent films William Perry’s Trobriand Music Use of main themes and leitmotivs, especially for his new piano score for Sky High (1922) starring Tom Mix “How To Accompany a Silent…
-
ep. 53: underscoring “Frankenstein” (1931), leitmotifs and how often to use them, listener questions, and more.
In this episode: Ben reflects on his conversation with William Perry heard in the previous two episodes of the podcast; discusses how considering a show’s intended audience is part of his programming process; covers the different film options for Halloween shows; talks at length about his recent live-underscoring of the 1931 “Frankenstein” at the Library…
-
Undercrank Prods: “Beat the Boots”?
It’s an endless game of whack-a-mole. To some degree, there’s nothing to be done about it. I’m impressed that most of my DVD and Blu-ray releases have not been illicitly uploaded to YouTube. But several of them have, and aside from claiming rights on the scores, there isn’t much I can do about this. Or…
-
It’s Halloween – Has Anyone Seen “The Bat”?
Every Halloween season, silent film accompanists and church organists find themselves on the bench supporting silent film’s usual suspects: Erik the Phantom, Quasimodo, Drs. Jekyll and Caligari, and Count Orlok. Most of these are more gothic or macabre than what one may consider bona fide “horror film”, with the exception of this year’s centenarian Nosferatu…