Ben Model’s blog
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Last week, I had another one of those film accompanist experiences where a spoken introduction helped shape the way I played for the film. There is currently a major gallery exhibition at the MoMA honoring the work of artist Joan Jonas. In conjunction with this exhibition, the film department has…
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Episode 62 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 62 Show Notes: “Round-up of January 2024 shows, and more” Theme & Introductions Introduction Live Performances of Improvised Scores The Importance of Experiencing Silent Films presented with Live Music Silent Film Comedian Marcel Perez Intermission – Home Video activities From Kino-Lorber Vitagraph Comedies From Classic Flix: Silent Our Gang…
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ep. 62: accompanying a Mary Pickford film on campus, Marcel Perez at the Silent Clowns, Monta Bell at MoMA, and more
In this episode: Ben accompanies Tom Mix in “Sky High” at the Library of Congress, adapting for organ some themes he originally composed for piano; Ben and Kerr discuss the importance of seeing silents with live music, and how a film may play one way when watched alone and completely…
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Episode 61 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 61 Show Notes: “Improvising Themes for Re-Use and Development” Theme & Introductions Ben and Kerr discuss the dearth of holiday movies from the Silent Era Ben talks about recording the new Podcast Theme on a grand piano at MOMA. Playing for THE BIG PARADE at the Elmont Memorial Library,…
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ep. 61: Improvising Themes for Re-Use and Development
In this episode: Ben shares his experiences accompanying the silent era blockbuster “The Big Parade”, the rare Italian film “A’ Santanotte”, Laurel & Hardy shorts, and others; he and Kerr discuss the practices of creating leitmotifs on the fly during a show, and then repeating them later in the film’s…
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Episode 60 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 60 Show Notes: “Music on the Road: Late Summer – Autumn 2023” Ben demonstrates contrasting styles and instrument sounds for shows of The Loves of Casanova (1927), Safety Last (1923), Second Fiddle (1923). Theme & Introductions MoMA in August “Safety Last” in the Adirondacks “Second Fiddle” at Capitolfest Other…
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ep. 60: Music on the Road: Late Summer – Autumn 2023
In this episode: accompanying several films at MoMA in August of new restorations and a series of early color process silents; audience response difference between San Francisco Silent Film Festival and MoMA screening, and how this affected Ben’s score in NYC; Ben talks about pivoting when presented before a show…
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Kickstarting and Pre-ordering
I’ve heard Kickstarting a home-video project referred to as, essentially, pre-ordering the Blu-ray or DVD. It is, and it isn’t. For the fan or consumer, in the sense of the definition of “pre-ordering”, backing a Kickstarted Blu/DVD project certainly looks like that’s what you’re doing. You’re sending in money for…
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Episode 59 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 59 Show Notes: “The Dog Days are here (July), but maybe not in San Francisco” Undercrank Productions’ 10th Anniversary Accompanying Edward Everett Horton shorts at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival New Tom Mix restorations released in July from Undercrank Prods Thoughts on bringing a music light to shows,…
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ep. 59: San Francisco Silent Film Fest, Undercrank’s 10th Anniversary, Tom Mix, and More
In this episode: Ben talks about preparing for his performance at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, his first time at the fest; his Undercrank Productions home video label celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2023; Ben talks about the two newly restored Tom Mix silent films that were released by…