Composer John Altman is to provide a new live score for a screening of 1928 film Shooting Stars as part of the BFI London Film Festival.
The film will be presented as the archive gala screening for the event at the Odeon Leicester Square on 16 Friday October.
Anthony Asquith’s Shooting Stars is his first film as co-director and scriptwriter and is a drama set behind the scenes of a contemporary film studio.
John Altman’s score has been written for a twelve piece ensemble playing multiple instruments. It is inspired by some of the jazz music of the time as well as the sheet music for the popular song Ain’t She Sweet which is seen on screen in the film.
John Altman said: ‘For the new score I have been inspired by dance band sounds and Duke Ellington in 1927. It’s not a slavish period recreation but I have tried to find an appropriate way of reflecting some of the plot twists and ironic deceptions through a series of interlinked musical themes.
‘The score will be played by a very versatile group of musicians and we will end up using almost as many instruments as a complete orchestra through the whole film. I hope that the music will carry audiences effortlessly through the emotional highs and lows of this brilliant film.’
The film has been meticulously restored by a team of BFI experts from materials held in the BFI National Archive.
PRS for Music Foundation and Arts Council England are among the supporters of the project.
The film will be presented as the archive gala screening for the event at the Odeon Leicester Square on 16 Friday October.
Anthony Asquith’s Shooting Stars is his first film as co-director and scriptwriter and is a drama set behind the scenes of a contemporary film studio.
John Altman’s score has been written for a twelve piece ensemble playing multiple instruments. It is inspired by some of the jazz music of the time as well as the sheet music for the popular song Ain’t She Sweet which is seen on screen in the film.
John Altman said: ‘For the new score I have been inspired by dance band sounds and Duke Ellington in 1927. It’s not a slavish period recreation but I have tried to find an appropriate way of reflecting some of the plot twists and ironic deceptions through a series of interlinked musical themes.
‘The score will be played by a very versatile group of musicians and we will end up using almost as many instruments as a complete orchestra through the whole film. I hope that the music will carry audiences effortlessly through the emotional highs and lows of this brilliant film.’
The film has been meticulously restored by a team of BFI experts from materials held in the BFI National Archive.
PRS for Music Foundation and Arts Council England are among the supporters of the project.
