N e w s
G o . B a c k . T o . W h e r e . Y o u . C a m e . .F r o m (Cordell Jigsaw - Doco)
Go Back to Where You Came From (SBS) Won the Golden Rose for Best in Show and Rose d'Or for Best Factual at Lucerne 2012. It also Won a Logie for best Factual in 2012. John is very proud to have written the music for this ground-breaking and powerful 3-Part documentary series on the plight of Refugees destined for Australia. Five Australians follow a refugee's journey in reverse, and challenge their ideas about this divisive topic. Directed by Ivan O'Mahoney, and produced by Cordell Jigsaw, see www.sbs.com.au/goback for more details.
The score blends gamelan, djembe and duduk with orchestral and organic synthetic undertones.
C o f f i n . R o c k . A u s t r a l i a n . P r e m i e r e :
Coffin Rock:Directed by Rupert Glasson (Real Thing), and produced by David Lightfoot (Wolf Creek). See www.coffinrockthemovie.com for more details.
T h e . B e t . W I N S . P r i x . d u . J u r y . a t . S t T r o p e z :
'The Bet ' Wins Prix du Jury at St Tropez.
Directed by Mark Lee and Starring Matthew Newton, Aden Young and Sibylla Budd, this feature is a tale of ambitious love and love of ambition, set in the Emerald City of Sydney. For more info check out www.thebet.com.au
B e i j i n g . O l y m p i c s (Legs On The Wall)
Beijing Olympics / Legs On The Wall
Currently creating two pieces for Beijing Olympics Principal Sponsor VISA, for the dance company 'Legs On The Wall'. These will be performed in Beijing during the Olympics www.legsonthewall.com.au
N i c e . S h o o t i n' . C o w b o y :
A John Maynard production, and directed by Ben Phelps (Checkpoint), "Nice Shootin' Cowboy" is a tough portrayal of the misplacment of trust set in the outback of Australia. John is currently scoring this film.
J o h n . W i n s . a t . A P R A / A G S C . S c r e e n . M u s i c . A w a r d s :
John Wins Best Original Song Written for the Screen at the APRA/AGSC Screen Music Awards. Made even more special by his close friend Caitlin Yeo winning as well. For more info check out www.apra.com.au/awards
I n s p i r i n g . T e a c h e r s :John is delighted to be working on Rebecca Barry's 4-Part observational documentary. The series follows the lives of four outstanding teachers, their impact on the lives of their students and the wider community. Look out for it on SBS from 08-February-2008. For more info check www.redithaka.com.au
T h e . B e t . A u s t r a l i a n . P r e m i e r e :
'The Bet' premieres in Australia on September 12. Directed by Mark Lee and Starring Matthew Newton, Aden Young and Sibylla Budd, this feature is a tale of ambitious love and love of ambition, set in the Emerald City of Sydney. For more info check out www.thebet.com.au
A u s t r a l i a n . G u i l d . o f . S c r e e n . C o m p o s e r s :
John was elected to the AGSC Board this month. John is looking forward to contributing to the wider needs of Screen Composers throughout Australia.
C h e c k p o i n t .W I N :
'Checkpoint' won the CRC Award at the Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards.
C o n s t r u c t i n g . A u s t r a l i a : "W i r e" on ABC :
"Constructing Australia" - an auspicious three part historical documentary on unique and pivotal Australian engineering projects - aired this month on ABC. Partly funded by Film Australia, John composed the 'Wire Through the Heart' epsiode and the series Main Titles. "Wire" describes the Australian side of the building of the first ever Telegraph Link that finally connected Australia through to London. It traces explorer Stuart's path from Adelaide to Darwin, and the subsequent telegraph construction. Direcred by Darcy Yuille. For more info check www.filmaust.com.au/constructingaustralia
W a i t i n g . t o . I n h a l e :John is working on this US observational documentary by Mark Lewis. It charts a US amateur synchronised swimming team through national competitions.
J o h n . W i n s . "B e s t . O r i g i n a l . S c o r e" . a t . Sony Tropfest :
John won the award for his score on "Real Thing" at this amazing event, in front of a 150,000-strong live audience. This wonderfully edgy and super-real thriller, directed by Rupert Glasson, also picked up the "Women in Film" Award which went to Rani Chaleyer. What a great team.
A F T R S . L e c t u r e . S e r i e s :John is lecturing again this year at the National Film School (AFTRS) in specialist screen composition subjects.
H a i r . O l y m p i c s :
Work starts on this observational documentary by Mark Lewis.
D o c u m e n t a r y . S A F C / F i l m A u s t r a l i a :
John has just been attached to this historical documentary, currently in pre-production. Composing should start late year.
C h e c k p o i n t .W I N S . at . M o n t r e a l :
We're all really proud that this very intelligent and topical short film has won the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Montreal International Film Fesival.
C l u b l a n d :John is currently recording with Martin Armiger on the feature 'Clubland'.
S t a t e s m a n s :It was great to work again with an old film school friend and director Darcy Yuille recently on a TVC for Statesmans Homes.
L e c t u r e . S e r i e s :
John's yearly semester-long lecture series in screen-composiition has started again at Western Sydney Institute.
C h e c k p o i n t :
Ben Phelps' short had it's premiere at the Star Bar in June. Great event, great movie.
L o s . A n g e l e s :
John attended the US screening of Kokoda in May amongst other things filmy.
K o k o d a . s o u n d t r a c k :
John is currently overdubbing and editing for the Kokoda music CD release. John Haeny will be remixing the edits for the album. There are a couple of cues that didn't make it into the movie and a couple of piano reductions that will be on the CD.
C h e c k p o i n t :John is composing for Ben Phelps' short in March.
A Lebanese man and his family are pulled over at an Army checkpoint in rural Australia. What happens next is a chilling resonance on the state of tolerance, in a country that should know better...
K o k o d a :
John is currently composing for Alister Grierson's feature - 'Kokoda'. Kokoda tells the story of a small band of soldiers who are stranded behind enemy lines in Papua New Guinea during WWII. It explores brotherhood through the horror of war and the innarticulateness of male communication. Check the official website at www.kokodathemovie.com
The Orchestra Record took place in mid-February. Expect taikos/percussion, brass, strings, chimes and a bunch of supporting electronics.It was recorded at Studios301 in Sydney and mixed at The Shed in Tasmania. Listen out for the 50 tracks of bowed-cymbals...
Bronwen, John, Mary, Carolla, Dan and John at the Kokoda Premiere.
R e a l . T h i n g :
John is currently composing for Rupert Glasson's edgy and super-real film 'Real Thing'. When a woman wakes up, the man lying next to her isn't her husband...
B e l g i u m - F l a n d e r s . I n t e r n a t i o n a l . F i l m . F e s t i v a l :
The Gent Film Festival in Belgium specialises in Film Music. John was a guest of the festival and whilst there attended many of the music events and met inumerable wonderful film makers (you know who you are). Much thanks to former Belgian Ambassador to Australia Luc Darras and Roger Camilleri of the EU Delegation for this opportunity. Warmest thanks to the Gent Film Festival Director Jacques Dubrulle, Music Events Coordinator Marian Ponnet and the Wonderful Guest Coordinator Danielle Heynickx. John capped off a great fortnight in Belgium with some R+R in France and Scotland.
K o k o d a :John is attached to Alister Grierson's wonderful feature 'Kokoda', which has just been green-lighted by the Film Finance Corporation (FFC). Post production will be late-2005. Stay tuned for more info.
H o p p i :
John has been working on an Agatha Ozdowska's animation trailer. The adventures of Hoppi. Stay tuned for more info.
H u t a n . K e l i a n . L i n d u n g :
Currently working on Rob Nugent's Informational Documentary about the closure of a Gold Mine in Indonesia. It will be shown to the townsfolk of the surrounding region, in an attempt to safeguard the rainforest whilst the mine is reforested.
'European Union Film Award goes to John Gray'
The European Union Film Award has been awarded to John Gray. John accepted the award from Luk Darras (Belgian Ambassador), Roger Camilleri (Senior EU Media Advisor) and Martin Armiger (Head of Screen Composition, AFTRS). John will be travelling to Belgium in October to attend the Flanders International Film Festival, famous for it's specialisation in Music for the Screen.
'John wins Grant from Australia Council for the Arts'
The Australia Council for the Arts has awarded John Gray funding for a screen composition mentorship under Nigel Westlake.
'Composing Starts on Feature T h e . B e t'
John is currently composing for the Australian feature The Bet. Starring Matthew Newton, Aden Young and Sibylla Budd, it is a tale of ambitious love and love of ambition, set in the Emerald City of Sydney. For more info, check out www.thebet.com.au
'John interviewed for enhanceTV'
John was recently interviewed for the enhanceTV website. It was an introduction to the practice of screen composition. just click on the link.
'B o m b - wins three Awards at Sony Tropfest' :
Well, it was a great night in Sydney at the world's largest short film festival - at least for the cast and crew of Alistair Grierson's short - 'Bomb'. We're all very pleased that in front of a 130,000-strong live audience it won Best Comedy, Best Script and People's Choice awards out of nearly 800 entries. Go Team!
Bomb wins three awards at Sony Tropfest
'Poems by Lainie Cameron'
Lainie Cameron's forthcoming publication of wonderfully visceral poems will also have a musical voice. John is composing for a small selection of her works, for a live-performance launch and CD.
'W h e n . W o r l d s . C o l l i d e'
John is composing for Rebecca Barry's latest documentary 'When Worlds Collide' in March. It explores the coming together of international youth artists under a Cirque du Soleil Social Program Initiative for the opening of the OXFAM International Youth Parliament at NIDA in Sydney in 2004.
'B o m b'
Alistair Grierson's latest film about mistaken identity - currently composing.
It would be very sad if it wasn't so funny :-)
'Australian National Film School (AFTRS) Short Course Lectures'
John will be lecturing as part of the AFTRS Short Course program. He will be lecturing in specialist screen composition topics.
He is also upgrading the Screen Composition facilities at AFTRS early this year.
'A B C . T V / R a d i o . N a t i o n a l . N e w s . T h e m e s''
John has been assisting composer Martin Armiger with the ABC TV and Radio National News Themes which will go to air on Australia Day.
'T e c h n i c a l . C o n s u l t i n g''
John's lust for Studio Reconfiguration has been sated by Nigel Westlake. John is helping Nigel with a large-scale upgrade for his latest film 'Hell Hath Harbour Views'.
John has also been attached to a feature film which will shoot in the first quarter of next year. He is also currently negotiating four short films.
'A P R A / A G S C . F i l m . M u s i c . A w a r d s
John will be judging Australia's best film composers at this year's 'APRA / AGSC Film Music Awards'
'A n i m a t i o n . T r a i l e r . for Japanese Market'
John has been attached to a short animation this month. The animation is targetted at wider release in Japan. More details soon.
'Lecturing at AFTRS'
The National Film School of Australia (AFTRS) have contracted John to teach a series of Night-Lectures to prospective film composers. The lecture series will concentrate on process and technical aspects of screen composition from initial idea through to final mix.
'W h i t e . W h a l e' . S e s s i o n s
John had the pleasure this month of being invited to record on Adolfo Cruzado's songwriting session at MegaphonStudios. Eight musicians from around Sydney came together to play life into Adolfo's latest songs. It was a wonderful session. Go team.
'I n f i d e l s'It's always a pleasure to get to the end of a great movie project and sit back and listen to the final mix. This one was no exception. Director Stewart Klein is an accomplished musician and his musical sensibility is always a joy to hit off.
'L e a v i n g . H o p e' at Rhode Island International Film Festival June 2004
'Leaving Hope' (Tom Francis - 2003) has just been accepted into the 2004 Rhode Island International Film Festival. Director, Tom Francis, is currently in UK pursuing his passion for film-making.
'I n f i d e l s' and others...
John had the final spotting-session for 'Infidels' this month. Composing now starts in earnest. 'Infidels' will be mixed in mid-July.
'S t . K i l d a . F i l m . F e s t i v a l'
Three of John's films have been chosen for inclusion in the St.Kilda Film Festival in Melbourne. The lucky films were 'Ash Wednesday', 'Carpark' and 'Teratoma'. (footnote: Whilst there, John accepted an award on behalf of the 'Teratoma' DIGI team).
'O v e r t u r e’
'Overture' screened nationally on ABC-TV, much to director Bec Barry's delight. An observational Documentary about myself and two other composers' experiences at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, it was shot during an Orchestral Record. It seemed appropriate to celebrate with Champagne and Krispy Kreme doughnuts :-)
'F o u r p l a y’This refreshing tale about being different had it's debut on the big screen at the Tropfest 'Best of the Rest' screening tour. It has also made the 'top 24' of tropfest films, by being chosen to be broadcast/streamed by Iprimus over the next 12 months.
'I n f i d e l s’Currently in Post Production... Stay Tuned. John is writing the music for this short, written and directed by Stewart Klein. It's a film about the consequences of truth, seen through the experiences of a troubled relationship and the immediate family. The music is currently following celtic traditional strands.
Teaching at AFTRSJohn is currently consulting at the film school that taught him (AFTRS). He is overseeing the relocation, rebuild and augmentation of the two Screen Composition Suites. Lots of goodies in store for the new students. John will be teaching the new composers about film-music technology and how the process of screen composition plays out within a modern composition studio.
'S p o o k e d'John is currently immersed in a New Zealand feature film called 'Spooked' - directed by Geoff Murphy who's credits include ‘Under Siege 2’ (’95) and ‘Fortress 2’ (99). Geoff was Second Unit Director on ‘Lord of The Rings’ (01/02).
John Gray is writing Additional Music for the film, as well as his role of Composer's Assistant to John Charles and Music Editor. The Music Editing role has been intensive, but incredibly rewarding. The whole experience, culminating in the orchestra record and mix at 301 studios, has been wonderful for all involved.
'T h e . R o a d . H o m e'
This wonderful documentary by Kel Martin and Rob Nugent was screened on the ABC over Christmas. It is about the incredible spirit and courage shown by Roy Read in his journey to re-discover his past - a past that was stolen from him as an aboriginal boy. It won Best Documentary at Chicago.
The Road Home, Director Kel Martin.
Won Best Film at International Documentary Competition Chicago,
Aired on ABC TV.
TropfestJohn is also writing the music for two Tropfest entries - 'Karaoke Love Song' by Ben Cunningham and ''Fourplay' by Matt Angus.
Porsche InternationalA quick favour for a friend - a very funny Mock Jeans Advert which we all hope will do well in Berlin. Go Alister!
