When we - or maybe just I - think about the typical role of a filmscore, we think about enhancing the emotional content of the film In - fact I often use that in describing my skills (see my About page). However, music can assist with a film’s location.

I was hoping to put some video clips with this blog entry, but I have yet to finish splicing together a new demo reel of my work for this site - and I haven’t been wokring on that lately, as I have had somewhat of a debilitating head cold. Okay, so I’m not bedridden (although, it was nice to spend most of yesterday sleeping), but it has been somewhat difficult to concentrate on things with this sinus pressure pushing on the back of my eyeballs. I might be digressing here. ‘Ya think?

So. Music as location. Say that you’re a US filmmaker, and a scene in your story takes place in the Arabian desert. The limits of your budget and political influences might prevent you from actually shooting on location. Instead, you shoot in a US desert somewhere. You can partly sustain the illusion of the Arabian dessert by leaving out recognizable landmarks - such as the Grand Canyon or Rainbow Bridge - from your footage. If freelance camels are unavailable for the shoot (I’m not talking about hunting here), music can come to your rescue (even if the camels are free).

Add to your local desert footage (devoid of the recognizable landmarks) an Arabian music motif - complete with Arabian maqamat - and you have an Arabian desert scene. Tell the rest of the story well and the audience will accept it. Similarly, music can turn the Florida Everglades into an Amazon rain forest; Your unruly backyard into a Malaysian jungle. Well, my backyard anyway.

Although I was unable to meetup with the particular individuals that I was expecting to at the HD Expo, I did meet a number of interesting and pleasant folks with various occupations in the world of video production. Of course, with the advent of 24P and ever-improving video technology, there isn’t too much difference between video production and filmmaking in general.

While some that I talked to were disappointed that fewer vendors and attendees were at this year’s expo than previous years’ (this was my first HD Expo, so I can’t say), I had the conversation a few times about how in just a few short years (I suppose that means non-leap years), HD has gone from new-and-exciting to more-or-less ho-hum. Video production seems to be gaining popularity among independent (read financially-challenged) filmmakers, if for no other reason, the affordability and reuasability of video tape vs. the growing cost of 16mm and 35mm film (purchase and processing).

Whether it’s film or video, these Hollywood attractions - trade shows for both working and unemployed creatives - tend to be a place where some attendees do their best to impress by name-dropping, and maintaining a certain professional aloofness. It’s only a percentage, but these folks keep the Hollywood stereotype alive. I’m not complaining. Show biz wouldn’t be show biz without the show biz - on the screen or at the trade show.

I was impressed with one attendee’s fine fashion sense. With the exception of a turtle-neck sweater (of the same color of the shirt that I was wearing), this gentlemen was dressed identical to me. I didn’t check the manufacturer of his sport coat, but every last blue pinstripe appeared identical to my own. And you thought that fashion was only a big deal at the Oscars.

While I am fascinated by multimedia, I didn’t take too much time to check out the technological wares of the exhibitors (though I met some real pleasant folks at their booths). I was there to meet folks, find out what was happening in the world of HD, and maybe even find someone who was in need of my incomparable talent.

One thing was clear from this event: The days of the big studio are gone. Sure you can still visit Fox and Warner Bros., but much of the work that goes into a project is done by freelancers. You won’t find all of a film’s crew (maybe not even most) on the studio’s employee list, but instead in the pages of the LA 411, and the Creative Industry Handbook.

All-in-all, I enjoyed the HD Expo, and I think that the organizers did a great job. I hope that this year will see many quality films from bright and creative artists as film production becomes more affordable and de-centralized.

Tomorrow, I’m headed out to the High Def Expo at Los Angeles Center Studios to meet some folks, to see what’s happening in the world of HD, and to enjoy an In’N'Out burger. I’ll report back on anything of interest.