Don Bodin's Music, Life and Art Blog

Dark Crossing

2010-04-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

What a year. Things are flying by and looking good. So good I haven't had much time to blog.

Been a great year so far. Scored two independent films and had a chance to travel to Cape Town south Africa for a month.

The latest film I completed was Dark Crossing, an indy film centered around young Mexican man who risks his life to cross over into the US to search for his abducted sister. I have included a sample below from the score.

The film, which is primarily in Spanish, will have a limited theatrical release later this month.

'Dark Crossing Theme'
Theme From Dark Crossing
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

2010 - a new year - week 1

2010-01-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

I tend to get a jump start on "Resolutions" . I'm a big fan of change and I like to shake things up . . . maybe a little more than is necessary. The new year has just begun but I am happy to say that I started implementing most of my resolutions in November and December.

I also aspire to update my blog more frequently.

Some personal goals are already underway. You know, the usual, stay in shape and get regular physical activity to become a part of my life.
Although I tend to stay physically active (hiking a couple times a week) and run, I decided to give yoga a shot. I joined the yoga studio down the street and have been going to pilates classes a couple times a week - going on week 5. The yoga classes are a little "lite" for me but I am getting into the challenges of pilates.

Business goals weigh in with equal and often more importance. I want to utilize more of my creativity to contribute to new and exciting projects and of course, get projects to score with larger budgets. I have an indie film to score in February, but my ambitions are to be working with more directors and producers who I click with. To find people with projects that welcome experimenting with music arrangements and textures against the picture.

Getting to work with Lance Hayes on Forza Motorspot 3 was a great experience. Ideally at this time next year I want to be leading a games music team. I have a passion for creating unique orchestrations and aspire to add depth to a game's world through musical texture.

Many people I talk to about continuing my career forward say to give it time, that eventually people will hear what you do and want to work with you. Maybe I am asking to much for only scoring professionally for just 4 years.

A good friend said advised I share your music in videos on the internet. "People will spend more time watching and have a richer experience then if you just have music samples." she said.

This bit of advice really resonated in me. I don't even have a scoring reel.
So moving forward I decided that along with my bi-monthly newsletter to all my friends, filmmakers, game developers and directors, that I would include a promo video for each one in 2010. I was motivated enough that I completed the first video (First Snow - Holiday Greeting) for the Holidays in December.

I taught myself how to animate over a weekend and completed the video. It was fun and since it was also a holiday greeting, I was able to not take it so seriously. This allowed me to experiment and learn a little bit about animation and have some first hand insight as to the process of making a film.

As soon as I completed that I realized that there are so many great opportunities for me to make short films and videos to go along with my music. And then after speaking to my brothers (Tbob - the screenwriter and Bernard - the aspiring film maker) I knew that we already had a little short animated project that we could all work on together. Dispite the fact that none of us are illlustrators or animators we had come up with a fun concept last year and will be documenting our attempt to animate a short film in the next couple months.

It's taken many years to realize that most people don't have a relationship like I do with my brothers. I feel really lucky that I have two creative, talented and positive friends to share ideas with. Both Tbob and Bernard were instrumental in the birth of The Radioactive Werewolf album as well as supporting and advising me on several of my other personal projects. I have always thought "They are my brothers and this is how siblings do things" but I guess most people don't have the same kind of experience - brainstorming, supporting, facilitating each others creative endeavors.
I am lucky to have them as well as so many talented creative friends.

Forza 3 Racking Up Awards

2009-12-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

Microsoft releases "Dream" trailer for Forza Motorsport 3 I'm proud that I was able to work with Lance Hayes on music for Forza Motorspot 3 for XBOX. Congratulations to the entire Turn 10 team - so far Forza 3 has received the following awards.

IGN.com: Best Xbox 360 Racing Game of the Year

G4TV: Best Racing Game of 2009

CNNTech: Best Racing Game of 2009

SpikeTV: Best Driving Game of 2009

Details at: http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/blogs/post.aspx?App=turn_10s_forza_motorsport_blog&y=2009&m=12&d=16&PostName=forza-motorsport-3-racing-game-of-the-year

VS. Mad Max Daily Vault Review

2009-12-16T17:16:00.000-08:00

Reviewer Vish Iyer takes my apocalyptic ode to the Mad Max trilogyVS Mad Max for a spin and publishes the review on DailyVault.com.

" . . . frenzied as the concepts themselves. With a sound that can be best described as a mishmash of speed metal and techno, the paltry thirty-three minutes of this record throws in enough punches"

" Even with its inescapably strong nuances of speed metal, Vs Mad Max is a surprisingly accessible record, especially to someone who isn’t particularly into this genre. The tight compositions are simple and have the same allure for pop as ‘80s goth did. The album is more fun and less dark than it appears to be, much like the Mad Max movies themselves."

Full review here: http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=6301

First Snow Holiday Video

2009-12-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

Finished my first Holiday Animated Video for the theme "First Snow"

Download it and 4 other Holiday tracks at: DonBodin.com/Holiday

Forza 3 Soundtrack CD available now!

2009-12-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce the release of the Forza Motorsport 3 soundtrack. I was thrilled to contribute to the score and work with Lance Hayes and am proud to be apart of this critically acclaimed - best selling racing game.

Sumthing Else Music Works and Microsoft Game Studios, proudly presents Forza Motorsport® 3 Original Soundtrack featuring the original music from the critically acclaimed racing game developed exclusively for Xbox 360. The soundtrack is available at Amazon.com as well as on Sumthing Digital www.sumthingdigital.com and iTunes®.

Forza Motorsport 3 Original Soundtrack includes 90 minutes of ambient electronica music created by award-winning composer and producer Lance Hayes aka DJ Drunken Master. The soundtrack features a broad range of music styles and overall chill demeanor encompassing primarily electronica, ambient and downtempo with forays into ambient breaks, illbient and acid jazz.

Composer Lance Hayes said, "This was truly a rare and amazing project to work on. I knew it had to be perfect because this was Forza but we also agreed that it had to be music that could stand on its own. We were looking for the right balance of listen-ability and edge."

Forza Motorsport 3 nominated for Spike TV Video Game Awards

2009-11-20T09:21:00.000-08:00

Forza Motorsport 3 for XBOX 360 (game includes music by Lance Hayes & Don Bodin ) has been nominated for a couple Spike TV! Video Game Awards.

FM3 has been nominated in the categories of: Best XBOX 360 Game & Best Driving Game

The Spike TV! awards show will be broadcast live on December 12, 2009 at 8pm.

The nominations were announced just days after Forza 3 has officially sold over 1 million copies.

You can VOTE and view the other nominees here

Bobby Fischer Live Premiere

2009-10-29T12:30:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 
7:30pm 
7907 Beverly Blvd at Fairfax Ave. 
Los Angeles, CA 
Invitation Only 

Bobby Fischer Live premieres Tuesday!

  I created the score for this bio-pictorial about the world famous, eccentric chess champion earlier this year and it had a few musical challenges.  

Not only was I brought in to create the "underscore" instrumental music, but I was also asked to write and produce several "Could-Have-Been" tracks which essentially reflect the spirit of the music from the 50's through the 80's - the music of Fischer's life time. 

"The Girl You Loved"
written and performed by Don Bodin and Linda Abbott

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

The highlight of these tracks was "The Girl You Loved". This was my first collaboration with Linda Abbott. After I sketched out a rough arrangement and melody with a nod to the Ronnie Spector sound, I shared it with Linda so she could lend her unique vocal sound to the track.

We had just a few hours to finish the track and couldn’t find the right lyrics for the tune. We gave up and decided to revisit it later in the week but  as Linda drove home from the session she called me and said "I have the lyrics for the chorus!". They were perfect. We ended up using her line "You never told me the girl you loved wasn't me".   

With the chorus lyrics in place I was able to quickly write the verse and bridge lyrics and by the next day, we had the song recorded and mixed.

CLOCK THEME
Main theme written for the film
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

Composing the instrumental themes and score presented another exciting challenge.

Since the film’s chess competition sequences are shot in slow motion, the music takes a dominant role. It was essential that the music conveyed the tension of the match and the characters’ internal conflict.

'Big Match'
cue from the film Bobby Fischer Live
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

Forza Motorsport 3 Races up the Charts

2009-10-27T12:09:00.001-07:00

Happy to announce that FM3 is 'racing' up the sales charts on its first day out. It was a pleasure working with DJDM on music for this incredibly realistic racing game.

FM3 opened as the top selling XBOX 360 game upon it's release this morning.

In addition GameStop is selling a Limited Edition Forza Motorsport 3 version with a key chain and USB stick. This Limited Edition pack is selling for 79.99.

VS MAD MAX on iTunes

2009-10-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

Happy to announce the release of my new album "VS MAD MAX" on the iTunes music store.

The album, which is a post-punk apocalyptic ode to the Mad Max trilogy is available now at iTunes A digital download with pdf lyric booklet and cover art are available for free download at: TheFugitiveMind.com

"Hot Wheel Hawks" used in Forza Motorsport 3 - Fujimi Kaido Video

2009-10-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

I am Thrilled to announce that a track I collaborated on with Lance Hayes (DJDM) for Forza Motorsport 3 is being used in the intro of the new FM3 Drifting video.

Composer Lance Hayes (who was the main force behind the music for FM3) brought me on board to collaborate on music for this project.

Forza Motorsport 3 for XBOX 360 will be released on October 27, 2009 and will be available everywhere.

Making of the Music for Death of Evil

2009-09-25T19:15:00.001-07:00

DEATH OF EVIL Movie Premier
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Regency Fairfax Cinemas
Los Angeles, CA 90039

When I first discussed the score for the film Death of Evil with the director, Damian Chapa, he was really passionate about a sound for the film. He mentioned the mood and feel of singer Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance). I have been a fan of her voice and some of the soundtracks she has worked on, but I also saw an opportunity to bring some of my own inspiration from Wojciech Kilar (Bram Stroker's Darcula, The Ninth Gate) into the DNA for the score.

'Night Of The Gun'
Theme From Death of Evil
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

Knowing that Damian really wanted a haunting/ethereal female vocal on the score, I wrote melodies and phases in latin and brought in my favorite operatic Soprano, Elif Savas (www.ElifSavas.com).

A few years ago I had the pleasure of sitting in on a film scoring class conducted by composer Charles Bernstein of Nightmare on Elm Street fame. Charles has an incredible way of breaking down music and the feelings they produce in simple and easy to communicate terms. As I focused on creating haunting and suspenseful themes for Death of Evil using pounding yet sporadic repetition in the rhythm and melody, I often reflected on some of the concepts Charles proposed.

With Elif's erie vocals set as the lead instrument, I took to creating a different group of instruments to perform the score and was drawn to the "junk yard" percussion sounds that Michael Blair made famous on Tom Waits's Rain Dogs album.
I loved how the harsh percussion was so jarring - the striking of trash cans and pots and pans under the traditional string orchestration playing traditionally as well as in contemporary styles with an ominous organ drone creeping below them all.

Death of Evil Film Premier

2009-09-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

DEATH OF EVIL
Movie Premier

Location:
Regency Fairfax Cinemas

Date:
Thursday, October 1, 2009

Time:
6:30pm

Staring Natasha Blasick & Damian Chapa
Original Score by Don Bodin

'Night Of The Gun'
Theme From Death of Evil
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

Campfire Companion Video

2009-09-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

Linda Abbott (Blimpa Photography) made this video to my "Campfire Companion" song from the Radioactive Werewolf album

Vampiro Crawls from the Grave November 3rd

2009-09-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

In July I had the pleasure of working with Director Jorge Ramirez Rivera and Editor Keita Ideno on the score for the film Vampiro.

The film was picked up for distribution before completion and is now scheduled for release on DVD on November 3rd 2009.

New "TuneCore" music player widget

2009-09-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

TuneCore is now offering this very easy to make customizable music widget to allow users to sample music and access the iTunes music store right from the "Buy" button on the widget.

Easy to create, easy to implement into several existing social media website as well as custom web pages and emails.

It also allows the user to copy the code and share it on the social media website, blog or webpage!

I give it a big thumbs up!

Please share this widget that plays my new album on your blog or webpage, facebook, myspace page. . . it's easy. Hover over the album cover art work and just click on the "share" button (diamond shape) and choose the code you would like to generate.

For more info on VS MAD MAX visit: www.TheFugitiveMind.com

Microsoft & PUMA Team Up for Forza Motorsport 3

2009-08-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

Forza Motorsport 3 ties in Microsoft and Puma

This article talks about special edition, PUMA-Forza Motorsport 3 sneakers being released. Got to work on music with Lanmce Hayes (DJDM) for the game and I am hoping to get my hangs on a pair of size 8 1/2 promotional sneakers!!!

More info at: ForzaMotorsport.net

Forza Motorsport 3 "Dream" Trailer

2009-08-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Microsoft releases "Dream" trailer for Forza Motorsport 3 with music by Lance Hayes.

FM3 which is scheduled to hit stores in October, includes music composed by Lance Hayes (DJDM). Lance brought me on board to collaborate on some music for this projects on in game menu screens.

More info at: ForzaMotorsport.net

Vs Mad Max Album complete

2009-07-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

Happy to announce the release of my new album "VS MAD MAX".

The album, which is a post-punk apocalyptic ode to the Mad Max trilogy is available for $5.55 for a limited time as a digital download with pdf lyric booklet and cover art.

Have an apocalyptic day!

Music from BAD COP

2009-07-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of this year I scored music for the film BAD COP which was David Carradine's last completed film in a starring role. While listening to my iTunes on shuffle today I came across 2 cues I created for the score that I was very fond of and wanted to share.

'Reflections'
cue from the film BAD COP
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

'Piano Sonata No. 14'
(Beethoven's moonlight sonata) a cue from the film BAD COP
arranged by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

Like Rabbits creates a "wonderful world"

2009-07-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

Got a new review from The Daily Vault for my minimal orchestral album Like Rabbits

"Bodin creates a wonderful world where it’s all about the minute details. Every note, every teeny twang plays a special part in bringing into being the mosaic of fragmented beauty hidden within"

You can read critic Vish Ivar's the entire review of the album here

Don Bodin Shifts Into Gear with Lance Hayes on XBOX's Forza Motorsport 3

2009-07-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Last month at the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Microsoft officially announced the release of the much anticipated video game Forza Motorsport 3.

Composer Lance Hayes, who has been hard at work creating sound design and original music for FM3, brought composer Don Bodin on board to collaborate on music for this project.

Check out in-game action and screenshots at: ForzaMotorsport.net

The Craving Teaser Music

2009-06-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to be working with Emmy Award winning Producer/Director Ed Polgardy (of Graphic Novel "From Dusk Till Dawn" fame) on the teaser for his film The Craving .

I completed the music for the teaser this week. Cool story and promises to have great special effects from some of the best in the business.

"The Craving Teaser Exerpt"
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

Cat's Got Tail

2009-06-18T17:11:00.001-07:00

The past week has been spent wrapping up scores for a horror teaser, a short film and getting my holiday album back on track.

In addition I got a call to submit demos for a new online ad campaign for a high profile clothing company and had a great time working up a couple demos for them.

"Runway Demo D (or) The Cat's got Tail"
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.

This is my favorite from the batch of demos.

Bobby Fischer String Cues

2009-06-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

Very excited to share some of the cues from the film Bobby Fischer Live that I am scoring. After discussion with director Damian Chapa, we were able move forward with hiring some string players to track the dramatic cues.

'Big Match'
cue from the film Bobby Fischer Live
written and produced by Don Bodin

Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.