Making of the Music for Death of Evil

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

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.

Vampiro Crawls from the Grave November 3rd

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.

Music from BAD COP

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.

Bobby Fischer String Cues

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.

Themes for Bobby Fischer Bio Pic

Working on the score for Director Damian Chapa's biographical dramatization of the life of world renown chess champion Bobby Fischer.


Got a few versions of the main theme written and wanted to share my current favorite.


CLOCK THEME
One of 5 possible main themes written for the film


Unable to hear the track? Download the MP3 here.




The film, which was filmed on location in LA, NYC, Russia and Iceland, follows the life of Bobby Fischer who is considered to be the greatest chess player of all time. He beat the Russians during the Cold War. The Chess match was historical in bringing relations between the USA and Russia to a more calm and cordial state as well as elevating chess to a much more mainstream and "cooler" status.

After his win, Bobby Fischer became a recluse and was exiled by then President George Bush Sr. As a result, Fischer lost all of his rewards, could not return to his home in Brooklyn USA and traveled in seclusion while spiraling down into psychological torment. He developed a strange rant of terrorist-like hatred towards America and Israel- even becoming anti-semitic even though he himself was Jewish.

Chapa has direct and stars in the feature film that spans the entire life of one of the most controversial historic figures in the game of chess

Above the Line, Below the cut : First Hollywood Premier

Went to the Mexican Gangster movie premier the other night. This was the first film I have scored that had a full blown premier with a red carpet and photographers and everything. I showed up dressed nicely and even walked the red carpet. So this morning I decided to do a quick wireimage (wireimage.com) search and see if I could find a nice picture of me with a celebrity on the red carpet to send to mom and dad. It looks like I didn't make the cut.

Here you can see Director Damian Chapa with Miss Maribel Montalvo (3rd place Miss Universe) Isn't that a nice shot? I was just off to the left out of frame. I even posed with a couple other 'celebrities' and models . but alas no photos of me.

As a composer, we have such a responsibility to the film / project. Composers can really add life and emotion or f&@k the whole thing up and really detract from the film. The composers get above the line billing (under the actors and directors) because it is recognized that we provide another character to the film, and much of the emotion.

After the screening I ran into a few producers who I have meet before. One of them gave a my music such a huge compliment I am embarred to quote it . I take most 'LA' peoples comments with a grain of salt. But he was right, I did a great job delivering 90 minuted of music in the 10days I had to work on the film and I am happy I was able to serve the film and enhance it.

So I am sorry mom and dad, I am afraid you will have to except this bad photoshop job as proof of my first big hollywood premier.