CW3PR and ASCAP Score Again at Comic-Con

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA, July 22, 2012 (Press-News.org) Los Angeles PR firm CW3PR, partnered with the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) treated music fans to a behind-the-music look at fan favorite video games, film and TV for a fourth consecutive year at mega pop-culture-convention Comic-Con. This time the team offered two panels, responding to fan demand from the previous years, and to acknowledge the ever-evolving music industry.

"We're honored that our Music panels have become an annual staple at both WonderCon and Comic-Con, and each year we focus on a different aspect celebrating the art of composition, to keep it fresh and exciting," said Charley Walters, founder and CEO of CW3PR. "This year we wanted to celebrate the successful trend of projects involving singer/composer collaborations, as well as the important growth of the video game music industry. Many of our award-winning clients have made great strides working in interactive media, and it's time their work was also recognized as part of the fan-popular gaming experience."

The first panel on Thursday, July 12, Fan Favorite Projects Go Interactive focused on top franchises turned video games, and the music that helps carry their themes and players. The panel was moderated with geeky wit by "Electric Playground's" Jose Sanchez, and featured panelists Gordy Haab ("Star Wars: The Old Republic"); David Ari Leon ("Contre Jour"); Gerard Marino ("The Amazing Spiderman"); Kyle Newmaster ("Kinect: Star Wars"); and Jeremy Soule ("The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim").

The panelists discussed how Video Games have anywhere from two to four times the amount of music as feature films, which presents a unique challenge to composers.

"Films have an established timeline. Games' timelines adjust to user play, and the music needs to respond and develop in the same way," said Gordy Haab, who frequently collaborates with LucasArts.

"Video game music can be just as epic as in films," said Kyle Newmaster, who recently collaborated with Haab on 'Kinect: Star Wars', and recorded that music with the London Symphony Orchestra. "You can bring that quality [of music] to games, too."

Over 300 fans attended Thursday's panel, and were left with anticipation over what's next to come, musically and otherwise.

"The more energy you can give a game, and feed to the [player] the better off you are," said David Ari Leon, who writes music for many popular mobile games. "This platform is here to stay... We have a wide open pallet, and it's exciting,"

On Sunday, July 15, Behind the Music with CW3PR brought together film and TV's most celebrated composers and singers from animation, period drama, comedy and drama. In front of a large, enthusiastic crowd, the Emmy-applauded "Phineas and Ferb" duo Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh played host, focusing on exploring the dynamic collaborations between composers and singers. The packed panel featured singer Laura Dickinson ("Phineas and Ferb"); Robert Duncan ("Castle"); iZLER ("Revenge"); Danny Jacob ("Phineas and Ferb"); Trevor Morris ("The Borgias"); Michael Penn ("Girls"); singer Lisbeth Scott ("True Blood") and industry veteran Marc Shaiman ("Smash"), who made his Comic-Con musical debut.
The composers also spoke about their favorite instruments to use when composing a scene.

Robert Duncan, who has collected a vast array of musical instruments, both old and new, talked about using them to create the perfect sound. "I have quite a large collection, and when people ask me if I know how to play all these instruments, I say 'I like to forget that I don't know how to play them.'"

"When it comes to underscore, it's kind of cool, even when it's classical music, to have a guitar in your hand," said Danny Jacob. "But I also always love big background vocals. I'm always big on singers."

But the recurring theme was the importance of collaboration with top-notch musicians to fully realize the composers' vision.

Jacob explained that he has long relied on musicians and singers to add that special kick "Phineas and Ferb" requires. To that end, he has collaborated with "Queen of Funk" and 10-time Grammy Award-winner Chaka Kahn, "American Idol's" Clay Aiken, and legendary guitarist Slash, as well as Bette Midler, who has also collaborated with fellow panelist Marc Shaiman.

Trevor Morris, who recently returned from The Cordoba International Film Music Festival in Spain where he conducted his music live in-concert said, "I'm a big fan of what the human voice does. I always try to use a voice whenever I can in a score."
On Thursday, Morris and Duncan each received Emmy Award nominations for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Morris earned an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) for "The Borgias," while Duncan was recognized for "Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Original Dramatic Score) for ABC's "Missing." Morris has previously won two Emmys in the past for "The Borgias" and "The Tudors," and Duncan has been nominated for his work on "Castle." Winners will be announced on September 15, 2012.


Both panels concluded with Q&As where enraptured fans got straight to the point by asking, "So, how do I get your job?"

ABOUT CW3PR

CW3PR is a mold-breaking company founded in response to the growing and constantly evolving needs for Public Relations in our modern, connected world. Embracing a wide variety of creative and corporate individuals and companies, the firm specializes in achieving positive results for their clients in places, events and demographics that expand well beyond their industry's automatic focus. The firm was founded in 2007 and recently named by Daily Variety as one of the top emerging PR firms in Los Angeles. For more info please visit http://www.cw3pr.com

ABOUT ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 435,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies, ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators worldwide. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a Board of Directors elected by and from the membership.
ASCAP protects the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works. ASCAP's licensees encompass all who want to perform copyrighted music publicly. ASCAP makes giving and obtaining permission to perform music simple for both creators and users of music.


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Media Contact
Emilie Chan-Erskine / Ashley Patterson
CW3PR
310-476-1050
emilie@cw3pr.com / ashley@cw3pr.com