Mogul & the Prawn » News

News: a bit of an announcement

theprawn — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:49:02 +0000

19 Jan, 2012:

We are delighted to be able to say that the Mogul has a) accepted a place on the Women in Film & TV mentoring scheme and b) agreed a deal with Orion to publish her upcoming novel The Beauty of Murder.

Because of this, she’ll have less time for music, so we’ll be making some changes to the way we work.

You’ll still be able to hire both of us to compose for your feature, short film, or TV drama (availability permitting, of course)
The Prawn will handle all other commissions – either here or via tristaylor.com.

DO NOT PANIC. We are still here. Thank you so much for your support thus far!

For more on Alexandra’s writing please visit akbenedict.com.

Film: Shackled title sequence for crowdfunding drive

theprawn — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:26:50 +0000

Dec 6, 2011:

Off the back of 15 international festival screenings of her last film Habibti, director Nour Wazzi is now crowdfunding her next short, Shackled.

A psychological thriller, it’s co-produced by Shirine Best and Ellie Emptage through Panacea Productions and Traveller Films. They sent us a beautiful hand-drawn title sequence and an irresistible brief – sinister 1950s circus music.

Here’s the result – a score for two music boxes, soprano voice, violin, accordion, calliope, tuba and orchestral percussion:

And here’s the music:

Film: Shackled – Titles (Panacea Productions/Traveller Films) by A.K. Benedict/T. Taylor

Please visit the crowdfunding page for Shackled now! For a few dollars you can get an on-screen ‘Special Thanks’; for a few more you can get even better perks…

Film: Habibti gets special mentions in Cyprus and Montréal

theprawn — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:54:01 +0000

Oct 20, 2011:

Habibti has won the ‘Special Mention for a Leading Female Role’ award in Cyprus and got this special jury mention at the Montréal International Black Film Festival too:

“It’s impossible not to mention this film in which family, religion and opening oneself up to others are really put to the test through images that are as powerful as they are piercingly truthful. A powerhouse of a film.”

Huzza!

Plus it has added more screenings to the list – here’s an updated one:

Here’s our soundtrack:

Alexandra Benedict & Tris Taylor: Habibti OST

Alexandra Benedict & Tris Taylor: Habibti OST by A.K. Benedict/T. Taylor

Stuff: 7 Tips for Getting A Great Score

theprawn — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:52:58 +0000

Oct 11, 2011:

The Prawn has written an article for Directors Notes called ’7 Tips for Getting a Great Score for Your Film.’ It includes the phrases ‘sonic palette,’ ‘grunt work’ and ‘DO NOT PANIC.’

How can you resist? Head on over to Directors Notes to read it in full.

TV: Cookery School reruns are on now!

theprawn — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:52:49 +0000

Oct 4, 2011:

Channel 4 are re-running Cookery School – super early at 5am, so set the recorder if you fancy it.

We wrote all the music for it – here are some of the cues:

Cookery School – set

[Any problems listening? If so, try the set on Soundcloud.]

And our original blurb about it is here.

Film: Habibti festival screenings worldwide

theprawn — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:23:41 +0000

Sep 21, 2011:

Habibti has been selected for more film festivals since its world premiere at DIFF in December.

Its European premiere was in Paris in April, as an official selection of the 6th ÉCU European Indie-Film Festival.

Plus it’s been selected for:

the Arab Film Festival Australia, July 2011
the 32nd Durban International Film Festival, July 2011
the 24th Helsinki International Film Festival, September 2011
the 11th Beirut International Film Festival, October 2011 (official competition)
the Gold Lion Film Festival, October 2011 (official selection)

News soon from Montréal, Cyprus and Valladolid too.

Here’s our soundtrack:

Alexandra Benedict & Tris Taylor: Habibti OST

Alexandra Benedict & Tris Taylor: Habibti OST by A.K. Benedict/T. Taylor

Corporate: return of the Caravan theme

theprawn — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:01:35 +0000

Sep 20, 2011:

One of our first ever commissions was to compose music for a corporate film Toaster Productions was making for Caravan.

They liked it so much that we’ve soundtracked four subsequent Caravan films, the latest featuring Matt Cardle and Diversity. This re-record of the original piece has become their theme tune and features again in their latest film:

Corporate: Caravan – Fixed

Film: Makers feature doc to premiere at Soho Shorts

theprawn — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:51:41 +0000

28 July, 2011:

Makers, Amadin Ryan’s feature documentary about the UK indie film industry, premieres today at special screenings in the Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival.

One of our tracks has become the main theme, and two more are also featured:

Film: Makers – Jenny’s Exit
Film: Makers – Don’t Investigate
Film: Makers – Odd Ball

Mega thanks to Amadin, Shibe Alawiye and Julian Gaskell for wanting them in. Here is a photo of them with Joce Capper, MD of Rushes:

[view on Facebook]

Check out the shades!

Film: He Loves Me to screen at ICA

theprawn — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:29:59 +0000

July 21, 2011:

Oliver Crowther’s film ‘He Loves Me’ is premiering at the ICA on July 25th as part of the Straight 8 showings at the Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival.

We did the sound design and final mix.

Also, the Mogul has an on-screen role as Woman In Yellow Coat. Woo!

Stuff: seminar at the University of Brighton

theprawn — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:02:08 +0000

April 12, 2011:

Next week we’re at the University of Brighton’s Media Enterprise Centre to give a seminar on Getting Paid for Your Music.

Here is the blurb:

Want to learn how to make money out of your musical talent?

This Q&A will cover -

• Pressing vinyl and selling it to record shops
• How to get tracks onto iTunes and other download stores
• Reaching radio and club DJs and collecting on royalties
• Payment for using your tracks on TV or film
• Getting commissioned to write new music
• Legal and business considerations

This Q&A will be hosted by Alexandra Benedict and Tris Taylor of Mogul & the Prawn. Having formed bands, played live, started two record labels, remixed for club playlists, composed soundtracks for films, signed a song writing contract with Cooking Vinyl Music and visited Los Angeles to pitch music to US network TV shows, Alexandra and Tris have a wealth of experience in making a living out of music.

They are currently writing all the music for a new Channel 4 cookery programme and are working on solo albums.

FREE EVENT
To book your place, please contact Kay on k.bullen@brighton.ac.uk / 01424 428590.