Metropolis and a live film score. [More ACMI goodness]

[dean]

Yes it's another post about the coolness of ACMI cinemas here in Melbourne.  This time it's a live playing of a re-done score for the classic Fritz Lang film, Metropolis.  I'm definitely going to this one, since the idea seem's pretty great, and actually reminded me of the comment Scottie said a while back about having a screening of 2001 with a live score.  Of course this is slightly different, since it's a whole new score, and it is quite interesting for me [since I love movie soundtracks.]

Here's the brief from the website: Here if you want it

Don't miss The New Pollutants' acclaimed re-score of this cinema classic.
The New Pollutants, the musical duo of Benjamin Speed and Tyson Hopprich, present their new score to Fritz Lang's classic silent film, Metropolis.

They perform their electronic score live, accompanied by vocalist Astrid Pill and cellist Zoe Barry. Their infectious and unique approach ranges from Germanic trip hop and lo-fi electronica to unforgettable classical and breathtaking cinematica.

Conceived, composed and recorded over twelve months, this landmark re-score had its world premiere at the 2005 Adelaide Film Festival, where it was celebrated by The Advertiser as a "once in a lifetime experience" and has been invited to the 2006 Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The performance uses the digitally remastered and definitive 35mm print of Metropolis, restored in Germany in 2002 with state-of-the-art restoration technology under the supervision of the Murnau Foundation.


Any thoughts?  Other films you think would go well with a similar concept, or have you seen something similar.  I'm always interested in combining live elements with film footage [such as when you watch a behind the scenes of a movie soundtrack being made with an orchestra, and you see them all playing with a big honking screen in the background with the movie playing on it.

Anyways, I hope this is as good as it sounds and will comment on it later if I do get off to see it.

[Scottie]

My film teacher told me that someone put together a new score for Metropolis in the 70's that was a disco dance score. It was released in New York and it's on video somewhere, and needless to say, those who saw it hated it. Lucky you for having such a cool theater to have both a live orchestra for a new score AS WELL as a 35mm print to watch. Tell as many people as you know to go see it.

[dean]

Scottie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My film teacher told me that someone put together
> a new score for Metropolis in the 70's that was a
> disco dance score. It was released in New York and
> it's on video somewhere, and needless to say,
> those who saw it hated it. Lucky you for having
> such a cool theater to have both a live orchestra
> for a new score AS WELL as a 35mm print to watch.
> Tell as many people as you know to go see it.

Hmmm... I also think that there's a copy of Metropolis with an AC/DC score [just their songs I guess]  Boy that movie gets around.

ACMI is great because it's not just a theatre, but more like a kickass museum/centre for learning about the moving image, with a couple of cinemas.  Recently they had an exhibition on Kubrik, in which they had lots of his equiptment from his films, such as a specially designed camera lens for one of this films [I forget which, but probably 2001] and cool dolly's and such.  I'm rather dissappointed I couldn't get to see it though, it sounded really interesting.

[Scottie]

I think the special lens they have on display from Kubrick was from Barry Lyndon. The special lenses developed for Barry Lyndon was a super fast Zeiss lens that was made specifically to shoot in extremely low light, mainly candlelight and candelabra. Or it could have been one of the super long 450mm 16mm lenses that was adapted for the 35mm camera that did all of the long shots of the battlefield segments.

Kubrick has been on the leading edge of technological innovations for film ever since he started getting the funding to do waht he does best... make innovative art films.