The final countdown

September's original plan for the film's premiere had to be moved to November. Finally the date is set and we are now in the home stretch. The final countdown for Gloria del Pacifico has began!!

Still putting it all together, splicing and cutting out redundant footage or scenes that can be spared (for just the film version but the TV series one) without losing the content's ability to be understood.

I look at it now and has a faster, more hip pace. Perfect for a film, even though it is hard to cut a 5-hour project down to less than 110 minutes. Feels like I'm throwing away important info but have to be aware of nowadays audience impatience and on the other side their lack of knowledge about History. So, have to put it snappy but understandable.

Got myself a new pair of monitor speakers. This time I chose one of my favorite audio brands: Behringer. The "Truth" speaker series are awesome sounding and have such a powerful sonic output. The different locations deliver different types of audio quality. The rumble heard in the boom's mic and also in the lavaliers were a problem but is something a low-pass EQ filter managed well. Had to treat the editing room with more acoustic foam now that the sound editing and mixing stage has began. Using my fav plugins from Waves (been a fan since their release of the Renaissance Compressor back in 1997) and Izotope's RX3 for repairing and cleaning is such a pleasure to work with. These companies should earn an Oscar for such a contribution to the film industry.

Micky is working hard on the music score and dropped by the studio to listen the rough track a couple week's ago and its very touching. Very moving.

If God grants me the chance, I'll be able to also do "displays" for the film. Only several theaters are able to place them in the hallways. Permit laws put restrains in the size so they don's get in the way or obstruct free transit in case of emergencies.

God....I thank you for all these. Even under extreme stress and with hurdles from envious people, you are making your will here.

Tic tac.....the clock is ticking!!

Checking for Display maximum size

The posters

Cinemark is on board also

The music score. Very moving.

Gloria del Pacifico film score sessions

A new year. A new set of 365 days to do much more for everyone and for oneself. Family time was interrupted by a slight swell in the throat only to develop in a full flu near new year's eve. Just coming out of this nasty illness today.

Today was the 5th day of Gloria del Pacifico's film score recording sessions. Micky Tejada's music captures close emotions to what I want to portray in the film. Sometimes it takes time for a musician to understand you but he was quick to pick up what was needed. Specially now that time is truly a matter. Really need to rush this out and finish the film post-production process for the music was the last thing that was holding me back.

After first recordings of timbale drums and percussion, tuba and trombone sessions were covered today. Hot in here like hell but the sound was super cool. We are simply doubling certain parts to make them sound like a full orchestra (overdubs) because budget doesn't allow contracting 120 musicians at the same time. Done overdubs back in the 90's when I used to record my rock band Alter Ego so this isn't new but quite a familiar technique.

I'm very excited about how all is developing. Can't wait to see this finally done and mixed with the film's images.

Music score progress

Tonight sunday I had another late night meeting with Fernando De Lucchi who is composing Gloria del Pacifico's film score.

Got himself a new system based mainly on Mac based Logic Audio and MOTU audio interfaces. The recently aquired symphony orchestra sample library seems to sound much more realistic as I heard from prior times and Fernando is catching up speed on its use with the new workstation. Now I can share the same peace of mind that sound realism is a reality now for I was very much mind-set on the use of real instruments together with realistic instrument audio samples to make the sonic landscape more pure as a real symphony orchestra but because of higher costs involved in hiring an ensemble, I think I have to let go off that idea and focus all in sample based audio. The film's costs have skyrocketed a bit in the end. Thank God I made many things myself otherwise it owuld have costed way much more risking the completion of the whole project.

But all in all, the sound emananting from those speakers sounded pretty much like real instruments. Technology has catched up to one's vision from the time I started the film 3 years ago. Hearing the score for Alfonso Ugarte and Timotea Vernal scenes were a delight and can picture it clearly in my head.

Gave Fernando a mid-res copy of some rough-cut scenes from the film to have him get a hold of the feel of it. Being such a professional in the music field for decades, I trust his talent very much so. Connection in vision is the key. Also planning on giving him a song melody for the Bolognesi death scene. Had it in my mind since early times of this. He will be orchestrating it.

Can't wait to hear all the music recorded and merged with the film.
Until the next meeting in a week.

Testing the wind digital instrument. Sounds pretty real.

Listening the score.

Showing Fernando the rough-cuts of the film to give him a feel of it.

Music score getting in shape

It's been a few months since I got together with Fernando to check on the music score for the film. Progress on it is quite fine and when he plays it I try to imagine it being played with the full instrumentation and matching certain scenes already filmed and the ones soon to be.

All is coming together. Slowly coming together. Can't wait to have it all fully orchestrated. If all goes fine, it's just a matter of a few months until recording sessions begin. That is going to be quite a thrill. :)

Music score progress

Had a late night meeting with Fernando De Lucchi to listen how the main melodies and compositions are coming along.
So far it is very interesting and good. Found many melodies that will suit precise scenes of despair and anguish, martial scenes and inner thoughts of Bolognesi and other heroes.

Can't wait until all is ready. Music score is 50% of a feature so it is an important part I'm focusing on a lot here for my film.