Saturday, March 29, 2025

Remote Control Productions

A film score company run by veteran composer Hans Zimmer and based in Santa Monica, California. Originally known as Media Ventures, which was conceived and founded by Jay Rifkin and Hans Zimmer, the company changed its name after the partners both filed lawsuits against each other. Today, Remote Control is home to a large group of composers mentored by Zimmer, many of whom have had successful film scoring careers as part of the company or on their own. Remote Control Productions has been responsible for the scores for a number of successful films. Recently, many composers from Remote Control Productions have worked on the scores of successful video games.

Formerly known as Media Ventures (1989–2004)
Founded: March 29, 1989; 36 years ago
Founders: Jay Rifkin and Hans Zimmer
Location: 1547 14th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Labels
  • Mojo Records (1995–2001; sold by Jay Rifkin)
  • 14th Street Music
  • Bleeding Fingers Music

Current and/or Former Composers and Musicians
  • Lebo M.
  • Mark Mancina
  • John Van Tongeren (1990s)
  • Nick Glennie-Smith (1990s)
  • Don L. Harper (1990s)
  • Harry Gregson-Williams (1995–present)
  • Gavin Greenaway (1995–present)
  • Jeff Rona (1996–2000s)
  • Geoff Zanelli (1996–present)
  • Henning Lohner (1996–present)
  • John Powell (1997–2010s)
  • Steve Jablonsky
  • James S. Levine (1997–present)
  • Klaus Badelt (1998–2004)
  • Heitor Pereira (2000s–present)
  • Ramin Djawadi
  • James Newton Howard
  • Henry Jackman (2000s)

Motion Pictures (My List)
Media Ventures (1989–2004)
1994: Speed — Music Recorded and Mixed
1994: The Lion King — Music Recorded
1995: Crimson Tide — Score Recorded
1996: White Squall
1996: The Rock — Score Production Services
1997: The Peacemaker — Score Recorded and Mixed
1998: Armageddon — Music Production Services
1998: Endurance (documentary) — Score Recorded
1998: Antz — Music Production Services
1998: The Prince of Egypt — Music Production Services
2000: The Road to El Dorado — Music Production Services
2000: Gladiator — Music Production Services
2000: Chicken Run — Music Production Services
2001: Just Visiting — Music Production Services Provided
2001: Shrek — Score Mixed
2001: Pearl Harbor — Music Production Services
2002: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron — Music Production Services
2003: The Recruit — Score Mixed
2003: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas — Score Mixed
2003: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl — Score Mixed and Music Production Services

Remote Control Productions (2004–present)
2004: Shrek 2 — Score Mixed
2004: Shark Tale
2005: Madagascar — Music Production Services
2006: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
2006: The Prestige — David Julyan
2007: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End — Score Mixed
2007: The Game Plan — Nathan Wang
2008: Iron Man — Score Mixed
2008: Beverly Hills Chihuahua — Score Mixed
2008: Bedtime Stories — Rupert Gregson-Williams
2010: Despicable Me — Music Mixed
2010: You Again — Nathan Wang
2010: Secretariat
2011: Rango — Music Mixed
2011: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides — Orchestra Recorded and Score Mixed *
2011: Fright Night
2012: The Odd Life of Timothy Green *
2013: Oz the Great and Powerful — Danny Elfman *
2013: The Lone Ranger — Score Recorded and Mixed *
2016: Captain America: Civil War
2016: The Angry Birds Movie
2017: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
2018: Ralph Breaks the Internet
2019: The Lion King

* Credited as Remote Control Studios

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Music of Raya and the Last Dragon

Copyright © 2021 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Original Score Composed by
James Newton Howard

Executive Music Producer
Tom MacDougall

Vice President, Music Production
Andrew Page

Supervising Production Music Editor
Earl Ghaffari

Supervising Score Music Editor
Jim Weidman

Score Music Editor
David Olson

Score Recorded by
Shawn Murphy

Score Mixed by
Alan Meyerson

Original Score Produced by
Xander Rodzinski

Score Conducted and Orchestrated by
Pete Anthony

Score Orchestrations by
Jeff Atmajian, Jon Kull, Philip Klein

Orchestra Leader
Bruce Dukov

World Woodwinds
Pedro Eustache

Vocal Soloist
Loire Cotler

Additional Vocals
Sumudu Jayatilaka and Isobel Anthony

Synth Programming
Jon Aschalew, Michael Dean Parsons, Tobin Pugash

Music Business Affairs
Donna Cole-Brulé

Music Production Specialist
Lauren Harrold

Music Production Assistant
Jimmy Tsai

Production Music Editors
Kendall Demarest and Tommy Holmes

Assistant Music Editor
Benjamin Robinson

Music Preparation by
JoAnn Kane Music Service

Music Librarian
Mark Graham

Score Contracted by
Sandy DeCrescent

Assistant Score Contractor
Timothy Loo

Choir Contracted by
Susie Gillis for Isobel Griffiths Ltd.

Choir
London Voices

Choirmasters
Terry Edwards and Ben Parry

Additional Recording by
Jonathan Allen

Score Digital Recordist
Erik Swanson

Auricle Control Systems
Chris Cozens

2nd Mix Engineer
John Traunwieser

Score Editor
David Channing

Score Coordinator
Pamela Sollie

Scoring Crew
Keith Ukrisna
Brian Van Leer
Greg Dennen
Ryan Nelson
Daniel Hayden
Christopher Parker

Score Recorded at
Sony Pictures Scoring Stage

Choir Recorded at
Abbey Road Studios, London, UK

Score Mixed at
James Newton Howard Studios, Santa Monica, CA

Lead The Way
Written and Performed by
Jhené Aiko

Produced by
Julian-Quán Việt Lê (Lejkeys)

Recorded and Mixed by
Gregg Rominiecki

Jhené Aiko appears courtesy of 2Fish/ArtClub/Def Jam

Soundtrack Available on
Walt Disney Records

Thursday, March 13, 2025

The Music of The Alamo (2004 film)

Copyright © 2004 Touchstone Pictures

Music by
Carter Burwell

Supervising Production Music Mixer
Joseph Magee

Featured Fiddle Performance/Fiddle Coach
Craig Eastman

On-Camera Music Arrangements
Carter Burwell
Craig Eastman
Marshall Bowen
Jennifer Hammond

Music Research Consultant and On-Camera Music Preparation
Booker White, Walt Disney Music Library

Music Editors
Adam Milo Smalley and Bryan Lawson

Orchestrations by
Carter Burwell and Sonny Kompanek

Orchestra Conducted by
Carter Burwell

Score Recorded and Mixed by
Mike Farrow

Assistant to Carter Burwell
Dean Parker

Orchestra Contractor
Sandra Park

Concertmaster
Sharon Yamada

Featured Musicians
David Weiss: Ethnic Flute
Laura Seaton-Finn: Fiddle
Lisa E. Kim: Violin
Robert Rinehart: Viola
Alan Stepansky: Cello

Score Recorded at
Right Track Studios, NYC

Score Mixed at
The Body, NYC

Music Preparation
Tony Finno

Soundtrack Available on
Hollywood Records

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Don Hall

Donald Lee Hall

Date of Birth: March 8, 1969 (56 years old)
Birthplace: Glenwood, Iowa, USA 🇺🇸
Education: University of Iowa and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) (BFA)
Employer: Walt Disney Animation Studios (1999–2024)

Motion Pictures (My List)
Writer
1999: Tarzan — Story
2000: The Emperor’s New Groove — Additional Story Material
2003: Brother Bear — Additional Story
2004: Home on the Range — Additional Story
2007: Meet the Robinsons
2011: Winnie the Pooh — Story
2016: Moana — Story
2021: Raya and the Last Dragon — Story

Animation / Art Department
2000: The Emperor’s New Groove — Story Artist
2002: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron — Additional Story Artist
2005: Chicken Little — Character Designer and Story Artist
2007: Meet the Robinsons — Artistic Supervisor: Story
2009: The Princess and the Frog — Artistic Supervisor: Story
2018: Ralph Breaks the Internet — Additional Story Artist

Actor
2007: Meet the Robinsons
2009: The Princess and the Frog — Darnell (voice)

Special Thanks
2008: Bolt
2021: Us Again (short)
2021: Far from the Tree (short)
2023: Once Upon a Studio (short)
2024: Moana 2

Additional Crew
2010: Tangled
2012: Wreck-It Ralph
2013: Frozen
2014: Big Hero 6 — Creative Leadership
2016: Zootopia — Creative Leadership
2016: Moana — Creative Leadership
2018: Ralph Breaks the Internet — Creative Leadership
2019: Frozen II — Creative Leadership
2021: Raya and the Last Dragon — Studio and Creative Leadership
2021: Encanto — Creative Leadership
2022: Strange World — Creative Leadership
2023: Wish — Creative Leadership
2024: Moana 2 — Creative Leadership

Director
2011: Winnie the Pooh
2014: Big Hero 6
2016: Moana — Co-Director
2017: Gone Fish (short video) — Co-Director
2021: Raya and the Last Dragon
2022: Strange World

Producer
2023: Wish — Executive Producer

Television
Creator
2022: Baymax! (6 Episodes)

Producer
2022: Baymax! — Executive Producer (6 Episodes)

Awards
Academy Awards
2015: Winner for Best Animated Feature (Big Hero 6)
2022: Nominated for Best Animated Feature (Raya and the Last Dragon)

Annie Awards
2008: Nominated for Storyboarding in a Feature Production (Meet the Robinsons)
2012: Nominated for Directing in a Feature Production (Winnie the Pooh)
2012: Nominated for Writing in a Feature Production (Winnie the Pooh)
2015: Nominated for Directing in a Feature Production (Big Hero 6)

Golden Globe Awards
2015: Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film (Big Hero 6)
2022: Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film (Raya and the Last Dragon)

Others
2012: Gold Derby Award — Nominated for Animated Feature (Winnie the Pooh)
2015: Alliance of Women Film Journalists — Nominated for Best Animated Film (Big Hero 6)
2015: Visual Effects Society Award — Winner for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature (Big Hero 6)

Musical Numbers of The Lion King (1997)

Act One Scene 1: Pride Rock —  Circle of Life  (Rafiki,  Ensemble) Scene 2: Scar’s Cave Scene 3: Rafiki’s Tree Scene 4: The Pridelands —  Th...