Introduction to the Festival and Its Founders
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, renowned for their work with Nine Inch Nails and celebrated film and television composers, have embarked on a new mission: to celebrate the art of scoring music for films, television, and video games. The duo announced the Future Ruins festival, set to take place on November 8 in Los Angeles, California.
Festival Lineup and Relevance of Participating Composers
The festival aims to highlight the importance of film, television, and video game scores by featuring some of the most celebrated composers in the industry. Among them are:
- John Carpenter: A legendary film director and composer known for his iconic scores in films like Halloween, They Live, and Escape From New York. Reznor has cited Carpenter as a significant musical influence.
- Danny Elfman: A prolific composer whose work with Tim Burton has left a lasting impact on popular culture, including films like Batman, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Elfman also composed the famous theme for The Simpsons.
- Mark Mothersbaugh: Known for his work with Wes Anderson and contributions to films like The Lego Movie, A Minecraft Movie, and Thor: Ragnarok. Mothersbaugh also composed the scores for TV shows like Rugrats and Time Bandits.
- Claudio Simonetti: A prominent figure in Italian progressive rock, best known for his work with Dario Argento on films such as Suspiria, Profondo Rosso/Deep Red, and Dawn of the Dead.
- Howard Shore: An Academy Award-winning composer who will present the score for David Cronenberg’s Crash.
Emerging Composers and Their Contributions
The festival also features a new generation of composers, including:
- Cristobal Tapia de Veer: Composer for HBO’s acclaimed series The White Lotus, as well as films like Babygirl and Smile.
- Ben Salisbury & Geoff Barrow: The duo behind the scores for Alex Garland’s Ex Machina and Annihilation, known for their dystopian soundtracks.
- Hildur Guðnadóttir: An Academy Award winner for her work on Joker, also known for composing scores for films like Tár and the HBO miniseries Chernobyl.
- Isobel Waller-Bridge: Composer for TV series such as Fleabag, Black Mirror, and Munich: The Edge of War.
- Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein: Creators of the music for Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things.
- Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe: Composer for the 2021 film Candyman, a spiritual successor to the 1992 horror film with an original score by Philip Glass.
- Terence Blanchard: A frequent collaborator with Spike Lee, known for his work on films like BlacKkKlansman, Malcolm X, and Inside Man.
- Volker Bertelmann: An Academy Award winner for his score to All Quiet on the Western Front, also known for composing music for films like Cónclave and the adaptation of The Day of the Jackal.
- Tamar-Kali: Known for her work on the film Mudbound.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Future Ruins festival? The Future Ruins festival, founded by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, aims to celebrate the art of scoring music for films, television, and video games by highlighting renowned composers and emerging talents.
- Who are the composers participating in the festival? The lineup includes John Carpenter, Danny Elfman, Mark Mothersbaugh, Claudio Simonetti, Howard Shore, Cristobal Tapia de Veer, Ben Salisbury & Geoff Barrow, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Isobel Waller-Bridge, Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Terence Blanchard, and Volker Bertelmann.
- Why is this festival important? Future Ruins seeks to reframe the perception of film, television, and video game scores, placing them at the forefront and acknowledging their crucial role in storytelling.
