MUSIC at last!!

It was an exciting/hectic week for the Hellcrew.  We're racing to get the full animatics done for BOTH movies within the next two weeks.  Vic Cook and I made a creative breakthrough on a sequence of the second movie which is REALLY NEAT... which of course I can't tell you about because it's part of the climax.  But it's really neat.  One for the DVD commentary I guess.

Looks like we have a composer for the movies.  He was recommended by Guillermo del Toro and turned in an amazing audition piece.  But more about that when there's at least a deal memo in place.  The music I'm talking about are the songs.

It's a credit to the crew that nothing of this has slipped out onto the Internet since the temp tracks are constantly blaring out of my office.  Plus the printed lyrics of "Right Hand of Power" circulated outside our group when we did an "impromptu" sing-a-long at The Olive Garden restaurant.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  This will mean little to most of you but we got "Willio and Phillio" back together to do the songs for the first movie and the title song of the second (that one has a different mood and requires no songs).  Will Ryan and Phil Baron were a comedy/DJ duo in Cleveland, Ohio then came out west and did a couple of LPs for Disney and at least one stage show in Hollywood.  They moved into voice over work where Will is still active.  Phil was the voice of Teddy Ruxpin (Flashback!) but is now a Jewish cantor for the congregation Beth Shalom in Santa Clarita, CA. 

But I knew them from my early days at Disney TV animation.  I also knew they had written a carload of truly great, moving, dramatic songs but couldn't crack the Disney Feature Music Wall which says only "name" composers need apply.  My feeling is talent is talent and they are doing a fantastic job.

Speaking of "names," there was a brief window that might have had us using an Elton John / Tim Rice song that was written for The Lion King but unused.  It was Simba singing of the memory of his father. I can't say where we would've used it without giving away plot -- but nevermind, because it's not happening anyway (but it does give me another photo to post on the blog.)

Okay, enough of the screaming.  I know most of you connect Hellboy to some sort of head banging, heavy metal sound but hey, Motorhead wasn't available.  Seriously, this was the one area that Mike Mignola had the biggest reservations about.  I knew he would so we did a full-on, Disney-style, music pitch.  Mark Harmon, Jennifer Coyle and Wei Zhao about killed themselves doing color mood setups to suggest how we'd get into the songs and weave them into the story.  If the songs aren't intrinsic to the storytelling it's going to be laughable, not emotional, when the big red demon guy busts out into song. We taped color laserprints to 4' x 8' black foamcore boards that we shoved in the back of my van for a trip to Mignola Manor in Manhattan Beach.  Looking back, I suppose we could've done something on PowerPoint or like an animatic but I think we needed to be there to sell it.

So, Mike didn't break down into tears or anything, but he "got it."  He even started coming up with possible action stuff (I won't call them gags) that really took the sequences to a new level.  This will not be dancing teapot stuff.  Think closer to Sweeney Todd.  So calm down, it's going to be cool.

Obviously I'm jazzed about it; it's another storytelling tool you don't expect to see outside of a theatrical feature film.  Plus we had a marketing /publicity meeting this week which plotted out all sorts of cool stuff.  San Diego Comicon will definitely be the place to be this year.  However, looks like you'll can be "part of the excitement" no matter where you are because one of the song animatics - hopefully with some pencil animation - may be offered free on iTunes two weeks before the con.

I know talking about music is like describing color to a blind person.  I'm sorry I can't attach music files here.  Okay, I technically can but once again, I have to abide by the various marketing/publicity rules of the project.  The good news is that the company is taking Hellboy Animated so seriously.

Later! --Tad

Comments

[Tad]

I'm sorry. The drawing at the top is Will Ryan and you may have guessed that the photo is of Phil Baron. I'll add a current "reunion" photo to the Hell Crew photo album after the recording session next week.

[Kim Larsen]

... Hellboy ... singing ... ???
SINGING ?!?!?!?!

[Kim Larsen]

... oh God, please, please, please let this be one of those april first thingys ...

[Typhon24]

Every year I tell myself that I won't fall for any April Fools gags, and every year I do...well played, Tad. Tho I wouldn't mind getting something free on iTunes 2 weeks before the con, like some background orchestrals...Keep that part :)

[maija]

Anung Un Rama!
What a wonderful phrase
Anung Un Rama!
Ain't no passing craze

It means Armageddon
And the end of our days
It's your prophecied
Destiny
Anung Un Rama!

Drop me a line if you'd like me to work up more lyrics.

[Daniel]

Jeez, I think I just turned white as a sheet. 'Atsa good joke you had going there. Heh heh. Joke...right?

So people think of Motorhead when they read Hellboy, huh? I'm not so sure about that.

Dean Martin, sure.
Motorhead, not so much.

[taterpatch]

OK, you got me. Beautifully done, sir.

In my defense, I have a small child and am forced to endure the Phil Collins 'Tarzan' soundtrack on a far-too-regular basis, so I'm paranoid about this sort of thing. Although I'll cop to enjoying the scat singing on the jazz number while the gorillas destroy the camp.

But so help me, if there's a Hellboy-growing-up montage, my blood will be on your hands...

Who am I, tell me
Where'd this stone hand come from?
Who am I, I know
It's like I don't fit in at a-ha-wa-aaall!

[Sparky]

I eagerly await next year's touring company of "Hellboy On Ice".

Heck, I'll even volunteer to drive the Zamboni.

[Chad Kerychuk]

Oh man. Of all the things today, this is the only one that had me fooled for a few minutes. Perhaps because I'm actually reading it on the 2nd.

I was thinking to myself: 'songs in Hellboy? What the??'

I'll admit to liking the Phil Collins Tarzan though. I think it worked well and stands well on its own. However, its certainly not suited to Big Red!

[hb]

ahh...
no one should ever sing in Hellboy lest it be a creepy incantation that only hellboy can understand..
good one Tad, had me going there...
By the way, is the music anything like in the movie ?

[dave griz]

This is the last straw. First casting Robin Williams as Hellboy, then that lesbian scene with Kate and Liz... and now singing!? I've already cancelled my future Hellboy & BPRD reservations and am telling friends to do the same. I'm also organizing a protest at the local comic book store and in the process of setting up a website at www.stopREDsinging.com.

You guys have ruined a perfectly good character/franchise. I hope you can sleep at night.

[Tad]

No, Dave! Please don't organize the boycott! We're trying our best and sometimes we get a little carried away. We'll take out every thing you don't like.

Absolutely everything.

Everything.

(But can we talk about the Liz and Kate thing first?)

[Kim Larsen]

Liz and Kate ... hhmmmmm ... how come I never thought of that?

[Royce Day]

Liz and Kate? And you speak as if this is a BAD thing? :)