Variety’s Artisans ribbon-cutting ceremony took place last night at Penske Media’s Westside Headquarters. Film editor-in-chief Claudia Eller raised a toast to those unsung heroes of the industry who are finally getting the recognition they deserve. LA Mayor Ted Johnson even sent a message of support, calling behind-the-scenes employees such as carpenters, makeup artists, sound technicians, and editors, “the real faces of the industry.” In attendance were cinematographers and

Spoon, the versatile yet steady rock band has managed to stay grounded amidst the many musical stages of the recent decades. The group was able to fit into dance punk playlists, the lo-fi movement, and R&B trends of the early 00s without becoming trend chasers. Music Supervisors have used their songs “The Underdog,” “The Way We Got By,” and “I Turn My Camera On” in film, TV, and advertising. Spoon’s 2010 record Transference proved just how the band snuck up on us with their a

The upcoming Universal film “Get On Up” about funk-soul legend James Brown’s rise from poverty to stardom is creating a buzz in the entertainment world. Actor Chadwick Boseman does an excellent job of embodying Brown’s character and his impressive musical journey without verging on mimicry. With the help of Mick Jagger, Director Tate Taylor and Music Supervisors Budd Carr and Margaret Yen compiled more than two dozen of Brown’s studio and live performances to form an authenti

In a recent episode of Q score, Jonathan McHugh interviews grammy award winning music supervisor, producer, and film music executive Randy Spendlove, who is currently the President of Motion Picture Music at Paramount Pictures. Spendlove discusses his work with Imagine Dragons on ‘Transformers 4′, and the upcoming films ‘Hercules’ and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’. Spendlove also details his grammy award winning work on the ‘Chicago’ film music arrangement that had to be dec

There is no doubt that classic films are made by their soundtracks, and the 1995 romance comedy film Clueless is no exception. Music Supervisor Karyn Rachtmann perfectly encapsulates the angst of 90s high schoolers with her song selection that promises to be quality right from the start with the Muffs’ “Kids in America.” Other highlights include tunes by Counting Crows, Radiohead, Beastie Boys, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Coolio. Including a mixture of punk rock, alterna

After a brief funk, the Newport Folk Festival regained its status in 2008 when journalist and music supervisor Jay Sweet took over the booking reigns. Ever since, there have been some unforgettable performances and collaborations from artists such as Dawes, the Felice Brothers, Levon Helm, Beck, and Jim James. Most big acts agree to play the three-day fest even despite the inevitable financial hit due to its 10,000 person capacity, and those in charge cherish the unexpected a

Music Supervisors Frankie Pine, Thomas Golubíc, Anton Monsted, Maureen Croweand Tracy McKnight gathered to discuss their artistry and craft with Steve Chagollan at a Variety Artisans roundtable this past monday. Variety’s new Artisans feature is devoted to providing comprehensive coverage on the entertainment industry’s behind-the-scenes work, and is set to debut on Tuesday, July 29.

In a recently published interview, stars of the upcoming film “A Most Wanted Man” speak about working with director Anton Corbijn. Rachel McAdams, Willem Defoe, and the late actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman discuss the respect and admiration they have for the Dutch director, explaining their trust for his work and his ability to create a a successful relationship with his actors. Corbijn is also known for two smaller dark films Control and The American, but feels a special respo

The songs on Boyhood soundtrack are recognizable indie rock hits from the past 12 years, but the final song, and the one used in the trailer, seems kind of fresh and new. Music supe’d by Randall Barbour. The trailer features the 2012 song, “Hero”, from Family of the Year’s second album Loma Vista.

Brian Reitzell talks with WWNO about finding the perfect mix of music to his work on films. Reitzell has been the music supervisor and composed for dozens of iconic movies and TV shows. He often prefers to start working in films before it is shot. With ‘Lost In Translation,’ which was his third film, second movie with Sophia, she was still writing the script and fine-tuning it. Reitzell made her two mix CDs and she was listening to it while she was location scouting in Tokyo.