Insiders1 promo video. from Steve Pitre on Vimeo.

A promo for Insiders1, shot and edited by cinematographer Steve Pitre, scored by yours truly.

A political thriller about a Washington D.C. reporter uncovering a conspiracy to eliminate military veterans that leads him to an unlikely North Carolina town. 2008 Out of the Trunk Productions

I scored this film in 2008 in conjunction with Daniel Stine, Caesar Overlio and Mike Mann. This scene is near the beginning of the film when the main character is just getting involved in uncovering a conspiracy.

A day in the lifer that chronicles the day after a woman sets up a threesome for her ex boyfriend in attempt to win him back. 2006 PovertyWorks Production

I scored this, my first film score, in 2004 in Raleigh, NC. The score was then sent to Los Angeles, CA where it was edited and finished. Two years later, the movie was released on Warner Home Video. You can currently watch it streaming on Netflix.

This is the chase scene from the middle of the film.

I wrote the score to this film which consisted of a short thematic introduction piece and a much longer version of the same which accompanied the end credits. The piece was an amalgamation of different styles and genres with a focus on the traditional Middle Eastern music of the oud, a 10 – 12 string lute like instrument. Also, I used Western instruments like guitar, drums, strings and piano mixed in with several electronic elements, including samples and FM Synthesis, that supported the story line and the setting of the film.

The film takes place 4 years in the future on the New York City Subway as it crosses the Manhattan Bridge. A heated discussion about the country’s politics following a future terrorist attack ensues between a Muslim American woman and a homeless Vietnam Veteran who is pan-handling on the train. Sampled elements included a Muslim Call to Prayer from a famous Imam and sounds of the subway cars screeching and riding along the tracks. In addition, for the opening sequence I used reversed samples of the oud player’s performance to create an ethereal soundscape.

All the elements came together at different times. First, I acquired the samples of the call to prayer which informed the overall key of the piece, along with the subway samples, one of which is a screeching sound that the newer trains make as they are accelerating out of the station. The more obvious first pitch interval in the screech actually itself influenced the chord progression in the strings and guitar. I wrote the thematic material over top of this and then waited until we finally found an oud player who could come up and improvise around the four note theme I wrote. Once his part was complete the piece was ready to be formed and melded with the imagery in the opening timeline animation which you see in this clip.

A story about a young girl coming to terms with her boyfriend’s suicide. 2005 Karishma Gurtu Productions

I scored this film in 2005, my first year in graduate school, for my good friend Karishma Gurtu. This scene was one of the wordless portions of a narrated short.

A day in the lifer that chronicles the day after a woman sets up a threesome for her ex boyfriend in attempt to win him back. 2006 PovertyWorks Production

I scored this, my first film score, in 2004 in Raleigh, NC. The score was then sent to Los Angeles, CA where it was edited and finished. Two years later, the movie was released on Warner Home Video. You can currently watch it streaming on Netflix.

This scene is at the end of the film when one of the main characters is trying to convince his friend to take back his ex girlfriend.

A man returns to his family after a 5 year odyssey following his wife’s sudden death. 2008 Bonnie and Clyde Productions

I scored this short film in 2008. The score consists of mainly 12 string acoustic guitar and clarinet with some background sound cut from outtakes of the recordings.

A political thriller about a Washington D.C. reporter uncovering a conspiracy to eliminate military veterans that leads him to an unlikely North Carolina town. 2008 Out of the Trunk Productions

I scored this film in 2008 in conjunction with Daniel Stine, Caesar Overlio and Mike Mann. This scene is a montage that takes place after a secret meeting between the main character and an informant.

A classically trained dancer turned stripper must deal with an unwanted pregnancy and violence at the club where she works. 2007 J. Brandon Johnson

I supplied the theme music for this film, after reading the script and the dance was choreographed to my music before shooting.