Patrick Doyle records his score to Nim’s Island in Los Angeles
Posted on February 25, 2008 by Dan Goldwasser
Composer Patrick Doyle was recently recording at the Sony Scoring Stage, marking his first Los Angeles-based scoring session in almost a decade. The last time Doyle recorded a score was in 1998, and he marked his return by scoring the Fox-Walden family adventure Nim’s Island with the Hollywood Studio Symphony. Directed by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett and based on the novel by Wendy Orr, the film stars Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler and Abigail Breslin.
The Hollywood Studio Symphony performs on Patrick Doyle’s score to Nim’s Island
At its largest size of 57-pieces, the Hollywood Studio Symphony manages to sound like 90, in no small part due to the composition as well as the orchestration, which was done by Patrick Doyle, James Shearman, Geoff Alexander and Dwight Mikkelsen. Shearman conducted the orchestra through the cues, while Doyle stood next to him ready to give feedback and support. From big energetic action to softer emotional material, the score sounded much larger than the number of musicians would imply.
Patrick Doyle gives instruction to the celli as conductor/orchestrator James Shearman looks on
Nim’s Island was Doyle’s first score recorded in Los Angeles in a decade
Scoring mixer John Richards certainly contributed to creating that larger soundscape, with microphone placement essential to capturing every aspect of the musicians performances. Music editor Chris Benstead and synth programmer Christian Howes, along with music producer Maggie Rodford assisted Doyle from the control room, as Vinnie Cirilli recorded the score right into ProTools.
John Richards mixes Nim’s Island
Music coordinator Maggie Rodford, co-director Jennifer Flackett and music editor Chris Benstead
ProTools recordist Vinnie Cirilli and synth programmer Christian Howes
Harpist Gayle Levant
The Nim’s Island team
Nim’s Island will be released by Fox-Walden on April 4, 2008.
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