iDIG 2016, Schedule of Events for Day 2 (of 3), April 30, RDS Auditorium

The Second Annual Dublin International Game Music Festival

Schedule of Events for Day Two (of three): April 30, 2016

At the RDS Auditorium
(subject to minor changes - as of 4/2/16)

8:00 AM RDS center opens to iDIG Staff for pre show setup.

9:00 AM  General admission doors open for first event.

9:00 AM (and all day), Expo Space, Artists Alley

As it was in day one:  We'll have a wonderful collection of game artists showing off their creations.  If you want to exhibit, contact zeldaconductor@gmail.com.

Daxter, by Ciaran Byrne

Iron Man, Meghan Stapleton

9:00 AM (and all day), Expo Space - IMIRT

The association of indie Irish game developers will have demos running of their new games. Get sneak peeks at these works in progress.

Danny Moffit's "Floaty Ball!

Ian Munt's Gobblin's Grotto

9:00 AM (and all day), Expo Space - GAME JAM!

Hosted by our Irish Game Developers, watch as they build games in real time!

9:30 -11:00 AM, RDS Auditorium, conducting seminar featuring Eimear Noone

About Eimear Noone: 

Eimear's iDIG 2015 Seminar

Eimear Noone is an award winning Irish composer and conductor, resident in Malibu California, who splits her time between composing for video games, feature films, TV, commercials, and conducting classical and game music concerts.  

Eimear composed and conducted for the iconic video game, "World of Warcraft" and the recent expansion, "Warlords of Draenor." The score for "WoD" received the 2014 "Hollywood Music in Media Award" for "Best Video Game Score" and was nominated for 5 "Annual Game Music Awards," and “The 2015 ASCAP, Composer’s Choice Award.”

Arguably the world's current premier conductor of video game scores (both in the studio and in the concert hall), her credits include the most respected in the genre.  In addition to "World of WarCraft," her credits include "Heroes of The Storm,'" "StarCraft II," "Diablo III." "Reaper of Souls," "Hearthstone," "Overwatch," and many more.  "Diablo III," as one example, smashed the record in game sales by selling over 3.5 million copies in the first 24 hours alone. It also won the 2012 GDC award for best audio - which includes the award for music, the 2012 Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score, and a 2013 BAFTA Nomination for Original Score.

This playlist exemplifies just a few of her performances as conductor for Blizzard Games.

In this seminar Eimear will discuss everything from the basics of conducting, beat patterns, and share her secrets about efficient stage and studio performance.

11:00 - 11:30, Planned Expo Break

11:30 - 1:00 RDS Auditorium, The European Premier of "Beep"

Beep is a documentary history of game sound from the Victorian arcades through to today, with a special focus on video game sound, but also including mechanical games and pinball. Beep is a feature-length film, a series of webisodes and DVD extras, a book, and a collection of resources here on this website. Beep began with a Kickstarter campaign in August/September 2014, and began filming in October 2014. Beep the film and book are scheduled for release in spring 2016. 

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch and Expo Time

Be sure to explore the Artists Alley, Game Booths, and more!

2:00 PM - 2:50 PM, RDS Auditorium The Spooney Bards, Straight from Belfast, they return to iDIG to bring their rock twist to your favorite game scores.  

3:00 - 3:30 Auditorium, Meet Terran Gregory

We are pleased to welcome this special guest to the 2016 Dublin International Game Music Festival, award winning director for Blizzard Games, Terran Gregory.

Terran is a Project Director in Blizzard Entertainment’s Cinematics division, where he has been working on creating cutscenes, trailers, short films, and other visual media since joining the company in 2006. Terran creatively leads the World of Warcraft In-Game Cinematics team, which lets him pursue his two greatest passions: Filmmaking and Video games. Terran is eternally humbled and excited for every opportunity he gets to collaborate with the incredibly talented musicians of Blizzard Entertainment.

Terran will discuss his unique journey into the world of video games and share some of his most famous, stunning productions.

3:30 - 4:30 PM,  The Composer and Director Relationship featuring Blizzard Composer Neal Acree and Director Terran Gregory, Moderated by Eimear Noone

Neal Acree, Photo by Fran Marshall

We are doubly blessed at iDIG 2016 to have this multiple award winning pair to discuss their many collaborations.  Don't miss this rare opportunity to get a peek behind the scenes of how the images and music get put together.

4:30 - 5:00 RDS Auditorium, JJ McNamara Returns!

JJ McNamara, classical piano genius and avid game fan performs his version of his favorite game themes.  Since performing at iDIG 2015, he has earned countless awards and won even more piano competitions.  We are so pleased to have him return!

Here's JJ performing "Tetris" as Franz Liszt

5:00 - 6:00 PM, RDS Auditorium, Classroom Battles

Classroom Battles Go Sonic!  A crowd favorite from 2015, they return with a vengeance to iDIG 2016 with there spin on the music from Sonic!

6:00 - 7:00 PM RDS Auditorium

The Triforce Quartet.  Straight from sold out performances at PAX, VGL and the MAG Fest, returns to iDIG to  put their unique stamp on game music!

Hear the Triforce Quartet play the Legend of Zelda Theme

Tickets and more info about The 2016 Dublin International Game Music Festival:  

http://www.idigmusicfest.com

iDIG 2016, Schedule of Events for Day 1 (of 3), April 29th, RDS Auditorium

The Second Annual Dublin International Game Music Festival

Schedule of Events for Day One (of three): April 29, 2016

At the RDS Auditorium
(subject to minor changes - as of 3/18/16)

8:00 AM RDS center opens to iDIG Staff for pre show setup.

9:00 AM  General admission doors open for first event.

9:00 AM (and all day), Expo Space, Artists Alley

We'll have a wonderful collection of game artists showing off their creations.  If you want to exhibit, contact zeldaconductor@gmail.com

9:00 AM (and all day), Expo Space - IMIRT

The association of indie Irish game developers will have demos running of their new games. Get sneak peeks at these works in progress.

Danny Moffit's "Floaty Ball!

Ian Munt's Gobblin's Grotto

9:00 AM (and all day), Expo Space - GAME JAM!

9:30 -11:00 AM, RDS Auditorium, technology demonstration featuring Craig Stuart Garfinkle

Craig Stuart Garfinkle (composer, World of Warcraft; Warlords of Draenor, Baldur's Gate, Dark Alliance II, Fallout Brotherhood of Steel, and trailers for Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Star Trek) will demonstrate the tools that film and game composers use to create video game music, using the actual sessions from some of his most famous scores.  Learn the secrets to producing slamming game and trailer tracks from this award winning and Emmy nominated composer and music producer.

11:00 - 11:30, Planned Expo Break

11:30 - 12:00  PM, RDS Auditorium - Runes of Aran, A Sneak Peek with Alan Duggan and Eimear Noone

Alan Duggan's "Runes of Aran"

With music by iDIG creator Eimear Noone, we are so pleased to be able to present this " in development " role playing game, set in Ireland's prehistory - a first of it's kind for the genre.

12:00 - 1:00 PM,  RDS Auditorium - IMERT Presentation.

Learn about this dedicated group of Irish indie game developers and see some what they have in store for 2016 and beyond.

Sandor Teli's "Symbol of Destruction" aka "SOD the Game"

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch and Expo Time

Be sure to explore the Artists Alley, Game Booths, and more!

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM RDS Auditorium,  THE DEMO DERBY!

Hosted by iDIG producer, Craig Stuart Garfinkle, our panel of visiting composers, game developers and directors, will spend a full two hours this year, listening and critiquing music submitted by our attendees.

Our 2015 Demo Derby Panel, including Grammy winner Chris Tin, 

Blizzard music head Russell Brower, World of Warcraft cinematatics composer Neal Acree, 

and game music legend Tommy Tallarico.

Composers, Join the list for the DEMO DERBY!

4:00 - 5:00 PM, RDS Auditorium,  A conversation with Blizzard audio and music head, Russell Brower.

Russell Brower

Blizzard Entertainment is know for consistently delivering award winning game scores - due in no small part to the efforts and skill of Blizzard audio and music head, Russell Brower.  Join us to hear him speak of his creative process and how he helps mold Blizzard's scores.

5:00 - 6:00 PM The DIT Traditional Irish Music Ensemble

Another triumphant return to the iDIG Music Festival, The DIT Traditional Irish Music Ensemble will ] present a special "Celtic Link" performance, debuting excerpts from the upcoming CD "The Celtic Link; featuring themes from The Legend of Zelda."

The impetus to create "The Celtic Link" was born at the 2015 festival, when the audience themselves, so moved by the DIT Ensemble's performance of the great game music themes, insisted the DIT ensemble needed to be recorded and a CD released.  A successful Kickstarter campaign followed.

6:00 - 7:00 PM Dinner (on your own for this one!)

7:00 PM - ??? PM "Cosball" at the Dublin's Opium Rooms,  26 Wexford Street, Dublin 2, a short bus or cab from the RDS.

Featuring custom dance remixes of your favorite video game themes, here's your opportunity to show off your best cosplay!  Cosplay is not required, but is encouraged!

To submit your game music remix, email zeldaconductor@gmail.com

Tickets and more info about The 2016 Dublin International Game Music Festival:  

http://www.idigmusicfest.com

Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Original Trailer Score

After countless requests, I finally got around to posting the score I created for the trailer to this iconic Woody Allen film.  Thanks to all who have reached out to me and prodded me to post it.

Enjoy!

And of course, you can get the movie here:

"All Good Things" Trailer Score

A number of years ago, I created the score for the trailer to the film, "All Good Things," one of over 160 I have created in my career.  These have ranged from two "Harry Potter" films to "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," to "JJ Abrams Star Trek."

I just saw this trailer had 4.5 million views!  I had no idea it was so popular...

When I went through the comments about the trailer, I was amazed to see that a great number of people were asking about the music from the trailer - it's hilarious what some people thought was the source!

So, I decided to step out from behind the curtain and post a new edit of just the music from the trailer.  Let me know what you think!

CSG

Here's the original trailer:

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Wiig,

Frank Langella, Zoe Lister Jones, Diane Venora

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Director: Andrew Jarecki

Writer: Marcus Hinchey, Marc Smerling

Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Buy the movie on iTunes

Bloodmire Manor - Remix, Redux, Redux

One of the challenges of being a creative type is that by definition one is never satisfied with their work.  As I like to say, nothing is ever finished, only abandoned.

In this spirit, I wanted to share my latest remix from "Baldur's Gate, The Dark Alliance II," a composition entitled:  "Bloodmire Manor."

This was a really hard score for me;  Not due to the music nor people I was working with, but because while I was working on the project, the employer went belly up.  The resulting budget constraints dictated that the score that ended up in the game was my version of a well produced demo, not what I considered a finished product.  This really hurt!

Over the past few years I have slowly been remixing all the original scores (from 2004).  In  some cases, I've recorded live orchestra, in others, as in the composition below, I took the original files and recreated them using modern sample libraries like the Vienna Symphonic Instrument.  This is an interesting example for those who want to hear how music technology has evolved in the last 9 years (it's 2013 when I am writing this).

Here's the remix:

And here's the original version:   

http://www.midiotmusic.com/BloodmireOriginal.mp3

What cue would you like me to revisit next?  Leave a comment.

CSG