Ever wonder why the use of music is so prevalent in film and media? Curious about what a film and media composer does, and the challenges of composing in Singapore? What is the value of hiring a composer as compared to using royalty-free music in your work? What is the difference between artistic and commercial music-making? And is there a distinction between a composer and sound designer in the digital age? Join us for this introductory talk as Alex Oh, one of Singapore’s most prolific composers, shares more about his professional journey, influences, works and tips.

Tune in on 13 Oct 2020 between 8pm – 9.30pm

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Registration is required for access to the Zoom meet session. As slots are limited, please sign up early! To sign up, please complete the form below. Upon submission, you will receive an acknowledgement email from *SCAPE. The organisers will contact you with more information closer to the date of the programme.

Programme Outline

Talk (45-60 mins)

• Importance of music in film and media
• Demystifying the role of a film & media composer – what does it mean to hire or be hired as a composer?  Is there any distinction between a sound designer and the ‘traditional’ composer in the digital age?
• Alex’s journey as a film & media composer (e.g. early influences/interest, overseas studies, local & regional/international work, artistic vs. commercial work, etc.)
• Composing for film & media in Singapore – challenges and tips

Q&A (30-45 mins)
By the end of the programme, you will be able to:

• Recognise the importance of music creation for film & media
• Outline the professional journey of a trained film & media composer
• Examine the role of a film & media composer in film or media projects
• Recognise the challenges of composing for film & media in Singapore
• Consolidate some tips and recommendations from a professional film & media composer

Alex is one of Singapore’s most prolific and versatile film composers. He has scored more than 20 feature films in Singapore, Australia, China and the United States, with genres ranging from comedy, family-oriented drama, action and horror. Notable works include 1965, Taxi! Taxi!, My Dog Dou Dou, Imperfect, It’s a Great Great World, as well as festival award-winners like Faeryville, and darker films like Bait 3D, Rule No. 1 and The Maid. Alex holds a Masters in Arts: Scoring for Film and Visual Media (DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in partnership with Pulse College, in Dublin, Ireland) learning under the tutelage of Hollywood veterans like Christopher Young (Spider-Man 3, Hellraiser, The Uninvited), Conrad Pope (Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Hobbit), and Gary Schyman.

Eternality Tan is the Co-Founder of The Filmic Eye and Programming Director of the Singapore Film Society, where he organises film festivals, screenings, talks and workshops. He has executive-produced 15 live-action and animated shorts commissioned by the National Arts Council and Singapore Writers Festival. He is also part of the adjunct faculty at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information (Nanyang Technological University), where he teaches Introduction to Film Studies and Film Festival Practicum. He also teaches Film Art & History at the School of Interactive & Digital Media (Nanyang Polytechnic). Having published more than 2,000 reviews since 2007, ET is also one of Singapore’s most prolific film critics, running his award-winning site (www.eternalitytan.com) independently. His all-time favourite music composers are Ennio Morricone, John Williams, Joe Hisaishi, Kitaro and Vangelis, whom he calls the ‘Fab Five’.