Hm, I posted here on this here earlier today, but the post vanished. It may have just been a computer glitch, but if it was deleted or moved on purpose, please let me know, mods. It has to do with Michael Giacchino, who has worked on a couple of Pixar’s films, so I think this should be ok?
It was announced today that Michael Giacchino (Ratatouille, Incredibles) has been named the musical director for this year’s Oscar show (It used to be Bill Conti, a composer you might know for his famous “Rocky” theme).
There are two slightly different articles.
The first, from today’s LA Times (November 18th). Quick Takes: "The next time an Academy Award winner’s acceptance speech runs long, a new conductor will strike up the band to play them off.
Michael Giacchino, whose credits include “Ratatouille” and “Lost,” has been tapped as music director for the upcoming Oscar ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday.
Giacchino, who’s never conducted a live telecast before, said he’s hoping to inject some Hollywood nostalgia into the ceremony when he leads the orchestra pit for the Feb. 22 ceremony at the Kodak Theatre." latimes.com/entertainment/la … 8055.story
Scroll down a bit to the last paragraph.
The second slightly different article from LA Times’ Envelope (Nov 17th):
"Ratatouille Composer to Lead Oscar Orchestra" Michael Giacchino, who received an Oscar nomination for his original score for “Ratatouille,” has been named musical director for the 81st Academy Awards. Telecast producer Laurence Mark and executive producer Bill Condon made the announcement this morning. Though Giacchino has conducted orchestras for both film and television, this marks his debut conducting the orchestra at the Academy Awards.
“Michael is an extraordinarily talented and versatile musical artist,” the producers said in a joint statement. “We couldn’t t be happier he is game to come on board.”
One of the most prolific of the crop of contemporary composers, Giacchino’s credits include " Speed Racer," “The Incredibles,” “Lost” and the upcoming “Star Trek” and “Land of the Lost.”
The Academy Awards will be presented Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theatre and will be telecast live on ABC. theenvelope.latimes.com/news/env … 1059.story
This is GREAT news! I’m really pleased for him. I was thinking about recording the Oscars so I could upload all of the WALL•E-related nominations/wins to YouTube, but I’ll definitely record Michael Giacchino’s parts, too. I’ll be cheering him on when it’s 22nd February! Thanks for the good news, miafka!
This may seem silly, but I never knew that in order to compose music, you would have to know how to conduct, and I never knew that Michael was a conductor… Hopefully he won’t lift that baton too early as to not cut off the Pixarians’ acceptance speeches. So he will write the music for the Awards, or just conduct, or both?
No, you don’t have to know how to conduct to compose music. Actually in a studio setting, many composers don’t conduct the orchestra themselves, but have others (either their orchestrators or simply conductors) conduct – though the reason for that also might be that a lot of times they prefer to be in the booth where they can discuss things with the director and hear exactly what the mics are picking up, instead of having to run back and forth after each take to hear what it sounds like in the booth and talk to the director. There are pros and cons of doing it either way.
Well for the Oscars, I think most of the music are clips of the various movies nominated… I don’t know, but I assume Michael or his orchestrators will probably handle the arrangements. He’s a busy guy this year, with three movies and the Oscars.
This is awesome! I hope Mr Giacchino conducts ‘Define Dancing’, ‘POYSC’ or any theme from the soundtrack when Wall-E wins ‘Best Animated Picture’ (and maybe, just maybe, Best Picture!).
That’s so cool! Congratulations to Mr. Giacchino! I’m sure he’ll be brilliant on the night. And I completely agree, thedriveintheatre, it would be great if he got the orchestra to play a few bars from the WALL-E soundtrack when it wins. Thanks for the information, miafka!
This is fantastic stuff!! I almost stood out of my chair.
I hope his relationship with Pixar will inspire him to inject some gusto into the WALL-E theme he’ll play for Andrew Stanton! I have a feeling the likes of Slumdog Millionaire and Milk will be more probable picks for Best Picture… doesn’t mean we can’t have our own election (no, I’m not referring to coughrigged People’s Choice Awards).
I am also and insane Lost fan. SEASON 5 starts in Feb! freakout Go Giacchino!
So he will write the music for the Awards, or just conduct, or both?
