CARTER BURWELL WRITES ABOUT COMPOSING “BELLA’S LULLABY”
Carter Burwell’s website has extensive notes about the score that he wrote for “Twilight”, with particular emphasis on “Bella’s Lullaby”. As it turns out, the original composition started out as an expression of love for Burwell’s own love interest, Christine.
Years ago I was in love with an amazing and challenging woman named Christine Sciulli. She left me, I was heartbroken, and I wrote a piece of music that tried to express the thrill and pain of having my heart pierced. She wouldn’t speak to me, so I sent her the music to speak in my place.
Years later (April 2008 to be exact) I came to Oregon to meet Catherine Hardwicke and see some of the film she was shooting, Twilight. She mentioned that the producing company, Summit Entertainment, had just requested that a new scene be added to the film. The scene existed in the novel but hadn’t originally been part of the screenplay (films are not one-to-one translations of books). In this scene Edward would play piano for Bella. I wasn’t officially working on the film at that point and they didn’t know what Rob Pattinson (Edward) should play during the shoot.
After trying many different approaches with mixed success I put the tune I wrote years ago for my ecstatic and tormented love against the picture and it seemed quite perfect. It has an “A” theme which is a bit ambiguous, like two people trying to find a common ground, climbing to a high, then tumbling down, and a “B” theme that is forthrightly joyful (at least as joyful as my music gets).
I showed it to Catherine Hardwicke and she found it “thrilling, exhiliarating.” And so this unnamed tune became “Bella’s Lullaby.” It’s worth noting, though, that neither Catherine nor I ever called it that. We always referred to this tune as the “Love Theme” and I think it makes much more sense if you think of it this way. It’s more complex and emotional than any lullaby I’ve ever heard.
To our surprise, one of the executives wasn’t in love with the “Love Theme.” In particular he objected to the opening note of the melody, which he correctly noted is dissonant (the high note is a B flat, over A and B natural in the harmony).
They told me that Summit would not approve the reshoot with the current “Love Theme”. Then the head of production at Summit called and confirmed that it was his call – the B flat was not acceptable – he would not “sign off on it.” He said that the teenage girls that were the audience for the film would want something sweeter, simpler.
There were other issues for me as well. The suggestion that teenage girls would want a sweet tune was somewhat condescending, and that was something I tried to avoid in this score. Also I don’t believe it’s possible to know how music will affect someone else, even though film composers claim to. The unpredicability is what makes it interesting (although I understand that’s not what the investors want to hear). And can you imagine what it would be like – as it was occasionally on this project – trying to compose music to satisfy a director who’s trying to satisfy a male executive who’s trying to satisfy ten million teenage girls?
Read all of Burwell’s notes on the song and listen to the audio of the original composition on his website
PETER FACINELLI CANCELS WEEKEND APPEARANCES
If you had plans to see Peter Facinelli in person this weekend, start making new plans. Peter announced to fans via his Twitter account earlier today that he has had to cancel all appearances this weekend.
Due to situations beyond my control I have to cancel my appearances this weekend. I hope to reschedule soon. Thanks 4 understanding.
SUMMIT IN LAWSUIT WITH BATH & BODY WORKS
How far does Summit Entertainment’s copyright and trademark of “Twilight” go? Can they prevent Bath & Body Works from using the word on their Twilight Woods product line? Reuters reports:
The retailer says it’s under threat from Summit Entertainment because its lotions and other bathroom products allegedly rip off the design and color palate of “Twilight” promo materials.
Confusion in the marketplace? Summit allegedly thinks so. Now Bath & Body Works has beat Summit to the courthouse to stake its claim in federal court in Manhattan.
“The term ‘Twilight’ is used so as to evoke the idea of a particular time of day when the sun is just below the horizon, illuminating the landscape,” the lawsuit says. “Whereas defendant uses the term ‘Twilight’ to refer to defendant’s teen vampire saga.”
Read more at source
ASHLEY GREENE’S DOG ATTACKED
Ashley Greene’s little fox terrier, Marlo, was attacked by another dog on Tuesday and was rushed to a veterinarian to have her injuries attended to. Ashley appealed to fans via her Twitter account to pray for her dog.
Everyone please please please pray for marlo. A dog attacked her. 🙁 she’s in the hospital
1:40 PM Mar 8th
Thank you for all the positive thoughts and prayers for Marlo. I’ll keep you updated.
2:24 PM Mar 8th
Marlo is now stable. No damaged organs. She just may need surgery for damaged muscle. You guys are so amazing for the thoughts and prayer
3:40 PM Mar 8th
I am SO excited to come home and pick up Marlo from the dr tomorrow! I hope it’s sunny.
10:32 PM Mar 8th
SUMMIT PROJECTS $1.2 BILLION FOR “THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN”
Included in the prospectus documents used by Summit Entertainment in their $750 million refinancing deal are a few interesting facts about “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 and 2”. The Wrap obtained copies of the confidential documents and report that Summit will spend $263 million to produce both installments of “Breaking Dawn” and anticipate a whopping $1.2 billion in revenue from both films. Yes…that’s billion with a B.
Read more at source
ISLE ESME LOCATION TO BE DEMOLISHED
Don’t make any plans to visit “Isle Esme” to see where Edward and Bella spent their honeymoon. Why not? Well…the home used for the film is set to be demolished because the mansion was illegally constructed in an environmentally protected area. Examiner reports:
According to the helpful translation of one of the same Brazilian fansites (via) which kept us all abreast of goings-on in the region while filming took place there, “According to information from INEA (State Institute of Environment), the owner of the mansion has been notified and is aware of the illegal construction done in an environmentally protected area in the Ecological Reserve of Guatinga (REG) [and] The demolition process has already been suggested by INEA and awaits court decision.”
Read more at source
TWILIGHT SAGA STARS TALK ABOUT “ECLIPSE” SOUNDTRACK
In this clip from last year, the stars of “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” chime in with their thoughts about the songs and artists included on the soundtrack for the film.
I loved reading Carter Burwell’s notes on his work for “Twilight” and I especially love the fact that “Bella’s Lullaby” actually started out as someone’s expression of love for someone.
What do you think of the Twilight Woods lawsuit? Do you think that Bath & Body Works was capitalizing on the Twilight phenomenon and might have been using lettering and images similar to those from the books and movies to boost product sales?
Poor Ashley and her dog! I am glad to hear that little Marlo is doing well after the attack.
Does Summit’s projection of $1.2 billion for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” seem shocking to you or do those numbers seem reasaonable? Considering the fact that it’s going to be two major theatrical releases with merchandise for both releases, the numbers seem to be in line with the other films to me. Honestly, interest isn’t going to wane that much and it may just pick up with the long-awaited consummation of Edward and Bella’s relationship on the screen.
What do you think of today’s Twilight news? Join us in the forum and share your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you!
