Musique de film - Panel discussion Before The Flood with Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Gustavo Santaolalla, Mogwai

Par Desiderata, Los Angeles,Harmony Gold, 22 avril 2017

Before the Flood captures a three-year journey with Academy Award-winning actor and U.N. Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio as he interviews individuals from every facet of society and political leaders in both developing and developed nations who provide unique, impassioned and pragmatic views on what must be done today and in the future to prevent catastrophic disruption of life on our planet. The film premiered on the National Geographic Channel October 30th. The documentary is directed by Fisher Stevens. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were executive music producers for the project. For the score, Reznor and Ross teamed up with Gustavo Santaolalla and Mogwai to create a score that reflects the importance of the documentaries’ narrative.

Having seen “Before the Flood” once before I was prepared to critique the documentary and analyze the composers’ work. Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Gustavo Santaolalla are all oscar-winning composers whose full body of work can completely “outshine” the documentary itself. But it was far from that. They each saw this opportunity to work on a project with like-minded men on “a movie about saving the planet”. Like the documentary itself, the music was more organic than planned. The “episodic” feel of the documentary lent itself to the breaks in the score. And where there was a feeling of hopelessness to the story, the music always left us yearning for a happy ending.

The documentary is directed by Fisher Stevens and is acted and narrated by Leonardo Decaprio. The executive music producers for the project were Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Reznor and Ross brought Santaolalla and Mogwai on board to help create a score that matched the episodic narratives of the documentary. When the men were asked by a moderator on what feeling they wanted the audience to be left with Santaolalla said, “self-reflection”. What him and Reznor went on the explain was that they didn’t want to leave the audience feeling “forced” to save the planet. But that emotionally appealing to an informed audience through story and music will force us to look at our part in the destruction of our planet, “self-reflection”.

During the panel discussion a question was asked on more than one occasion about the intention of the film and it’s failure to change the minds of the audience. The inferred intention was to persuade the audience to vote politically to support the reality of “Climate Change”. The moderator asked their feelings on the subject. They commented on the political fragility in the United States. And on the obvious implications this has on the global environment. But they softened up a little and reminded the audience that like the movie had an air of hope that so should we. And that it is up to the audience and the world to change the minds of those in power.

The score was definitely post-rock and ambient sounds that had Reznor’s style interwoven through. The breaks and sudden changes in the music where keys almost seemed misplaced was as Santoalalla described, his own influence. The Nine Inch Nails influence could be felt throughout the entire score as both executive music producers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have worked on multiple projects together. The last song to be added to the album and the only one to include lyrics is a “Minute to Breath” by Reznor. During the panel discussion Reznor described his hesitation in adding the song claiming he wanted to keep the score ethereal and earthly. The song made the list. The song was subtle enough to blend with the lyricless score. It was in a higher octave than Reznor normally sings but wasn’t uncomfortable and awkward. The ominous score lends to the many awe-inspiring shots and lanscapes that the documentary told stories of.

The music and the documentary were smartly done. The organic and playful feel of the music followed the stories told by the narrator. The stories of these victim’s of climate change were so tangible and real that as an audience we can’t help but feel at fault in some way. That somehow our inaction begets more pain and destruction. Luckily for us the documentary still has a string of hope that we can and will face this problem, together. And that a combined global effort will be the earth’s saving grace.

Synopsis:
A look at how climate change affects our environment and what society can do to prevent the demise of endangered species, ecosystems and native communities across the planet.

Before the Flood
A Fisher Stevens Film
Music by Mogwai, Trent Reznor , Atticus Ross and Gustavo Santaolalla
Screenplay by Mark Monroe
With Leonardo DiCaprio, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and John Kerry

Panel photos : Gil Cortes
Photos : Copyright National Geographic Films

We would like also to thanks Ray Costa for this great collaboration

(Source: press release)