Recording the latest 'Jurassic World' brings dinosaurs to Abbey Road

Yahoo

4 days ago

French film composer Alexandre Desplat is highly focused, jotting down notes on a score before heading into Abbey Road's Studio 1.
There, the 100 members of the film orchestra await the renowned musician. Moments later, unleashed by a sweeping gesture from Desplat, dramatic music fills the air.
Recording is in full swing for the soundtrack of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," which hits cinemas on July 2.
John Williams' legacy
After the two-part "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (2010/2011), Desplat has again taken on the challenge of creating music for a film series whose original score was composed by the legendary John Williams, famed for "Star Wars" and "Jaws" theme tunes, among many others.
"There's a moment of panic because you know that you're taking over," says Desplat, himself a fervent admirer of Williams. Because he's "a bloody genius," he told dpa. "It's hard to come after him."
Williams' famous theme naturally also features in the seventh part of the series which began in 1993 with Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park."
But two-time Oscar winner Desplat ("The Grand Budapest Hotel," "The Shape of Water") has created his own soundscape for the film directed by Gareth Edwards ("Rogue One," "The Creator").
"Sometimes I try to subliminally remind the audience things that might not be exactly what we know from John William's score, but that might be a reminiscence," Desplat says.
"There will be moments in the film where we will pay homage to John William's score, a couple of moments. But it's more the weight of his heritage, which is difficult when you start here."
Silhouettes, staccato and a selfie
During the recording sessions, the musicians see some unfinished scenes from the film, with a glimpe of a green screen here or a dinosaur silhouette there.
Jonathan Bailey, one of the film's leading actors, listens from Studio 1's balcony.
Down below, Desplat turns to the wind section and asks them to play staccato. They repeat the phrase, earning a thumbs up from the composer and conductor.
Now and again, Desplat sings to the orchestra so they can hear exactly what he is looking for. At one moment, he smiles over to the piccolo player, says not to rush.
His interactions with the musicians are friendly, humorous and constructive - in both directions as Desplat welcomes any suggestions. He occasionally asks the musicians whether they are happy with a passage. He also grabs a moment to snap a selfie with the orchestra.
Desplat also has some support from his wife, Dominique Lemonnier, better known by her stage name, Solrey.
"She adds musical sensitivity and technique that I can't even hear when I'm conducting," says Desplat. "I have a headphone covering one ear. I hear things, but I don't hear everything."
She stands in for him at times at the mixing desk and otherwise provides feedback from the control room. One time, she says, "Alexandre, that wasn't very nice."
A tight schedule plus waiting around
The recordings take around a week at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, where some of the most world's best-loved soundtracks have been recorded, alongside classic albums such as The Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side Of The Moon."
Here, also in the same studio, Desplat's predecessor Williams recorded the music for the "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" films, and many others.
Every moment of music sounds like a work of art in its own right at Abbey Road. Sometimes, the musicians work in smaller groups, with sections of the orchestra recording passages separately.
That adds up to a lot of waiting time for the musicians, so many bring a book along and read until it's time for them to play again.
Recording is 'the icing on the cake'
In the control room, director Edwards watches the proceedings and feels pretty good about the progress so far, even though the film sees him following in the footsteps of his idol Steven Spielberg, just as Desplat is picking up the mantle of John Williams - legends that are hard acts to follow.
"We both had this very big shadow hanging over us for this movie and felt the pressure to even come close to their amazing achievements before," Edwards tells dpa.
But the music is working well, he says. "It's just really elevating the movie. You sort of dream to be in this situation at the end of a film where everyone's worked really hard to do the best they can."
Then you hand it over, he says. "It's in the hands of the composer now. To put the special sauce and the icing on the cake. Alexander's really delivering."
Even just by looking, he can tell how well work is proceeding, he says. "Everyone's got a big massive grin on their faces downstairs."