Virgin Eyes (New Tracks!)

I had the pleasure of spending several weeks in August creating a score for an AFI student thesis project called Virgin Eyes directed by Roxine Helberg. One of the benefits of working on short films is that their concise stories and often intimate musical needs present a canvas on which one can create something completely unique and flavorful. That was certainly the case for Virgin Eyes, which was shot beautifully on location in Bel Air. In addition to the film itself being full of luscious imagery, Ms. Helberg provided a temp score filled with music I had never heard before including a band called Gotan Project, a Parisian tango-fusing trio that is self described as the "consummation of tango and electronica." In discussing her temp score we arrived at a palette that would blend a gypsy feel with electronic elements. Several of her tracks used accordion, a scintillating flavor that made its way into the score along with solo viola and guitar. Originally the idea was for violin, but I made a case for the darker more sultry tones of the viola, a very under-appreciated instrument that I felt would give the film yet another layer of unique color. And let's face it, every holocaust movie incorporates a solo violin and everything else uses a solo cello (no offense, musicians, we love you), so why not explore something new? The finished project was nothing short of delicious.

A valuable lesson was learned from this film. While temp scores are very often evil things that composers have to deal with, they can sometimes be a fantastic jumping board from which to leap, particularly if it opens new compositional doors and gives insight into what the director wants. This was Ms. Helberg's first time working with a composer and I'm happy to report that, though she was very much in love with her temp, the walls of her mind were blown away when she sat down and experienced what an original score with live players can bring to her film.

Hope you enjoy!

  Virgin Eyes by Dave Volpe