Canadian Videogame Composers Score Big Nominations at Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA)
Canadian Videogame Composers Score Big Nominations at Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA)
Canadian composers were nominated in three of four videogame-related categories for the Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA), the first major Hollywood awards event to elevate the importance of game music on par with TV and film music.
Hollywood is finally giving videogame music the respect and accolades it deserves, and Canadian composers are very well represented in the list of nominations for the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) – the first major music awards event to recognize and honor excellence in musical composition for videogames, placing videogame music alongside Film & TV music in terms of its importance.
Brent Harvey, Executive Director of HMMA explains, “Last year, the video game industry generated 10 billion dollars, as did the film industry. Those numbers alone qualify video games equal to film in terms of commerce. The importance and impact of video game music is nothing short of astounding. The composers and artists that produce this music work intricately and tirelessly with the game developers to create impressive works of art. These soundtracks of video games have a significant and emotional impact, influencing the appreciation of music by engaged participants. 2009 was the first Hollywood Music In Media Awards, where video game music was recognized equally in terms of importance alongside Film & TV music. This year, the Grammy’s added the category of ‘Best Music in all forms of Media’. The HMMA does not follow trends, it sets them.”
To game developers and industry insiders, Canadian composers’ strong showing in Hollywood comes as no surprise. According to the Entertainment Software Association, “Canada has secured an international reputation as a source of high skilled talent with the third largest number of employees in the world; for being a ‘full-service’ location both on a national and even on a municipal level with hubs of video gaming and related activity.”
Buoyant Sound Agency music director, David Logan, hails from Toronto and was excited to hear the news of his HMMA nomination for Best Score/Song in a Mobile Videogame. “I used to be based in Los Angeles and decided to move back to my hometown of Toronto because I love my city and I knew there was a community back home creating world-class videogames that I could dive into,” David states. “For my nominated score, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/captain-america-sentinel-liberty/id449767522, I worked with Disney Mobile and Marvel Entertainment, both of which are in LA, and they contracted with [game developer] Sarbakan, who is based in Quebec to create the game. So it’s clear that Hollywood is aware of the talent here in Canada. We just hope we can bring home a win. Two of the three nominees in my category are Canadian, so the odds are with us!”
Canadians were nominated in three out of four HMMA categories that highlight musical achievement in videogames:
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE/SONG – MOBILE VIDEGAME:
David A. Logan – Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty (Disney Mobile)
Isaias Garcia – Dream:scape (iOS)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – VIDEOGAME:
Michael McCann – Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos Montreal/Square Enix)
BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM:
Michael McCann – Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Somethin Else Music Works)
The HMMA ceremony takes place at The Hollywood Highlands Center/Kodak Theater Complex in Hollywood, CA on November 17th. For a full list of categories and nominees, go to http://www.hmmawards.org/?page_id=2150.
About the Hollywood Music in Media Awards:
The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) recognizes and honors the music of visual mediums (film, TV, movie trailers, video games, commercials, music videos, etc.), the talented individuals responsible for creating, producing and placing it, and the music of artists, both mainstream and independent, from around the globe. HMMA is the first music awards event to recognize and honor excellence in music supervision. Iconic artists are presented with Outstanding Career Achievement honors for their accomplishments and longevity in the entertainment field. The awards event features live music performances, celebrities appearances, award presentations, an exclusive VIP reception, and a dinner banquet. The entire event is shot with multiple HD cameras for digital and cable broadcasts.
For press inquiries on Hollywood Music in Media Awards contact:
press(at)hmmawards(dot)com
323.650.3588
For press inquiries on Buoyant Sound Agency, contact:
press(at)buoyantsound(dot)com
202.215.7556
To view the trailer for Disney/Marvel’s Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-launch-captain-america/717371
For Canadian game industry statistics, visit The Entertainment Software Association of Canada: http://www.theesa.ca/
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