VIFF’s AMP Summit Explores Music’s Leading Role

VIFF’s AMP Summit Explores Music’s Leading Role in Film and Television

The Film Festival’s 40th edition features talks with Linda Perry, Dan “The Automator” Nakamura and more.

by Yasmine Shemesh

Published on October 4, 2021

Music has always had a vital place in film. It can set tone, heighten emotion, and shape the entire narrative of a story. A memorable soundtrack and score—take, for example, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, or Romeo + Juliet—can even help define the cultural zeitgeist. The Vancouver Film Festival’s three-day summit, AMP, gives insight into this essential role with a variety of events hosted by musicians, music supervisors, composers, and more. AMP streams online live October 8-10 from the VIFF Centre with a small number of in-person tickets available. You’ll want to turn your volume all the way up for this one.

Opening Keynote: Linda Perry

Along with being a pop music icon in her own right as the frontperson of 4 Non Blonds, Linda Perry has written songs for everyone from Gwen Stefani to Celine Dion. The multiple Grammy Award-nominee and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee sits down with the Producers Lounge Vancouver’s Jane Aurora to discuss her creative process and prolific career.

Oct 8, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm PDT

Stages to Screens: The Sequel

Dan “The Automator” Nakamura (Gorillaz, Deltron 3030), Dean “DC” Charles (J Cole, Patti LaBelle), and Isa Summers (Florence and the Machine) will talk about their experiences making the transition between being performing artists to composing for film and television.

Oct 9, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm PDT

The Art of Music Supervision: Theatrical Trailers

Music supervision is truly an art of curation that differs vastly from media medium, whether it be choosing music for theatrical trailers, movies, or television. Some of the best in the biz—Disney’s Brian Vickers, SILO Music’s Reuben Sears, and Wild Card’s Evelin Garcia—are featured on this panel to talk about it all.

Oct 9, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm PDT

Music BC’s SOUNDOFF

SOUNDOFF features performances from exciting up-and-coming local talent and insights from music supervisors—including Aamina Gant (Love Island, Genius: Aretha), Everton Lewis, Jr. (Yo! MTV Raps), and Evelin Garcia (Godzilla vs. Kong, Soul) about song placement and music licensing.

Oct 9, 7:30pm PDT

Master Class: The Music for Daughter of a Lost Bird

Daughter of a Lost Bird director Brooke Pepion Swaney and composer Laura Ortman deep dive into their collaborative process to create the film’s score and how it helps anchor the story’s themes of personal discovery in respect to Indigenous culture.

Oct 10, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm PDT

The Art of Composition: Scoring Epically

Superhero movies have become more ubiquitous than ever. But what does it mean to score epically? Sound Composers Guild of Canada Vice President Adrian Ellis hosts a conversation with Natalie Holt (Loki) and Laura Karpman (What If…?, Lovecraft Country) to shed light on the ups and downs of scoring superhero projects in today’s day and age.

Oct 10, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm PDT

Closing Keynote: Laura Karpman

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s president, Angela Elster, joins five-time Emmy-winning composer and Alliance for Women Film Composers founder Laura Karpman for a wide-ranging conversation about music and culture.

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm PDT