From September to October of 2004 I worked with Breakthru Films on the
production of the short film 'The Clap' with director Geoff Lindsey and
producer Hugh Welchman. This had come about through a scheme within my NESTA
fellowship which enabled fellows to get together and work on new projects.
It was a fascinating and exacting experience. Aside from the general
soundtrack, I researched and devised the musical material, taken from the
classical repertoire, for the concert scenes within the film, also composing
additional original material for several concert scenes.
My involvement was often quite 'hands on' - as part of the film crew,
coaching the actors to behave as musicians, devising solutions to certain
visual-musical effects. I actually appear in the film as a 'hand - double'
for the scenes involving the piano, and even as an extra in certain
other scenes.
After the premiere at the Edinburgh Festival, 'The Clap' was presented
at the Curzon, Mayfair and then shortlisted to the final six nominations
for the prestigious Turner Classic Movies awards at the BFI. There were
also regular broadcasts on the TCM channel. It seems to have acquired a
minor cult status but must have annoyed many people who were searching
the internet for a sensible solution to an embarrassing problem!
