Welcome to THE LIBRARY MUSIC FILM campaign!
This year we have set out to create a first of its kind, definitive feature documentary telling the untold story of the underground, mysterious, cult and collectable world of Library Music. This hugely influential and largely unnoticed catalogue of music of all genre and style has played an important role in creating the atmosphere, mood and vibe for the majority of your favourite TV, Film, Advert & Radio theme throughout your entire life, yet you probably have no idea who composed, played and recorded these phenomenal tunes!
The effect of the Library glory days of the 70's & 80's can still be felt today, with many of the original pieces frequently being used by the media.
Classic tracks are also given new leases of life with contemporary record producers and vinyl diggers collecting these rare gems and sampling them for the biggest acts in the world today including massive hits for Jay-Z, Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz & Fatboy Slim to name a few.
The film follows musician, record producer, composer and library music enthusiast Shawn Lee as he takes you on a trip from his London recording studio to search out some of the original legendary players including:
Alan Hawkshaw, Keith Mansfield, John Cameron, Barbara Moore, Dave Richmond.
We also get to delve into the vaults of the classic library houses and meet the people behind the music at Music DeWolfe, Warner-Chappell, Bosworth and KPM, as well as talking to some of the modern record labels that are compiling and re-issuing quintessential pieces.
Collecting very rare, unreleased vinyl is big business and Shawn opens the record boxes of some of the best collectors and DJs, taking a glimpse and a listen to their favourite wax.
This film is an important legacy for the unsung heroes that composed some of the greatest music ever written. Some of these fantastic yet anonymous musicians have sadly died, but we have a great opportunity to hear stories from the pioneers that are still with us and realise the influence that they have had on modern music.
So who's making this?
US born, UK based multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee is a highly successful and prolific songsmith and record producer. Working from his North London studio the Toy Shop, where he has amassed an Aladdin's cave of vintage analog equipment, he pens soul, funk & pop hits and has worked with many artists including Lana Del Ray, Princess Superstar, Alicia Keys, Money Mark, Kelis and Robbie Williams. His music has also been used in countless film, Tv & video games.
HutTwenty9 are a music based film and documentary team based just outside South London. They have produced music promos, featurettes, EPKs and in 2015 they released their first feature length documentary 'Youth - Sketch, Drugs & Rock N' Roll' to great acclaim. The film chronicles the life and work of record producer and artist Youth and features a host of music industry greats including Paul McCartney, David Gilmour, Boy George and more.
As Shawn says "We got love for this…it's a passion play"
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So Far the film features:Alan Hawkshaw - The Hawk, The Champ, The Godfather of Hip Hop
Keith Mansfield - The Daddy! Grandstand, Wimbledon… Themes Galore!
Barbara Moore - Steam Heat senorita
Dave Richmond - 'The Wild Dog Champagne man' J'taime, Melody Nelson
John Cameron - Kes, Psychomania, Collective Consciousness Society
Norman Cook - Fatboy Slim!
Jazzman Gerald - The rare record king
DJ Cherrystones - Beat digger par excellence
Mark Rae - Top of the charts producer, one half of Rae & Christian
Jonny Trunk - Trunk Records, kitch maestro
Bjoern Wagner - Mocambo records
Tim Love Lee - Tummy Touch head honcho
Skeewiff - Break beat boys, chart toppers, pedigree cuts
David Quantick - Award winning journalist and writer
Pierre Duplan - Studio wizard
Quinton Scott - Strut Records
Warner Chappell, Hamburg
Howard Friend - Bosworth main man
Warren DeWolfe - The grandson of the originator of Library
Virgil Howe - DJ & Drummer for Little Barrie/Killer Meters
Adrian Kerridge - Legendary KPM studio engineer
Peter Cox - Head of KPM from 1977
Alex Black - Head 0f EMI Production Music
Alan Parker - Guitar Hero! Library King!
Martin Green - DJ to the stars and library record bargain finder
Mr. Thing -Supreme Disc Jockey
What We Need & What Y'all Get
To achieve the US leg of filming, we need to raise £11,500 to get our small but effective crew to LA, where we have interviews lined up with some of the big players that are collecting and sampling Library Music.
The funds that we raise here will be spent paying for flights for Shawn, Paul & Sean, accommodation, equipment hire, taxes and permits - it's the boring stuff that we need to pay for in order to make an exciting film!
"We got prizes and sur-prizes!" Your contributions will be rewarded with some incredible perks including signed LPs, Posters, Personalised Mix tapes, A unique Shawn Lee instrumental track…. You can even get the silver fox to come and play an acoustic gig at your house AND we'll film it!
Times are tight and it's a stretch to pay the bills, let alone fund your favourite film idea, so we understand if you can't afford to contribute…. Dang, we know that feeling! BUT if you think what we're doing is cool, please give us a shout out and a share with your friends who dig this music and are fans of independent film!
www.facebook.com/LibraryMusicFilm
For more info please email: librarymusicfilm@gmail.com
