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Movie score aficionados rejoice! The Future Ruins Music & Arts Festival is assembling a line-up of film & TV composers to perform their most celebrated themes, as the credo of the festival is “The Music Tells the Story.” Musical acts like John Carpenter, Danny Elfman, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Questlove and Goblin are among those included on the list of performances for the event. The Future Ruins Festival is scheduled to take place on November 8 and will be held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. You can get tickets at their official website Here.

The official festival description reads,

“Future Ruins is a first-of-its-kind music festival: a day-long event where the world’s most influential film and television composers step out from behind the screen and onto the stage.

Set across three stages at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, Future Ruins is designed to feel thoughtful and immersive, bringing this music to...

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have announced the inaugural Future Ruins Festival, featuring many of cinema’s top composers performing their scores live for the first time.

In addition to the Oscar-winning duo of Reznor and Ross, Future Ruins — heading to Los Angeles on November 8 — will also include sets by Devo singer and Wes Anderson composer Mark Mothersbaugh, horror director and composer John Carpenter, Oscar-winning Joker composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, and Questlove performing the film scores of Curtis Mayfield.

“It’s about giving people who are, literally, the best in the...

Future Ruins, a first-of-its-kind music festival in which film and television composers step out from behind the screen and onto the stage, will take place at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center on November 8.

It will feature genre heavyweights John Carpenter, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Danny Elfman, Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin, Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein (“Stranger Things”), and Howard Shore performing the score of David Cronenberg’s Crash.

The line-up also includes Cristobal Tapia de Veer, Ben Salisbury & Geoff Barrow, Hildur Guðnadóttir , Isobel Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”) , Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe (Candyman), Tamar-kali (Mudbound), Terence Blanchard, Volker Bertelmann, and Questlove presenting the score works of Curtis Mayfield (Superfly).

Set across three stages, Future Ruins is designed to feel thoughtful and immersive, bringing this music to light in an environment where it has never been heard before. Every artist is a headliner, each with their own specially curated moment.

Each artist is...

Nine Inch Nails have announced Future Ruins, a new one-day music festival taking place at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center on Saturday, November 8th, 2025.

Created and curated by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Future Ruins is billed as “a first-of-its-kind of music festival: a day-long event where the world’s most influential film and television composers step out from behind the screen and onto the stage.”

Get Nine Inch Nails Tickets Here

“It’s about giving people who are, literally, the best in the world at taking audiences on an emotional ride via music the opportunity to tell new stories in an interesting live setting,” explained Reznor in a statement.

“There’s no headliner. There’s no hierarchy. This is a stacked lineup of visionaries doing something you might not see again,” added Reznor and Ross.

Alongside Reznor and Ross, the lineup features such composing luminaries as John Carpenter, Danny Elfman,...

Nine Inch Nails principals and veteran film composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have announced “Future Ruins,” a festival featuring some of the top film and TV composers in the business, taking place on Saturday, November 8 in Los Angeles. John Carpenter, Questlove (performing the soundtrack work of Curtis Mayfield), Danny Elfman, Mark Mothersbaugh and Hildur Guðnadóttir are among the participants; the complete lineup and highlights of their careers appears below.

Presented by Live Nation, the event is “a first-of-its-kind of music festival: a day-long event where the world’s most influential film and television composers step out from behind the screen and onto the stage,” according to the announcement. Tickets are available starting Wednesday, May 21 at 12 p.m. Pt.

“It’s about giving people who are, literally, the best in the world at taking audiences on an emotional ride via music the opportunity to tell new stories in an interesting live setting,...

La próxima entrega galáctica verá la luz en 2027. © Disney

La galaxia de George Lucas vuelve a expandirse. En el marco de la Star Wars Celebration 2025 en Japón, Kathleen Kennedy, presidenta de Lucasfilm, y Dave Filoni, oráculo creativo de la saga, han anunciado la nueva película Star Wars: Starfighter, dirigida por Shawn Levy y protagonizada por Ryan Gosling.

Star Wars: Starfighter será una aventura independiente que transcurre aproximadamente cinco años después de los eventos de Star Wars: Episodio IX – El ascenso de Skywalker (2019). El filme contará una historia completamente nueva con personajes inéditos y ambientada en una época aún no explorada en pantalla.

Que Ryan Gosling se incorporaría al universo Star Wars era un rumor persistente desde hace tiempo, pero ahora se ha oficializado. Levy dijo en el escenario: «Hoy quería decirles aquí en esta sala que ese rumor es 100% cierto». Poco después apareció el actor, que no escatimó en elogios hacia el proyecto,...

Below Deck deckhand Kyle Dixon was a memorable cast member in seasons 4 and 5, but what is he up to today? During his two seasons on the show, Kyle became known for his romantic relationship troubles, strong-Northern English accent, and his colorful past. A former British soldier, Kyle worked as a traveling bartender before he decided to change from land venues to ocean vessels.

Kyle first joined Below Deck in season 4, episode 5, as a replacement deckhand. Initially charismatic and charming, Kyle proved to be a valuable asset to the crew and didn't take himself too seriously. He was quickly embroiled in relationship drama on the yacht as he tried to unsuccessfully pursue Stew Sierra Storm despite his ongoing relationship with his girlfriend. As his stay on the crew continued, Kyle's inability to handle rejection and sometimes nearly abusive treatment of fellow crew members made him less popular. These aspects only worsened...

Kate confirmed there would be no Below Deck season 4 reunion due to her legal issues. Chief Stew Kate's arrest for domestic violence may have been the reason for the cancellation. Lack of a Below Deck season 4 reunion led to a decline in reunions across the franchise.

There was typically a reunion at the end of every Below Deck spin-off during the early days of the franchise, but there wasn't one for Below Deck season 4. Usually, the crew members sit down for an annual chat with host Andy Cohen to hash out the drama aired on the show. There were questions surrounding why there was no reunion after Below Deck season 4 ended. However, this led to speculation that Chief Stew Kate Chastain's arrest may have been why it was canceled.

Captain Lee Rosbach returned for Below Deck season 4, along with deckhand-turned-Bosun Kelley Johnson. Nico Sholly, Lauren Burchell, and Kyle Dixon joined the crew as deckhands,...

There was a time when the only spectacle required to set the theatrical world agog was to have something unexpectedly descend from the rafters. The helicopter in Miss Saigon. The chandelier in The Phantom of the Opera. Whichever actor’s harness snapped in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.

It would be condescending to say that Harry Potter and The Cursed Child “brought” magic to London’s West End. But it set a new bar for a type of ambitious theatricality, burying anything that might otherwise be forgettable about Jack Thorne’s dry play under the equivalent of dozens of chandeliers and helicopters all descending nonstop for seven hours. It’s been a smash on every level, particularly the most important one: Every performance brings an unusually young demographic to the West End (and to Broadway, where the show has been playing since 2018) and they leave generally happy.

Opening on a...

Dr. Travis Langley combines psychology and pop culture, exploring beloved heroes and their actions through the lens of a psychologist. Trauma plays a significant role in shaping the behaviors of superheroes like Batman and Spider-Man, impacting their actions and mental well-being. Spider-Man's enduring popularity can be attributed to his relatable and human qualities, making him one of the most iconic superheroes of all time.

Dr. Travis Langley has combined his love for psychology and pop culture with a series of books that examine the questions fans have been asking for years through the lens of a trained psychologist. Dr. Langley began with one of the most popular heroes in comics with his first book, Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight. From there, he would expand to other heroes like Wonder Woman, Captain America, and Iron Man. Langley also branches out into other genres with Doctor Who, Stranger Things,...

Stranger Things Season 4 took the world by storm this summer, as the penultimate installment of Netflix's flagship sci-fi series saw the world of the Upside Down crash into Hawkins, Indiana like never before. An element of Stranger Things that has set the series apart from the very beginning is the incredible and highly immersive score from the massively talented musicians Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. In conjunction with Stranger Things Day celebrations going on all weekend, Lakeshore Records has announced that three tracks from Dixon & Stein's massive Season 4 score are getting "Spatial Mix" versions from Apple Music.

A father's desire for vengeance unleashes violent repercussions in the new horror thriller The Retaliators, co-starring Michael Lombardi and Jacoby Shaddix. Ahead of the film's one-night-only September 14th theatrical release, we've been provided with a blood-soaked exclusive clip to share with Daily Dead readers!

Check out a bloody battle for survival (with some unexpected help from a motorbike chain) in our exclusive clip from The Retaliators below, and to learn more about the movie, visit:

https://www.retaliatorsmovie.com/

Press Release: Los Angeles, CA - Horror-thriller feature The Retaliators, from Better Noise Films, co-producers of The Dirt, has announced their worldwide theatrical release. CineLife Entertainment and Trafalgar plan a worldwide theatrical release on September 14, 2022. The release comes on the heels of a successful festival tour, during which the film world premiered at London’s Arrow Video FrightFest and had its US premiere at Screamfest, where it was the opening film,...

Following up his writing and directing debut, What Can Be Broken Should Be Broken, Rostislav Vaynshtok’s second short film, Praise For My Devourer, will have its world premiere on August 20th at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival as part of their Homegrown Fresh Squeezed Horror segment. As a tease of the things that go bump in the night in this short film, we have an exclusive image gallery, the poster reveal, and a look at the recently released trailer.

Drawing inspiration from Suspiria, Stranger Things, and The Babadook, Vaynshtok’s take on child centered horror is described as "a short and sweet slice of bedtime terror." The film was scored entirely by Vaynshtok as his musical alias "Slavvy." Rostislav will also perform a DJ set as his musical alter ego Slavvy at Popcorn Frights closing party on the rooftop of the Betsy Hotel, featuring unreleased music and classic horror favorites.

Watch the Trailer for Wednesday: "Watch the official teaser for Wednesday, an upcoming Netflix series from the imagination of Tim Burton. Wednesday -- starring Jenna Ortega in the title role, alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Gwendoline Christie, Christina Ricci and more -- is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams' years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Snap snap."

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Monster High: The Movie: "Monster High: The Movie is coming out of the dark on October 6 to Nickelodeon and ParamountPlus+ with an all-new cast and spooktacular adventures."

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The Retaliators: "An upstanding pastor uncovers a dark and twisted underworld as he searches for answers surrounding his daughter's brutal murder. A high-octane original soundtrack and cameos from some of the biggest names in rock music set the tone as this horror-thriller reveals a game of revenge played using a new set of rules."

"Michael Lombardi ("Rescue Me"), Marc Menchaca...

No one expected Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (Make a Deal With God)” to become one of the biggest hits of 2022, including musician Rob Simonsen, who arranged the orchestral version featured in season 4 of “Stranger Things.”

Because the song is featured prominently in the Netflix series — as Max, played by Sadie Sink, grieves her half-brother Billy’s death, hat vulnerability leaves her open to the show’s villain, Vecna, who preys on his victims through their trauma — and is used to soundtrack a pivotal moment, its resonance carries in large part due to its orchestral treatment.

The combination of the two — Bush’s 1985 classic and the instrumental version — helped push the song to top the U.K. charts, and the Top 5 in the U.S.

So how did the grafted instrumental come about?

While Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon served as the show’s composers, Simonsen was tasked...

Fresh off some jaw-dropping viewership numbers, “Stranger Things” Season 4 Vol. 1 scored its fourth consecutive Outstanding Drama Series Emmy nominations, but acting hopefuls Sadie Sink and Millie Bobby Brown ultimately didn’t make the cut.

The penultimate season of “Stranger Things” received 13 nods in total, shy of the previous record of 18 total nominations in Season 1 and devoid of any acting nominations at all.

Other nominations for Season 4 Vol. 1 include Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup, Outstanding Casting and Outstanding Music Supervision.

Netflix released Season 4 Vol. 1 on May 27, just before the May 31 deadline for 2022 Emmy consideration, so only the first seven episodes were eligible for nominations.

Also Read:

7 Shows Like ‘Stranger Things’ to Watch Next

The series also received no acting nominations for Season 3. Past acting nominations include Millie Bobby Brown for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2018 and David Harbour for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2018, both for Season 2. Shannon Purser who appeared as beloved Barbara Holland,...

With only one season of "Stranger Things" left to go, we're looking ahead to what kinds of twists and turns might be in store for our Hawkins crew. One of the biggest threads left hanging at the end of the fourth season is Will Byers and his ongoing psychic connection to the monsters of the Upside Down after being held hostage there in season one. Could Will be in for another dangerous, monstrous body-snatch in the final season? Let's take a closer look.

Will Vecna Possess Will in "Stranger Things" Season 5?

One TikTok theory certainly thinks so. TikToker @bunkyyy lays out the theory in a quick video, suggesting that the connection Will has with the Upside Down will allow Vecna, the ultimate baddie of the series, to essentially transfer his "soul" into Will's body. According to the theory, Vecna's "Dungeons & Dragons"-based name is a hint: in D&d,...

Before Stranger Things season 4 even premiered, fans knew they had at least one moment of righteous metal fury to look forward to.

No, it wasn’t anything that had to do with Eleven, Hopper, a Demogorgon, or any of the other elements we were all familiar with. Instead, it was a brief shot teased in the very first full trailer that featured some Kirk Hammett-haired newbie named Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) absolutely shredding on a guitar in the Upside Down. Seriously, get a load of this Mad Max: Fury Road Doof Warrior brilliance:

Alas, the hour of Eddie’s guitar solo did not come to pass in any of the first seven episodes of Stranger Things season 4 that comprised of “Volume 1.” Thankfully, we know that the moment will surely arrive in volume 2, consisting of two lengthy episodes that premiere Friday, July 1 on Netflix. Joseph Quinn, the actor who portrays the now-beloved Dungeon Master/guitarist,...

Horror-thriller “The Retaliators,” which features music from Mötley Crue and Papa Roach, has sold into CineLife and Trafalgar Releasing for North America.

The Better Noise Films-produced movie will be released in the U.S. and Canada by CineLife Entertainment, and via Trafalgar Releasing for the rest of the world. A worldwide theatrical release is planned for Sept. 14.

The release comes on the heels of a successful festival tour that saw premieres at London’s Arrow Video FrightFest and a U.S. premiere at Screamfest, where “The Retaliators” was the opening film. The pic screened at more than 25 festivals worldwide.

In “The Retaliators,” an upstanding pastor uncovers a dark and twisted underworld as he searches for answers surrounding his daughter’s brutal murder.

The film features an original soundtrack and cameos from prominent names in rock music, including Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee.

The cast includes Michael Lombardi (“Rescue Me...

This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4.

We’ve all been there before. You’re just going about your day, planning your next D&d campaign and then you hear it: the tell-tale sound of a deep, hellish chiming. A grandfather clock has appeared from nowhere and with it comes the knowledge that Vecna will arrive from the Upside Down to ensnare your mind, break all your bones, and intern your body in hell forever. Mondays, am I right?

Such is the set of circumstances facing Hawkins, Indiana in Stranger Things season 4. Vecna, the latest ghoulish enemy from the Upside Down, operates without subtlety. A vision of the decrepit grandfather clock that once inhabited Creel House always foretells his arrival…and some poor schmuck’s death. Stranger Things fans online have had some fun with this concept, posting countless videos to social media joking about clocks that only they can see.

Trent Reznor’s secret weapon has always been his curiosity about electronic sound. Fuzzy synth beds, harshly grating electro shrieks, and airy atmospheres have comprised an exoskeleton for his vocals and guitar lines since Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine, amplifying the despair, tenderness, and anger of his songs. Those same tonalities have helped him and his writing partner, Atticus Ross, in their score work, defining the emotional moods of scenes in Watchmen, Gone Girl, and The Social Network — the last of which won them an Oscar.

Reznor reflects on...

Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir continued her winning streak, claiming top honors for both her “Joker” and “Chernobyl” scores at Tuesday night’s inaugural awards of the Society of Composers & Lyricists at Los Angeles’ Skirball Cultural Center.

Her music for “Joker” was named outstanding original score for a studio film and her score for HBO’s “Chernobyl” was cited as outstanding original score for a television or streaming production. They followed her Golden Globe win Sunday night for “Joker” and BAFTA nomination earlier Tuesday. She won the Emmy in September for her score to the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl.”

Guðnadóttir is among the most talked-about newcomers in film music, first for her “Chernobyl” score (built largely on sounds she recorded while visiting the nuclear power plant where it was shot) and more recently her “Joker” music (her electro-acoustic cello providing the accompaniment for star Joaquin Phoenix’s on-screen dancing). She...

Four months after winning an Emmy for her score to the miniseries “Chernobyl” and two days after taking home a Golden Globe for her music to “Joker,” composer Hildur Gudnadottir won new awards for both of those scores at the first annual Scl Awards, presented by the Society of Composers and Lyricists.

Although the Scl was formed in 1983 as an offshoot of previous organizations that had dated back to 1945, its efforts to promote the interests of composers and lyricists working in visual media did not include giving out awards until this year.

“What took you guys so long with the awards?” composer Bill Conti asked at the beginning of the show. “People who work in Hollywood, we need constant approval.”

Also Read: BAFTA Nominations Put '1917' in the Awards Spotlight Again - and 'Joker,' Too

The Icelandic composer Gudnadottir received that approval to the point where she was visibly embarrassed,...

The Society of Composers & Lyricists has been around for nearly 75 years, but not until this year did the organization start its own annual awards program for music appearing in film, TV and videogames — and the nominees announced Tuesday for the inaugural show are certain to be scrutinized as a bellwether for what to expect as the Motion Picture Academy’s music branch votes on shortlists for the song and score categories.

As expected, Hildur Gudnadóttir scored nominations in film and TV categories alike, with nods for her work on “Joker” and “Chernobyl,” respectively. The latter limited series already won her an Emmy, and she’s being seen as a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination for scoring the blockbuster supervillain origin story.

The Scl Awards have instituted separate categories for scores of studio films and independent films. In the studio division, Gudnadóttir’s “Joker” music will face the scores written by Michael Abels for “Us,...

Perhaps you’re aware that the television program “Stranger Things” is set in the decade of the 1980s.

If the copious cans of New Coke and neon clothing aren’t enough of a clue, the show has also stuffed its runtime with plenty of era-appropriate tunes. The opening episodes are drenched in ’80s standbys, with the first handful of chapters backed by familiar hits and less-obvious tracks from the time. Bonus points to the show for picking a Corey Hart song that isn’t “Sunglasses at Night,” even if the pull of the Stray Cats is pretty much inevitable.

Not all these tunes come from the decade in which the show’s set. For every Huey Lewis track, there’s one from Jim Croce. For every Wham! classic, there’s a chorus of bygone well-wishers singing a song that a Kubrick classic already nabbed for its own. (And it takes...

Alec Bojalad Jun 26, 2019

Stranger Things 3 - Original Score from the Netflix Original Series arrives on June 28. Check out these two tracks ahead of time.

Fans won't get to see Hawkins, Indiana again until Stranger Things Season 3 premieres on Netflix on July 4. That doesn't mean they won't be able to hear Hawkins, Indiana before then.

Stranger Things 3 - Original Score from the Netflix Original Series will be available for digital download on Friday, June 28 with CD and vinyl releases forthcoming from Lakeshore Records and Invada Records. The album will feature the original works that trusty Stranger Things composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein created for Stranger Things Season 3.

further reading: David Harbour on What to Expect From Stranger Things Season 3

Dixon and Stein have been with Neflix's sci-fi juggernaut since the beginning. The two Austin-based musicians are behind those moody and meme-able opening credit notes, not to mention the rest of...

A seller’s market prevailed at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, as streaming giants competed with traditional studios to buy a wide assortment of indie projects they hope to turn into hits. The artisans who worked on some of the highest-profile Sundance movies share their stories.

Blinded by the Light (Bought by New Line for $15 million)

In 1987, Javed (Viveik Kalra), a 16-year-old British Pakistani, is given a Bruce Springsteen cassette, inspiring him to stand up to the racism around him. To re-create the period, costume designer Annie Hardinge scoured shops in London’s East End. As Javed starts to emulate the way Springsteen dresses, jeans, white tees and red bandannas take center stage. “I looked at photographs and videos of Bruce to pick up on key elements that summed up his look,” Hardinge says, “but we didn’t want to overdo it.”

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile

Editor...

Revamping Richard Wright’s 1940 seminal novel via a modern adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, first-time feature director Rashid Johnson has made a thunderous impression with “Native Son,” which had its world premiere Thursday at the Sundance Film Festival.

A gut-punch of a debut that examines race relations in America with unabashed force, Johnson’s present-day interpretation proves, disgracefully, how pertinent Wright’s text remains.

Still set in Chicago and subdivided into “Fate,” “Fear,” and “Flight” segments (as in the source material but in rearranged order), the thought-provoking film is steered by Bigger “Big” Thomas, a non-conformist African American youth garbed in a customized leather jacket and sporting green hair.

Also Read: Ashton Sanders' 'Native Son' Acquired by HBO Films

Lyrical voice-over quickly provides access to his sharp-edge observations on the external entities that constantly challenge his self-awareness. Parks and Johnson repeatedly confront him with fellow African...

Spheres director Eliza McNitt: "I wanted Jessica Chastain to be in our first episode, the episode about the black holes. And then once we created that episode, it was so clear that I wanted Patti Smith, who to me is the mother of the universe." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

At the press preview for the Vr experience Spheres, executive produced by Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel, produced by Jess Engel, Arnaud Colinart, and Dylan Golden with a score by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, the writer/director Eliza McNitt shared with me why she chose The Duffer Brothers Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown, Ridley Scott's Martian and Christopher Nolan's Interstellar star Jessica Chastain and Patti Smith.

Eliza McNitt with Anne-Katrin Titze: "I've always grown up with the voices of incredible pioneers like Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking who taught me about science." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

We spoke about...

The first LP from Muse since their 2015 album Drones is a throwback to the first seven years of the Eighties. The tom-toms are cavernous like a Jan Hammer or Phil Collins production on the Miami Vice soundtrack. The dystopian, technophobic action movie narrative seems in the same vein as films like The Running Man and The Terminator. A band that’s logged nearly 20 years in the major label rock sphere, Muse mixed Radiohead’s alt-rock shirt-pullers with Queen’s triumphant heft in epic jams about theoretical physics, systems science and environmental philosophy.

Alec Bojalad Sep 25, 2018

Stranger Things: Halloween Sounds From The Upside Down is coming to vinyl on October 26, demogorgons presumably not included.

Even if you've never seen Netflix's beloved nostalgia-tinged horror series, Stranger Things, you likely know what it sounds like.

The Stranger Things soundtrack, as composed by electronic music veterans Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein sounds just like the show. That is to say: total electronic '80s nostalgia with just enough of a modern spin. The music of Stranger Things is just as big a star as say Mille Bobby Brown or David Harbour. Now that music is getting the star treatment it deserves with a limited vinyl release.

Stranger Things: Halloween Sounds From the Upside Down features 14 original tracks from the series specifically curated to be as creepy and atmospheric as possible. This is what all the Netflix cool kids will be blasting from their ancient, dusty phonographs at their Halloween parties.

National Geographic has brought Emmy award-winning composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein on board to score its upcoming docudrama “Valley of the Boom,” Variety has learned exclusively.

Dixon and Stein are best known for their work on the soundtrack of “Stranger Things,” for which they received two Grammy nominations as well as an Emmy for outstanding main title theme music.

“We have long been inspired by the rich history and bright music from the 1990s, so when we learned of National Geographic’s ‘Valley of the Boom,’ we were thrilled to be collaborating,” said Dixon and Stein. “Sound shapes story, and we want this soundtrack to reflect the unconventional yet exhilarating era Matthew Carnahan exposes in the series.”

These are the latest celebrated composers to work with Nat Geo. The network previously collaborated with Hans Zimmer for “Genius,” Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for “Mars,” Philip Glass for “Janes,” and...

Sound in television has, arguably, always played second fiddle to the images. And as with other sound professionals on the top contending shows in the sound categories, Dean Hurley, supervising sound editor on Showtime’s “Twin Peaks,” worked hard to craft a cinematic aural landscape despite challenges ranging from “the usual technical ones,” as he puts it, to the accelerated post schedules of today’s TV shows.

“David Lynch likes to take his time with sound, and it was hard working within the conventions of a TV series and allowing him the usual freedom he enjoys,” says Hurley, who’s worked for Lynch for 13 years. “We did all the picture editing and sound editorial at his home studio, mixing in 5.1 and taking about a week per episode — and we had 18 episodes. It’s a very fluid process, with lots of improvisation and experimentation, and David’s very hands-on. He’s...

Ross and Matt Duffer have reassembled their favorite fictional residents of Hawkins, Indiana — meaning production is back underway on “Stranger Things.” Netflix made the announcement Friday on social media, almost five months after the ’80s-era juggernaut was renewed. Season three’s first table read occurred April 20, captured in a behind-the-scenes teaser.

To build anticipation, the cast members’ faces are mostly obscured in the 90-second, black-and-white clip, which relies on shots of actors’ coifs, shoes, and name placards. Last month, Netflix revealed additions to this year’s ensemble, including Cary Elwes (“The Princess Bride”) playing corrupt Mayor Kline. His fellow newbies both have famous parents. Jake Busey — who has a role in the forthcoming “The Predator” — is the son of Gary Busey, and will portray a Hawkins Post reporter named Bruce. Less is know about Robin, a character who unearths shockers about the town. 20-year-old Maya Hawke (PBS’ “Little Women”), Uma Thurman...

“Spheres,” a three-part virtual reality series executive produced by Darren Aronofsky, was purchased for seven figures at Sundance. The buyer is CityLights, a Los Angeles-based, Vr financing and distribution studio founded this month. “Songs of Spacetime,” the 13-minute, Jessica Chastain-narrated first episode, screened last week in the New Frontier section at the festival’s newest venue, The Ray Theatre.

Read More: Darren Aronofsky: ‘Keeping Audiences on the Edge of Their Seat Is Our Job, Especially in Today’s World’ – Toolkit Podcast

Aronofsky and his “Noah” co-writer, Ari Handel, oversaw production through their Protozoa Pictures banner. All three chapters were directed by Eliza McNitt, writer of “Fistful of Stars,” another space-set, Vr experience that debuted last year at South by Southwest.

“‘Spheres’ explores the songs of the cosmos,” said McNitt. “Most people think Space is silent — it’s not. We’re excited for CityLights to help bring this experience to...

The Below Deck crew is hitting rocky waters on Tuesday’s season 5 finale — and People’s got an exclusive first look at the action.

Tensions between chief stew Kate Chastain and her second stew Jennifer Howell have been boiling each charter. So when the final guests depart the S.S. Valor, the gloves come off.

“You say things that aren’t true and you always don’t allow me to speak!” Howell tells Chastain, who is joined by first stew Brianna Adekeye during the sit-down.

“You’re being rude,” Chastain says. “You’re acting like a 3-year-old. Why don’t...

In today's special Halloween edition of Horror Highlights, we have a look at photos from the Shaun of the Dead screening at the Greek Theatre (featuring special guests Edgar Wright and Lucy Davis), details on director Darren Lynn Bousman's appearance as a guest judge on Shaken: The Cocktail Challenge, info on new Halloween music from the Stranger Things composers, a Kickstarter campaign for the new short film Tick, PBS' digital series Origin of Everything, and the Mausoleum of the Macabre's Halloween special.

Shaun of the Dead Screening at the Greek Theatre: "Focus 15, the initiative commemorating the founding 15 years ago of worldwide film company Focus Features, partnered with Fandango, the ultimate digital network for all things movies, and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for a special Halloween week outdoor zombie screening of Shaun of the Dead last night, hosted by Fandango’s Alicia Malone and joined by the film...

Note: This story contains light spoilers from Stranger Things 2.

During “Madmax,” the first episode of Stranger Things 2, a reprisal of the song “Kids” -- a standout track from the show’s season one debut episode -- evokes instant nostalgia and excitement for fans of the first season as the young cast -- namely, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Will (Noah Schnapp) -- are reintroduced to audiences. Later, one of the new songs, “Eulogy,” which was available on streaming services ahead of the season two premiere, calls forth a different, yet similarly passionate response.

The minds behind the music of Stranger Things, composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, admit to Et that the response has been pretty gratifying -- if a little surprising.

“It's pretty cool -- it's funny when you play a simple melody that people recognize, and connect with something we enjoy,” Dixon explains. “It's...

“Stranger Things” is back. The second season is now streaming on Netflix, which means you’ll be hearing Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein‘s terrific theme song all over again (unless you do that Skip Intro thing during your binge watching). Their music is essential fabric to the world Matt and Ross Duffer have created, and now the composers are sharing how they put it all together.

Continue reading Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein Break Down ‘Stranger Things’ Theme On ‘Song Exploder’ Podcast at The Playlist.

Here at Et, we’re obsessed with a lot of things -- and this is what we’re most excited about as we gear up for Halloween:

Why We’re Obsessed With ‘Stranger Things 2’

The Duffer Brothers’ surprise hit Netflix series is back with a second season -- and it doesn’t disappoint! The residents of Hawkins, Indiana -- namely, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Will (Noah Schnapp) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) -- find themselves dealing with the unexpected repercussions of the events of season one as new neighbors (Max and Billy, played by Sadie Sink and Dacre Montgomery, and Sean Astin as Bob) and new frights (we can’t say here!) arrive in their nostalgia-filled world. And for those keeping track, expect plenty of nods and references to everything from The Exorcist and Ghostbusters to Jurassic Park and Lost. And while you wait for the new season to premiere, we recommend streaming...

We've got some more Stranger Things Season 2 treats for you to enjoy today! Netflix has released a new promo spot that features a television screen that plays various commercials and news from the town of Hawkins. We see a great retro commercial for the Palace Arcade and there's a news report about the pumpkin patches and crops in the town because they have started dying. It also teases a few bits of additional information in regards to the story.

The full soundtrack for the second season has also been released and you can listen to it on Spotify, which I embedded for you below.

Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein returned to compose Season 2 and when talking about their approach to scoring Season 2 they explain:

“In Season 2 we’re introducing new styles of composition, while still revisiting old themes when appropriate. We’ve created new elements that are necessary to support the story,...

In the realm of iconic TV show themes, “Twin Peaks” likely remains at the top of the mountain. But for Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, Emmy winners for their work on “Stranger Things,” they aimed high and no one would argue they’re getting pretty close to the top, as well.

“We wanted [our music] to have that kind of impact,” Stein told Billboard earlier this year.

Continue reading Stream ‘Stranger Things’ Season 2 Soundtrack By Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein at The Playlist.

The list of breakout talent from “Stranger Things” Season 1 is pretty endless. From young actors Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard to showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer, the blockbuster Netflix series was a star vehicle for a ton of talent. Included in the bunch are original score composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, who are members of the band S U R V I V E. The duo’s 53-second theme music for the series became an instant classic, and they’re back for the new batch of episodes with 34 more original tracks.

Read More:‘Stranger Things’: Gaten Matarazzo Prepares You for Season 2 by Breathlessly Recapping What’s Happened So Far — Watch

“Stranger Things 2” takes place a year after the events of the original episodes. Will, having returned from an extended stay in the Upside Down, is experiencing Ptsd shocks and seeing new visions of a giant monster terrorizing the town of Hawkins.

Stranger Things returns to Netflix October 27. S U R V I V E's Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein are back to bring their synth sensibilities to the Season 2 soundtrack and the first track called “Walkin’ in Hawkins" has premiered.

The Season 2 soundtrack will be available digitally on October 20 via Invada and Lakeshore. CD, vinyl, and cassette releases will follow.

“In Season 2 we’re introducing new styles of composition, while still revisiting old themes when appropriate,” Dixon and Stein said in a statement. “We’ve crea [Continued ...]...

While we wait for the new trailer for Stranger Things Season 2 to be released today, here's the full soundtrack track list. The names of the songs on the list certainly seem to tease some of the plot points in the upcoming series.

I loved the soundtrack of Season 1 as the songs were fueled with the nostalgic 80s synthesized greatness. The opening theme alone is has become iconic.

Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein returned to compose Season 2 and they will be giving the new season new sounds, while also revisiting old themes. They explain in a statement:

“In Season 2 we’re introducing new styles of composition, while still revisiting old themes when appropriate. We’ve created new elements that are necessary to support the story, but still want to remain true to the sound of Season 1.”

The soundtrack will be rolled out soon on and will be available on digital, CD,...

Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein announced that the soundtrack for the second season of the Netflix show Stranger Things will be available on October 20th.

The two composers – also members of the Austin group Survive – previewed the new 34-track LP with "Walkin' In Hawkins." The track unfolds at a stately pace, as gurgling synthesizer lines and deep jolts of bass gradually accumulate around the primary melodic motif.

In a statement, Dixon and Stein suggested that they hoped to balance tradition and innovation in the music for the new season. "In...

As expected, the Creative Arts Emmy competition Sunday turned out to be a sci-fi smackdown between Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and HBO’s “Westworld,” and each split the night with five awards apiece.

The Duffer Brothers’ ’80s homage to Steven Spielberg and Stephen King, “Stranger Things” won for outstanding editing, main title theme music, main title design, sound editing, and casting. The Jonathan Nolan/ Lisa Joy sci-fi/western, “Westworld,” earned outstanding special visual effects (the domain of “Game of Thrones” five years running), makeup (non-prosthetic), hairstyling, sound mixing, and creative achievement in interactive media.

However, if recent history proves a reliable harbinger, “Stranger Things” has the edge in the race for next Sunday’s Outstanding Series competition because of its editing victory. That’s because the last five outstanding editing winners have also taken home the big prize.

Read More:News Film TV Awards Toolkit More Search ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,...

The Upside Down of “Stranger Things” became an apt metaphor for this divisive year, and, maybe not so strangely, “Stranger Things,” along with several other Best Drama Emmy contenders, offered unifying themes to combat the forces of oppression, hate, and turmoil.

These included “Westworld,” “The Crown,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Feud: Bette and Joan,” and “Big Little Lies.” And, not surprisingly, they all offered stellar craftsmanship in support of their unifying themes.

“The Crown”

Showrunner Peter Morgan told IndieWire that his biggest takeaway has been the realization of the necessary bond between the monarchy and Parliament. “Sometimes the monarchy screws up and sometimes the politicians screw up,” he said. “And it takes one or the other to fix the problem.”

In Season 1, that unity is forged between young Queen Elizabeth II (nominated Claire Foy) and that old war horse, Prime Minister Winston Churchill (nominated John Lithgow). Together, they help Great...

When it comes to picking main title themes this season, Emmy voters are heading toward either FX’s “Feud” or Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” Both tap Hollywood musical nostalgia in depicting the rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford (nominated Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange, respectively) in the early ’60s and ’80s sci-fi in the Duffer Brothers’ creepy thriller.

On the other hand, HBO’s “Westworld” has a haunting theme, National Geographic’s “Genius” offers a brief but adrenaline-pumping opener, Masterpiece’s “Victoria” contains a feisty bit of classicism, and “The Good Fight” gets explosive in the debut launch of CBS All Access.

“Feud”: Bette and Joan” (Mac Quayle)

Composer Mac Quayle (last year’s winner for the “Mr. Robot” score) took a deep dive into ’60s Hollywood movie scores to evoke the anger and pain between Davis and Crawford during their competitive stint co-starring in “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?...

Without a doubt, one of the biggest hits last year, in any medium, was Stranger Things. Netflix’s sci-fi/horror series came from seemingly nowhere and took the world by storm, hooking viewers almost instantly with its gripping and intriguing mysteries and likeable characters. Not to mention all the nods and references it made towards classic ’80s properties. As such, it was no surprise when a second season was announced for October of this year.

Pegged for a Halloween premiere on Netflix, word is that the show’s next outing is more horror-oriented than the first, while composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein have been busy teasing an extended stint in the Upside Down – presumably to rescue Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven, Eggos and all. But for all of the Stranger Things coverage currently littering the Internet, there are precious few details out there regarding the actual story arc of...