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Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 04:31 24 September 2008 Nick Spark Hits: 4684
It’s not hard to fall in love with your temp track, and after hearing some of it for weeks if not months on end, it’s hard to consider that -- sooner or later -- you will throw it all away and replace it. Why, you ask? Well, for one thing, actually having music composed for certain parts of the film is a must if you are going to really give it a sense of character, and bring out all the color and detail that you want. Another issue, is a legal and budgetary one: licensing. The cost of paying for the rights to use a single piece of music, written by a famous composer and performed by a well-known artist, might run into the thousands. Sometimes, the tens of thousands by the time you pay for both the performance and use rights. In many cases, the artists or their agents don’t even want to license the music. In cases like that, it's often much cheaper and smarter to either buy music from a stock music library, or ask someone to compose some for you.
I should clarify one thing, and that is, music in a film usually falls into two distinct categories: score, and stock track. “Score” is the material that a composer creates for you, custom tailored for your film. “Stock track” is all the off-the-shelf material that you might buy or license. More on how we handled that type of material, down the line. The most critical consideration for us, and what I'm going to write about today, was the score. What might it sound like, and who would be the most appropriate person to compose it for us?
The choice was an obvious one: Nathan Wang (photo at right). Nathan is probably most well-known for his stirring score to Brian Terwilliger's One Six Right, and that put him on our short list from day one. But, what really convinced us he was appropriate was the fact that we’d used some of his work as temp track in our film. That’s right! A few years ago Monique worked on a documentary about the trans-Atlantic cable that Nathan scored. She’d kept his CDs handy, and some of his tracks ended up in our rough cut. In fact, they were some of our favorites.
Nathan may have been who we wanted, but getting him was another matter.
Good composers, after all, are busy people! When I first called him, Nathan was just about to get on a plane and fly to China. Turns out, he was writing music for the famous fighting shaolin monks as part of the fanfare surrounding the Olympics. Somehow, in the midst of that gigantic commitment (which I think was about an hour’s worth of solid music, performed by an all-Chinese orchestra) and the staging of a revival of his musical Imelda (left), Nathan found the time to work with us.
It didn’t take long for us to realize what a gift we’d found in Nathan. A Fulbright Scholar who studied at Oxford, Nathan has worked on scores for films as diverse as Jackie Chan whack-em-ups to Steven Spielberg’s The Last Days. His command of various genres, and his abilities as a piano player (he once spent a summer playing the ivories on a cruise ship) impressed us right away. But what really made working with him a lot of fun, was the fact that he understood what we needed and had tremendous enthusiasm for the film. And, when he didn’t blow our socks off on the first go-around, Nathan repeated the pattern, took notes and made adjustments until we all said “that’s it!”
Working closely with Nathan is Knox Summerour (photo at right), a graduate of Berkelee and a composer in his own right. Knox was kept quite busy orchestrating our score, and supplementing Nathan’s work. He even added his considerable skills as a trumpet player to a few tracks.
The result is a score that is historically rooted. People tell us it sounds like it could have come right out of Pancho’s era, which is exactly what we wanted. It’s also playful and full of energy. Most importantly, it supports our picture, and helps us tell our story without getting in the way.
How successful are the results? Well, you'll have to wait a little while to hear the finished score. But after Amanda heard it all put together for the first time, she was brought to tears. That is the kind of ringing endorsement that makes you forget you ever had temp track!
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 04:31 10 September 2008 Nick Spark Hits: 4170
Roughly three years ago, when the Pancho documentary was just underway, I crossed paths with Karen Lacy, an assistant curator at the San Diego Air and Space Museum (SDASM). Karen, who was in the process of putting together an exhibit honoring women aviators, was extremely enthusiastic about the film. "Let me know when you're further along," she said, "and I'll see what I can do to help." Well, true to her word, Karen (with the support of SDASM President Jim Kidrick and his staff) has arranged a special fund raising screening for us at the Museum.The event will take place on Thursday, September 18th, with doors opening at 6:30.
There will be a brief presentation about the documentary hosted by Amanda Pope and myself, and a Q&A session at the end. The suggested donation at the door is $12, and I am told that there will be free popcorn as a special bonus!
If you are planning to attend, you do not have to RSVP. If you have any questions or want to make 100% certain you get a seat, you can contact Karen via email, klacy (at) sdasm.org
By the way, for those of you who have never visited the SDASM, it's a real treat and one of the highlights of San Diego's beautiful Balboa Park. The museum's aircraft collection includes a Ford Trimotor, a Spirit of St. Louis replica, a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird, a Bee Gee, and many, many more. Many of Pancho's friends and acquaintances are highlighted in this museum, from Jimmy Doolittle to Amelia Earhart to Chuck Yeager.
Please help us spread the word, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 04:31 26 August 2008 Nick Spark Hits: 4891
Here's some BIG NEWS that we're very excited to share!KOCE-TV, Orange County Calif.'s PBS station, is pleased to announce that The Legend of Pancho Barnes is the recipient of a $35,000 challenge grant from The Lincy Foundation. The grant, which will be administered through the KOCE-TV Foundation, is in support of the completion of a documentary film that details the life and times of Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes. One of the most famous female pilots of the 1920's and 30's, Pancho grew up in San Marino, California. She flew in the first women's intercontinental air derby, broke Amelia Earhart's air speed record, and became the first female stunt pilot in Hollywood. In the 40's and 50's, she gained notoriety as the owner of a guest ranch located near Edwards Air Force Base called "The Happy Bottom Riding Club." Before it was destroyed by fire in 1953, Pancho's ranch was the hang-out for some of the greatest pilots in the world, including Charles "Chuck" Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier.
The Legend of Pancho Barnes is directed by U.S.C. professor Amanda Pope, and produced and written by Nick T. Spark. It features interviews with Pancho's biographers Lauren Kessler and Barbara Schultz, and many of her surviving friends including Yeager, test pilots Bob Hoover and Bob Cardenas, and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Tax deductible donations in support of the challenge grant can be made to: KOCE-TV Foundation, 17011 Beach Blvd., Suite 1550, Huntington Beach, CA, 92657. Gifts should indicate they are in support of the "Pancho" documentary.
KOCE-TV is the nation's sixth most-watched PBS station with an estimated 5.8 million viewers monthly (according to the Nielsen Station Index). The winner of hundreds of awards including Emmys and Community Service Awards, KOCE continues to be a vital community resource and connector for Southern California.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 04:31 26 August 2008 Nick Spark Hits: 7415
KOCE-TV, Orange County Calif.'s PBS station, is pleased to announce that "The Legend of Pancho Barnes" is the recipient of a $35,000 challenge grant from The Lincy Foundation. The grant, which will be administered through the KOCE-TV Foundation, is in support of the completion of a documentary film that details the life and times of Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes. One of the most famous female pilots of the 1920's and 30's, Pancho grew up in San Marino, California. She flew in the first women's intercontinental air derby, broke Amelia Earhart's air speed record, and became the first female stunt pilot in Hollywood. In the 40's and 50's, she gained notoriety as the owner of a guest ranch located near Edwards Air Force Base called "The Happy Bottom Riding Club." Before it was destroyed by fire in 1953, Pancho's ranch was the hang-out for some of the greatest pilots in the world, including Charles "Chuck" Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier.
"The Legend of Pancho Barnes" is directed by U.S.C. professor Amanda Pope, and produced and written by Nick T. Spark. It features interviews with Pancho's biographers Lauren Kessler and Barbara Schultz, and many of her surviving friends including Yeager, test pilots Bob Hoover and Bob Cardenas, and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Tax deductible donations in support of the challenge grant can be made to: KOCE-TV Foundation, 17011 Beach Blvd., Suite 1550, Huntington Beach, CA, 92657. Gifts should indicate they are in support of the "Pancho" documentary.
KOCE-TV is the nation's sixth most-watched PBS station with an estimated 5.8 million viewers monthly (according to the Nielsen Station Index). The winner of hundreds of awards including Emmys and Community Service Awards, KOCE continues to be a vital community resource and connector for Southern California.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 04:31 25 August 2008 Nick Spark Hits: 7210
It seemed absolutely fitting to give a presentation about the film the other day at the Flight Path Learning Center, located just south of LAX's newly improved runway 25R. As DC-10s and 747s landed and took off in the distance, Amanda Pope and I showed a portion of the "rough cut" of the film, and did a Q&A. An attentive audience gave us a terrific reception, and Shirley Hoffman of LAX gave us some beautiful parting gifts -- including a book about LAX's famous "theme restaurant."
I had to comment to the audience, that Pancho had been a guest at the airport on opening day in 1930. Boy would she have been awed by how it, and the world of aviation, has been transformed. In Pancho's day, "Mine's Field" did not even offer passenger service -- it wouldn't until 1946. Now it is the fifth busiest airport in the world, and has over 20,000 parking spots!
A day after our presentation at Flight Path, we got a phone call from Nissen Davis of the Southern California Aeronautic Association (link). The SCAA, for those of you who don't know, was founded in 1925 and is one of the oldest aero clubs in California. (Although Pancho was apparently not a member, she doubtless knew people in the group, especially because they would have been omnipresent at the dedication of Mine's Field.)
The reason Nissen was calling, was to inform Amanda and I that several board members of the SCAA were in attendance at the presentation. They loved what they saw, and quickly passed a resolution awarding a $2500 grant to the KOCE-TV Foundation in support of the film!
We feel truly honored to have the support of the SCAA, and its members. Thanks to one and all!
Feeling blue because you couldn't make our presentation at Flight Path? Well, don't feel so bad. If you can make it to San Diego on September 18th, we're having a special fund raiser hosted by our friends at the world famous San Diego Air and Space Museum (SDASM link). Located in Balboa Park in the heart of the city, the Museum contains an astonishing array of historic aircraft, and is currently hosting "Star Trek The Exhibition". Details will be posted soon, so stay tuned!
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 04:31 12 August 2008 Nick Spark Hits: 15044
One of the questions we get asked a lot, is “What happened to Billy Barnes and why isn’t he in your film?” Billy, for those of you who don’t know, was Pancho’s only child. He was a well-known figure in the Antelope Valley in the 1970s, working as both a pilot and flight instructor out of Fox Field in Lancaster. He was a supporter of the budding Antelope Valley Air Museum and the owner of a P-51 Mustang, which he flew at the occasional air show.
Photo (left): Billy (far left) and Pancho (far right) during happy days at the Happy Bottom Riding Club.
Pancho and Billy had an unusual relationship, which many people have described to us as stormy. It’s not that surprising given the circumstances of his birth and upbringing. Bill was the product of Pancho’s first marriage, to the Rev. Rankin Barnes, and was born just about nine months after the wedding ceremony. Pancho was barely twenty, and totally unprepared to be a mother, much less the wife of a minister. By her own admission, she left a great deal of Billy’s early upbringing to his nurse. When he was six, she was gone for a considerable number of months — traveling across Mexico disguised as a man.
For years, Pancho seems to have raised Billy in a somewhat sporadic fashion. She was, after all, an heiress and an aviator, and had little time for being a house mother. But, when she lost her fortune in the Great Depression and retreated to the desert near Muroc, she insisted that Billy come with her. “Pancho used to say about the Reverend Rankin Barnes, that as far as she was concerned Billy was a virgin birth,” says her friend Barbara Little with a laugh. “There was no real closeness with her and Reverend Barnes. But Billy she adored. Billy she loved.”
Living in the hot, dry and empty desert must have been utterly disconcerting for Bill, who had grown up among the mansions of San Marino. “Pancho’s house in San Marino was 25 rooms,” Barbara Little notes. “Up here she had 4 little sqidgy rooms to start with, until she started knocking out the walls. This was an unforgiving desert at the time. But she was happy up here.”
Photo: Billy, Pancho's boyfriend Granny, and Pancho, circa 1936.
Eventually, Billy seems to have gotten used to the idea of living on a ranch. It’s not hard to see how the adventure of their circumstances would intrigue a 14-year-old. He got to ride horses and milk cows, hunt rabbits, and made a whole new set of friends. One of them was Tony King, a young boy himself who Pancho had more or less adopted as her own. “My dad died. My mother was dead,” Tony explains. “And I was just a little kid, like a saddle tramp on horseback. Billy was a young kid, going to school too. So Billy and I was together most of the time on the ranch. I helped raise the little fart.”
“She wasn’t much of a mother to him,” Tony continues, recalling that his first impression of Billy, was that he was a bit of a spoiled brat. “One time we went to Santa Marino, where she had a house, to stay overnight, “ he recalls. “She had two fireplaces in the house: one upstairs and one downstairs. And Billy Barnes and I would be on the upstairs one, with pistols, and shoot into the fireplace.”
Eventually, even without any discipline, Billy did mature. He helped run the ranch and worked in Pancho’s other ventures, such as her hog farm and dairy. When Pancho built an airport, Bill was among the first students to receive lessons and earn a license. Eventually he set up his own school, and got married, and made a name for himself in aviation.
Still, many people sensed Bill Barnes maintained a certain sense of resentment towards his mother. It wasn’t just her parenting skills, or lack thereof. There were, for example, the other men in her life. After she divorced Rankin Barnes, Pancho married three other times -- twice to guys who were about Billy’s age. That would have put a strain on any relationship. But more than that, Pancho was always the type of person who took over a room when she entered it, who lived boldly, brashly, and loudly. It wasn’t hard to see how Billy may have felt overshadowed, and insecure as a result.
Photo (above): Billy Barnes' field based operation at Fox Field, as it appears today.
“You’d see them together and what you would sense,” explains Barbara Little, who met Billy in the 1960s when he was forty, “Was that Bill was off living his own life. He was here in Lancaster at Fox Field, at Barnes Aviation.” By that time, their relationship seemed very strained. “Those two could not get within six feet of each other without having a big argument,” remembers Barbara Rowland, who was friends with both. “It was always over nothing. I mean, you’ve heard wives and husbands argue, where they’re not arguing over anything? They’re just trying to out-argue the other one. That’s what it was like.”
Still, when Bill learned that Barbara Little was writing a biography about Pancho, he felt it was important that she understand the true nature of their relationship. “Because even though maybe they had their fights - and what parent doesn’t, “ says Little, “as he grew up he could recognize what a powerful spirited person his mother was. He wrote a wonderful letter to me,” Little continues, “It was all about his mother and what a good person she was, and how he loved her and that she had sheltered him, protected him, brought him along, tried to teach him how to deal with life.”
“The main thing he said,” Barbara Little notes, “Was that, all you had to do was watch Mom, and that’s how you deal with life. She stood as an example, you know. And if she’d get raucous and rowdy, she’d say, ‘you know, some of us also serve best who serve as a bad example.’”
Perhaps the greatest moment in Pancho and Billy’s life together came that day in May of 1968, when Billy and his wife Shouling attended the Tallmantz historic airplane auction, and helped Pancho buy her Mystery Ship back. He told Pancho that out of respect for her, he’d restore it to flying condition. At the same time, he told friends that he was going to go slow, so that she’d never get a chance to fly it. Billy knew all too well that if his mother ever got in the cockpit, it would be her final flight.
Sadly, it would be Bill who would be killed in an airplane accident. According to the FAA, the exact cause was unclear. In her biography, Pancho, Barbara Schultz suggests that the glycol coolant lines in Billy’s P-51 parted while he and a passenger were en route to an air show. Whatever the cause, the plane went out of control and crashed near Fox Field. The only good thing about it, was that he died in 1980, five years after Pancho passed away. So, she wasn’t around to attend the funeral. It would have certainly broken her heart to know that the person she loved the best, died doing the thing she loved to do the most.
After the accident the Travelair Mystery Ship was sold, but Shouling maintained Bill’s field based operation. It remains in business to this day. If you poke your head inside the office, you’ll find a beautiful bust of Pancho (Photo above). According to Shouling’s son Andy, the person who lobbied the hardest for its creation, was Billy Barnes.
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