Oscar nominated Composer on Sean Connery's animated film

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2010-10-04

Sir Billi composer Patrick Doyle music score

Sir Billi creative team announces completion of musical score by Oscar-nominated composer Patrick Doyle for scotland’s first full-length animated feature film.

Los Angeles– October 1, 2010 – Glasgow-based Billi Productions Ltd. announced today the completion of the musical score composition and orchestral recording for “Sir Billi,” Scotland’s first full-length animated feature film that is now in the final stages of post production. Internationally recognized film composer Patrick Doyle wrote the score, working with the film’s husband and wife creative team, Sascha Hartmann, who directed the movie, and Tessa Hartmann who wrote the script.

Patrick’s Oscar®-nominated work on the original score for “Hamlet” (1996-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score) and “Sense and Sensibility” (1995-Best Music, Original Dramatic Score), as well as his original scores for the hit British comedy “Bridget Jones Diary” (2001) and Saturn Award-nominated “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (1996) attracted the Hartmann’s to approach fellow Scot Patrick to compose and record the original score for “Sir Billi.”

“We are thrilled with Patrick’s uncanny ability to capture the true essence of ‘Sir Billi’ through his music and bring it to life in this new dimension,” said Sascha Hartmann. “Patrick has such a keen musical sense and created just the right nuances to convey the highs and lows of Sir Billi’s adventures on his quest to save Bessie Boo the Beaver.”

Patrick was inspired to write the theme to the original score on the spot, as the melody of the theme came to him while speaking with Sascha Hartmann about the direction of the score—something Doyle says has only happened twice before in his career.

“Sir Billi’s endearing multi-generational family story and cliff-hanger action spikes in the storyline provided me with just the right elements to compose a score I’m proud to say is among my best work to-date,” said Doyle. “My goal was to shine a light on the soul of this colorful cast of loveable characters through the power of music.”

“Being a part of Sir Billi meant so much because animation has always been a fascination of mine especially because I am from Scotland and know all of the areas where the film is based,” said Doyle.
“The fresh look of ‘Sir Billi’ and its original storyline gave me all the inspiration needed to create some of the best composition work I feel I’ve done.”

“Sir Billi” is an adventure story about the power of a remote Scottish community held together by an eccentric, skateboarding and retired veterinarian played by Sir Sean Connery and their race to save an illegal fugitive – Bessie Boo the Beaver. Sir Billi braves treacherous ravines and hazardous waters as he and the village clash with the law in their fight to rescue Bessie.

The husband and wife creative team were also very involved in the soundtrack for the film, with the five original songs in the film composed by Sascha, and the lyrics written for the songs by Tessa. The first song announced and opening title track of the film, “Guardian of the Highlands,” was performed by Dame Shirley Bassey and produced by the film’s director Sascha Hartmann. Best known for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker, Bassey is once again teaming up with Sir Sean Connery, who lends his voice as Sir Billi, the lead character in the film.

WATCH BEHIND THE SCENES INTERVIEWS WITH PATRICK DOYLE

LISTEN TO “BILLI’S THEME”

ABOUT “SIR BILLI”
When tragedy strikes in the Scottish Highlands, there can be only one man for the job - Sir William Sedgewick, aka Sir Billi (Sir Sean Connery)! An adventure story about an inimitable Highland hero – a grandpa and active senior skateboarding veterinarian who goes above and beyond the call of duty fighting villainous policemen and powerful lairds in a battle to save an illegal fugitive – Bessie Boo the beaver!

The heart-warming and hilarious action-packed family movie, where thrilling car chases, heroic skydiving and daring stunts from this octogenarian, fueled with encounters with a hostile submarine, will keep you at the edge of your seat!

A host of other actors have voiced lead roles in the animated feature including Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, Ruby Wax, Alex Norton, Ford Keirnan, Greg Hempill, Barbara Rafferty and John Amabile.

ABOUT BILLI PRODUCTIONS LTD
Billi Productions Ltd was founded in 2005 by Sascha and Tessa Hartmann, Sir Sean Connery and John Fraser (investor) to own the copyright and all film rights to the intellectual property that is ‘Sir Billi.’ Production is being carried out by parent company Glasgow Animation Ltd., an independent studio based just outside Glasgow. This small animation studio is a wealth of young and ambitious creative talents who have produced Scotland’s first full length animated feature in-house.

To learn more about Billi Productions please visit:
www.billiproductions.com

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#sean_connery

#shirley_bassey

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Oscar nominated Composer on Sean Connery's animated film

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