Music in Film: a Lecture by Film Historian Greg Blank

Music in Film Lecture: Music is integral to making a great film. Sometimes, a music’s original score fits perfectly into the tenor of a film and becomes as much a part of its success as the cinematography, acting, or editing. Other times, just the right song meets just the right scene. A skilled director can take advantage of existing music, such as Martin Scorsese’s use of the Derek and the Dominos “Layla" in Goodfellas (1990), Stanley Kubrick’s use of Richard Strauss’s "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" in 2001: Space Odyssey (1968). Through clips and discussion of various films, we will see how music, as part of a soundtrack or original scores in films like Psycho (1960), Jaws (1974), and Lawrence of Arabia (1962), can create unforgettable cinematic moments.

About the Presenter: Greg Blank is a New York-based filmmaker and film historian with over 15 years of experience as a producer, director, cinematographer, and editor.  He has lectured on film and media studies and other topics for over five years. He is an award-winning producer of television and documentaries and has developed and produced over 60 lecture programs for public and private clients, colleges, continuing education programs, and libraries around the country.