STONE (Short Film)

Score

Year:

2024

Role:

Score composer and producer

Client:

Kade Allen (US)

About

“STONE” is a short film directed by Kade Allen. It is set 12,000 years ago and was shot entirely on location on Stone Mountain in Atlanta Georgia (United States).

Plot

“12,000 years ago a man buried his only family, he buried his legacy. Only those who are laid on top of a holy mountain can truly be at peace. He knows he must trek to its peak to lay his kin, mortally wounded from a battle with the wicked beast. His journey will test his mettle and fortitude of his expanding mind. Only halfway up the mountain his body fails. Only with the help of an old hermit living on the mountain can he make it to the peak and lay his kin to rest. Only to be alone for the rest of his days.”

I was involved in this project as a Score Composer and producer, making the music for all the scenes of the movie. The genre that Kade Allen was looking for was something along the lines of Tribal Percussion. We both agreed that in each scene would be interesting to introduce different instruments, to convey the aesthetics, growing emotions and different feelings throughout the movie.

Process

I had to imagine how music would be made at that time and the tools that would be available to create different sounds and textures. Some of those would be Sticks, Claps, Drums, Didgeridoos, Flutes, Stones and Seeds. Ended up recording some gutturals and vocalizations as well, for a couple of scenes, which was quite fun.

The instruments, however, needed to be captured as raw as possible, without many effects going on, for a more natural and involving sound, translating the ancient and prehistoric scenes.

Want to have a taste of the music?

Here’s an alt. version of one of the songs

I learned from researching about paleolithic music, that a flute made of bone, dating approximately 35,000 years ago, was discovered in a cave, in Germany (Paleolithic flute), 2006, which is amazing! There are many instruments, really quite old, that were used in ceremonies, rituals with chants and dancing, to interact with gods and spirits.

By paying attention to the soundtrack as a whole, you’ll notice that frame drums, with a lower pitch sound, lead most of the scenes. Kind of like a bed for everything and also taking the spotlight at times. But there are moments in the movie that transport the listener to another world, especially the Hermit scenes, where the didgeridoo assumes a bigger role.

Watch how some of the instruments were used

…and how some of the textures were made:

Final Product

You can watch the movie at TMFF – The Monthly Film Festival: https://tmff.net/movies/stone

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32602868

Cast and Crew

Direction: Kade Allen
Cast: Eamon Glennon (Bear Killer) and Simon Shih (Hermit)
Producers: Salvatore Cardinale and Colleen Ryan.
1st AD: Sophie Reidd, DP: Brenden Mascherino, 1st AC: Wesley Collins, 2nd AC: Weston stokes, Cam Utility/Loader: Lukas Karamitsanis,
Sound Mixer: Alkire Brett, Music Score: Nuno Pinto de Carvalho,
PD: Ken Misaki, Costumes: Davis Biddlecomb, Gaffer: Michael Magarahan,
Best Electric: Jrdan Bristow, Key Grip: Aidan Kelly
Best Grip: Charles Hoy, Grips: Max Fields, Kenadie Larson, Ari Isenberg,
Editor: Jolie Mccauley, Colorist: Brenden Mascherino, Helper: Cierra de Bie,
Film test Stand-In: Dexter Assa, Graded using: Dehancer Film,
BTS Photography: Ari Isenberg.