SCL Online Screening + Q&A: DRAGONHEART: VENGEANCE

Q&A with Composer

MARK MCKENZIE

Moderated by Composer & Orchestrator CONRAD POPE

Screening Link provided with Registration Confirmation

YouTube Live Stream Q&A

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 – 6:30PM PT

Lukas, a young farmer whose family is killed by savage raiders in the countryside, sets out on an epic quest for revenge, forming an unlikely trio with a majestic dragon and a swashbuckling, sword-fighting mercenary, Darius. Helena Bonham Carter voices Siveth, the ice breathing dragon who was once banished from the kingdom for failing to save the king’s life. Compelled by the young man’s cause, she emerges from hiding, using her fantastical powers on the trio’s adventurous journey which brings revelations and rewards beyond vengeance. Dragonheart: Vengeance is an exciting action-adventure filled with fantasy and humor that will thrill the entire family. PG-13 | 97min

“Mark McKenzie’s commanding orchestral prowess puts him among the foremost symphonists in Hollywood” – The Hollywood Reporter. His 25 original scores and 100 films orchestrated for others have grossed over 13 Billion dollars. As a composer, Mark has been doubly nominated for the IFMCA “Best Score of the Year,” and “Best Animated Score of the Year” for The Greatest Miracle and the award-winning Max and Me featuring violinist Joshua Bell. Other original scores include Francis Ford Coppola’s My Family, James Garner’s The Ultimate Gift, Whoopie Goldberg’s Christmas film Blizzard,  four Hallmark Hall of Fame movies and four Universal Studios Dragonheart sequels. Mark has twenty four original soundtracks available on Sony Classical, Intrada, Back Lot, and Varese Sarabande. 

McKenzie completed his master’s and doctorate in composition studying with Pierre Boulez, Witold Lutoslawski, and Morten Lauridsen while teaching theory, counterpoint, and orchestration at USC. Upon graduation, he was chosen by luminaries such as Bruce Broughton, John Barry, Randy Edelman, Danny Elfman, Jerry Goldsmith, John Powell, Marc Shaiman, and Alan Silvestri to orchestrate films such as the Academy Award-winning Dances With Wolves, Academy Award nominees Men in Black and Good Will Hunting, blockbusters Spiderman, Nightmare Before Christmas, Mission Impossible, Sleepless in Seattle, Van Helsing and three Star Trek sequels. Mark also worked on Moonwalker with pop artist Michael Jackson, and the game Destiny with Sir Paul McCartney. 

Mark currently serves on the SCL Board of directors. In 2019, he coordinated the immensely popular SCL event that celebrated the 90th Birthday of Jerry Goldsmith.

Conrad Pope is one of the most respected and in-demand musicians working in contemporary Hollywood. The list of over 100 films to which he has contributed range from Star Wars Episodes I-III to the Matrix films; the Harry Potter  series to Moonrise Kingdom. Most recently, Conrad orchestrated and conducted Alexander Desplat’s score to Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch as well as orchestrating Trent Reznor’s and Atticus Ross’ score to David Fincher’s Mank. John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Alexandre Desplat, Alan Silvestri, Jerry Goldsmith, Danny Elfman, James Horner, Howard Shore, and Tom Holkenborg have all called upon his expertise as one of the industry’s top orchestrators, as well as his abilities as a conductor and score producer. 

As a composer, Pope has scored numerous independent films. His original score to Penn & Teller’s documentary Tim’s Vermeer garnered praise from directors and critics alike. Awarded the International Film Critics Award for Best Score to a Documentary in 2014, the score has won fans in the worlds of art, art music, and filmmakers. Pope also scored the critically acclaimed Simon Curtis film My Week with Marilyn starring Michele Williams and Eddie Redmayne. in 2015, the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) recognized Conrad with their prestigious  Golden Score Award in acknowledgment of his career as a composer, arranger, orchestrator, and conductor of film music. Pope attended Munich’s Hochscule fuer Musik and holds degrees from the New England Conservatory and Princeton University.

*** IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ ***

FREE for current SCL members (click HERE to check membership status).

Attendees will be emailed a Screening Link upon Registration and a Q&A YouTube Live Stream link on Thursday, December 10, 10 minutes before Q&A start.

Attendees can ask questions on YouTube chat, and the SCL Host will pass them on to the Moderator. The SCL Member Code of Conduct applies to online Q&As.