FILM COMPOSER MYCHAEL DANNA SCORES "CAPOTE" Depicts Journey of Renowned Writer Truman Capote In Writing of In Cold Blood

(LOS ANGELES, CA) - Recognized as a pioneer of combining non-Western sound sources with orchestral and electronic minimalism in film music, BMI composer Mychael Danna has recently scored "Capote" for director Bennett Miller. Danna's score sets the tone for the inspirational true-life story of novelist Truman Capote, who has decided to investigate the murders of the Clutter family in Kansas as a possible subject for a non-fiction novel after being tired of writing fiction. The film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener and is directed by Bennett Miller. It is written by Dan Futterman based on the book by Gerald Clarke.

In the film, Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays Truman Capote's emotional and psychic dissolution during the period of investigation about Clutter murders and creation of the book In Cold Blood. The complex love-and-hate association between Truman Capote and the murderer Perry Smith shows the slow erosion of Capote's personality as the film develops. According to Hollywood Reporter, "Mychael Danna's muted score, relying heavily on the piano, never intrudes but only amplifies the dramatic content."

Starting off his film music career by scoring feature debut "Family Viewing" for Atom Egoyan in 1987, Danna was honored with Canadian film award by this score. He has been nominated for eleven times in the Canadian film award. He also earns reputation by the incorporation of ethnic influences into the body of contemporary film scoring aesthetics. This fame led him to work with acclaimed directors such as Atom Egoyan, Ang Lee, Scott Hicks, Gilles MacKinnon, Mira Nair, James Mangold and Joel Schumacher.

Danna studied music composition at the University of Toronto, winning the Glenn Gould Composition Scholarship in 1985. He also served for five years as composer-in-residence at the McLaughlin Planetarium in Toronto from 1987 to 1992.

Danna has proven his versatility from scoring Moroccan music in "8MM" to American old-time music in "Ride With the Devil" to European medieval and Persian music in "The Sweet Hereafter", as well as all the eight movies by director Atom Egoyan, including "Where The Truth Lies", "Aarat", "Felicia's Journey", "Exotica", "The Adjuster", and "Speaking Parts". In addition to his film work "Capote", which this year has will include "Black" for director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and "Tideland" for director Terry Gilliam.