John Williams to Score Kobe Bryant short film "Dear Basketball"

[Incanus 5,713]

14 hours ago, Not Mr. Big said:

I think it's clear that Williams/Abrams read this post from the "What is The Last Score You Listened To?" thread.  

When you wish upon Ol' John

Makes no difference short or long

Any motif/theme you desire
Will come through.

If your heart in you is pure
No theme request is too obscure
When you wish upon Ol' John
As dreamers do.

Williams is kind
He brings to those who love his music
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing.

Like a bolt out of the blue
John steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a theme

Those dreams come true.
 

When film composer star is born
They possess a gift or two.
One of them is this.
They have the power to make a theme wish come true.

When you wish upon Ol' John
Makes no difference short or long
Any theme your heart desires
Will come to you.

 

[Tom 4,633]

A cool article about the project and the Kobe/Williams relationship. 

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-kobe-bryant-dear-basketball-20170902-htmlstory.html

[mrbellamy 6,272]

Couple of things of note there are that Williams actually just wrote it last March on a two week break from Last Jedi -- so definitely delayed from when it was originally supposed to come out last year -- and Kobe wants to hire him again.

[Will 2,215]

Just came here to post that article! 

Awesome that Kobe wants to do more with Williams - hope it ends up happening!

The pictures are also cool. As Karelm noted a few days ago, he wasn't in a turtleneck at the rehearsal, but rather a blue golf shirt. I think he looks a little younger in it! 

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The music is good, but the project itself is awful, really.

[Tom 4,633]

1 hour ago, Stefancos said:

The music is good, but the project itself is awful, really.

The music and animation are above the paygrade of the material, but I think it works overall.  I am not a basketball fan, but I enjoy it as a celebration of human achievement that speaks more to love and effort than basketball.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

The music and animation are above the paygrade of the material, but I think it works overall.  I am not a basketball fan, but I enjoy it as a celebration of human achievement that speaks more to love and effort than basketball.

So you don't think a multi-millionaire paying to do a short film where he can read aloud  how wonderful he is reeks of narcissism? 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I agree with Stefan.  And if we never get a release of the music by itself I'm not sure the project was "worth it" at least from my fan perspective.

[Tom 4,633]

Is it any different from a person writing an autobiography or any poet writing about their own experiences? 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I'm sure if I connected more with the text I'd think like you.  Since I don't it just comes across as a massive vanity project.  Not that narcissistic vanity projects can't be good.

[Bilbo 3,709]

I'm hoping it gets released on a compilation somewhere down the line because I'm definitely never watching something about basketball. 

[mrbellamy 6,272]

To be fair, it's not the narration itself that's the problem since it really says nothing about him being wonderful or anything like that, it's just about how much he loves basketball. It's more that the animation plays up Kobe himself as a God and the music is so celebratory, especially towards the end, it comes off a lot more as "I love Kobe" than "I love basketball." Which would be fine as a fan tribute or if somebody else made it for like a lifetime achievement thing, but when you consider that he commissioned it himself for basically no reason, that's what makes it sort of embarrassing. As a simple poem, it can be seen as humble and reflective, but the short feels excessively self-aggrandizing.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

2 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

To be fair, it's not the narration itself that's the problem since it really says nothing about him being wonderful or anything like that, it's just about how much he loves basketball. It's more that the animation plays up Kobe himself as a God and the music is so celebratory, especially towards the end, it comes off a lot more as "I love Kobe" than "I love basketball." Which would be fine as a fan tribute or if somebody else made it for like a lifetime achievement thing, but when you consider that he commissioned it himself for basically no reason, that's what makes it sort of embarrassing. As a simple poem, it can be seen as humble and reflective, but the short feels excessively self-aggrandizing.

This.

[Thor 7,463]

6 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

To be fair, it's not the narration itself that's the problem since it really says nothing about him being wonderful or anything like that, it's just about how much he loves basketball. It's more that the animation plays up Kobe himself as a God and the music is so celebratory, especially towards the end, it comes off a lot more as "I love Kobe" than "I love basketball." Which would be fine as a fan tribute or if somebody else made it for like a lifetime achievement thing, but when you consider that he commissioned it himself for basically no reason, that's what makes it sort of embarrassing. As a simple poem, it can be seen as humble and reflective, but the short feels excessively self-aggrandizing.

That's my exact reaction too. It might be a cultural thing. I think this kind of self-congratulatory prose and style goes over better in the US than it does over here in Europe (BIG words without actual real content). Be that as it may, the Williams music is decent enough on its own. It's like with scores like LINCOLN or the courtroom scene in AMISTAD -- it's overblown Americana in context, but is fine listening outside the film. Hoping for a recording down the road.

[Tom 4,633]

Sure, it has some self-aggrandizing elements, but just be sure to be consistent. For instance, the main hero of Star Wars is named after the writer/director. Is this anymore obnoxious than that? If not, why not the harsh criticism lodged at Lucas and other artists (Frank McCourt, anyone)?

[Will 2,215]

I can't disagree with Bellamy here, but in any case I see little reason to let gripes like this get in the way of my enjoyment of art. 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Well, I enjoy the music, which I can't hear by itself.  The poem I find insufferable personally.  So it does get in the way of my enjoyment.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

Lots of Kobe haters hating for the sake of hating. Ugh.

Go get a life, haters.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Learn to deal with criticism, Kobe!

[Koray Savas 2,251]

15 minutes ago, Tom said:

Sure, it has some self-aggrandizing elements, but just be sure to be consistent. For instance, the main hero of Star Wars is named after the writer/director. Is this anymore obnoxious than that? If not, why not the harsh criticism lodged at Lucas and other artists (Frank McCourt, anyone)?

George Lucas hasn't received harsh criticism? 

[Will 2,215]

@Ricard, just FYI, the main page headline currently says "Bryan Kobe" instead of "Kobe Bryant." 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

HA!  He's a big basketball fan I see.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

55 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

To be fair, it's not the narration itself that's the problem since it really says nothing about him being wonderful or anything like that, it's just about how much he loves basketball. It's more that the animation plays up Kobe himself as a God and the music is so celebratory, especially towards the end, it comes off a lot more as "I love Kobe" than "I love basketball." Which would be fine as a fan tribute or if somebody else made it for like a lifetime achievement thing, but when you consider that he commissioned it himself for basically no reason, that's what makes it sort of embarrassing. As a simple poem, it can be seen as humble and reflective, but the short feels excessively self-aggrandizing.

 

This!

[Bilbo 3,709]

54 minutes ago, BloodBoal said:

Lots of Kobe haters hating for the sake of hating. Ugh.

Go get a life, haters.

 

Meh. He's no Paudie Maher. 

[Tom 4,633]

57 minutes ago, Koray Savas said:

George Lucas hasn't received harsh criticism? 

I have never heard the criticism of SW that it is self-indulgent and narcissistic insofar as the hero is a metaphor for Lucas's own life journey to that point.  Have you?  Have others on the board criticizing "Dear Basketball" made that criticism?

[MikeH 768]

Great article! Good ol' Johnny "never seen a basketball game- never watched a horror film before Dracula- never seen a Star War" Williams. One of these days I half expect him to say, "Pizza? What's that?!"

"I do classical pieces, and it's all by hand". My new favorite JW quote. 

[JohnnyD 1,220]

...

[Ricard 2,242]

Johnny, the typo has been mentioned before and it's been fixed.

[Cerebral Cortex 3,357]

Ricard, it currently says "Kobe Bryant," but it used to be spelled incorrectly as "Bryan Kobe." Just thought I'd let you know. 

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It says Kobe Bryant.

[mrbellamy 6,272]

4 hours ago, Tom said:

Sure, it has some self-aggrandizing elements, but just be sure to be consistent. For instance, the main hero of Star Wars is named after the writer/director. Is this anymore obnoxious than that? If not, why not the harsh criticism lodged at Lucas and other artists (Frank McCourt, anyone)?

Star Wars is not fictionalized autobiography. Luke Skywalker may be a stand-in for George Lucas in his own mind, who knows, but he is not presented that way to us. It's irrelevant to how we perceive the character and the film, unlike say 8 1/2 or Woody Allen's alter egos.

"Dear Basketball" is literally about Kobe Bryant, he is deliberately expressing some part of himself to an audience and it's perfectly valid to evaluate its quality and intent as a self-portrait. There's nothing wrong with autobiography, but when Kobe Bryant commissions a lavish film about himself and presents it in front of thousands of people at the Hollywood Bowl, then it's fair to consider what he's communicating about himself and why. And your answer will probably depend on if you think he's saying anything worth hearing.

[Tom 4,633]

9 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

Star Wars is not fictionalized autobiography. Luke Skywalker may be a stand-in for George Lucas in his own mind, who knows, but he is not presented that way to us. It's irrelevant to how we perceive the character and the film, unlike say 8 1/2 or Woody Allen's alter egos.

"Dear Basketball" is literally about Kobe Bryant, he is deliberately expressing some part of himself to an audience and it's perfectly valid to evaluate its quality and intent as a self-portrait. There's nothing wrong with autobiography, but when Kobe Bryant commissions a lavish film about himself and presents it in front of thousands of people at the Hollywood Bowl, then it's fair to consider what he's communicating about himself and why. And your answer will probably depend on if you think he's saying anything worth hearing.

It is his love letter to basketball.  So, like any love letter, it is about the author in some sense. insofar as he is dwelling on basketball as his, concrete, individual love interest..  But, like with any love letter, the object of that love is central. 

If a couple reflects back on their 50 year marriage, each person is going to be talking about themselves as much as the other.  that is the nature of a love relationship. 

For the record, I do find it a bit narcissistic, but I find all entertainers to engage in analogous activities.  Do I really need to hear Taylor Swift, et al sing about their stupid lives?  No, but it is the nature of entertainment.  

Also, I would guess it was Williams idea to present the film in front of thousands of people.  Is Williams just as narcissistic to present his own work in such a way, with himself talking about himself and conducting his own music front and center?  Not to mention enabling multiple rounds of applause and standing ovations with each encore. 

We like the music, so we tolerate the blatant self-indulgent.  Why hold Kobe to a different standard?   

[Sandor 796]

Self indulgent or what, the music combined with the images and the words gets to me.

I know nothing about basketball or Kobe -I'm a Dutchie, we like football-, but I think this is one of the most beautiful 'short things' of Williams' career. 

[King Mark 3,624]

i don't care about the film or Kobe Bryant...I just want the music

[crumbs 14,300]

Weird that they haven't released it on iTunes or something?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

9 hours ago, Sandor said:

Self indulgent or what, the music combined with the images and the words gets to me.

I know nothing about basketball or Kobe -I'm a Dutchie, we like football-, but I think this is one of the most beautiful 'short things' of Williams' career. 

 

I found it grating. Far moreso than people swinging lightsabers.

 

[Bilbo 3,709]

At least lightsaber fights are choreographed and there's an art to it. It's like dance.

 

this is just tall people throwing a ball around .

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

They don't even kick it! It's all wrong!

[Bilbo 3,709]

It should be smaller and they should have a 33-36inch piece of ash to hit it with!

[BloodBoal 7,538]

40 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

They don't even kick it! It's all wrong!

That's why football is better: because you can get a kick out of it!

[crumbs 14,300]

Why isn't there a light-football? Basically a lightsaber in spherical form to throw at enemies? Seems like a no-brainer!

[Bilbo 3,709]

5 minutes ago, BloodBoal said:

That's why football is better: because you can get a kick out of it!

*groan*

[Sandor 796]

3 hours ago, Stefancos said:

 

I found it grating. Far moreso than people swinging lightsabers.

 

What did you think of just the music, away from the images, concept and words?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Like i said, the music was fine. And in the end thats what matters (to us)

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Oscars: Kobe Bryant Brings Star Power to Animated Short Race

 

Apparently the short is qualified to be nominated for Best Animated Short.  Given that there are probably a lot of Lakers fans in the Academy, its chances are probably good.  All we care about of course is if this makes a release of the music any likelier (the answer is probably not).

[crumbs 14,300]

The score will be nominated for Best Original Score, splitting the votes 3-ways between The Last Jedi and The Post, causing Williams to lose for The Post by a single vote.

[nightscape94 965]

Early congrats on Kobe's Oscar win.  He said some nice things about Williams.  Early congrats to Williams's Oscar win.  He said some nice things about Kobe.

[Jay 37,281]

Huh; For some reason I never even considered the possibility it could be nominated.  That's neat!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

So a 5 minute animation about a multi-millioniare talking about how great he is can win an Oscar now?

 

Greeeaaat!

[nightscape94 965]

It's a community of mostly rich people giving each other golden statues...