Academy Disqualifies The Dark Knight Score

[_Bolt_]

Variety reports that the score for The Dark Knight has been disqualified by the executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences music branch from being considered for an Oscar.

Formal letters to that effect are expected to go out this week to composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, who collaborated on the music.

Their previous collaboration, on Batman Begins, was similarly disqualified in 2005.

According to the trade, the big issue was the fact that five names were listed as composers on the music cue sheet, the official studio document that specifies every piece of music (along with its duration and copyright owner) in the film.

Zimmer previously said that listing multiple names on the cue sheet was a way of financially rewarding parts of the music team who helped make the overall work successful.

Zimmer, Howard and the other three individuals -- music editor Alex Gibson, ambient music designer Mel Wesson and composer Lorne Balfe -- reportedly signed an affidavit stating that the score was primarily the work of Zimmer and Howard.

That apparently wasn't enough for the majority of the committee, which was also supplied with documentation indicating that more than 60%, but less than 70%, of the score was credited to Zimmer and Howard.

source

[shadow72]

I was just going to post this, but saw it was already posted. I think this is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. More than 60% but less than 70%. What the hell does that mean? What's next...no oscar for Heath? Come on, no wonder the oscars are watched less and less each year. The whole thing is a joke and awards are given to movies that no one really gives a ***t about!

[J6P]

Cue the high and mighty Oscar haters.

The rule is there so that Oscars are given out to composers that shoulder at least 70% of the composition of a film. That's what the award is intended to recognize. If five guys write 20% of a film's score each, you can't single one of those contributions out and measure it against, say John Williams, who writes every scrap of music in a film. That's a score. It's a different skill.

The Producers of TDK chose to do exactly what they did in Batman Begins. They added supporting composers to the cue sheets to guarantee them back end compensation, which removed the score from Oscar contention. It's their choice -- no reason to bash the Academy over it.

[JimboTHX1138]

Sounds a little silly. But on the other hand, if they were disqualified for the same thing with Batman Begins in 2005 then it shouldn't come as any surprise.