AL LETHBRIDGE


January 2012 Launch of Al's new album "The Living Soul" on the new BBC Production Music label. December 2011 Commissioned to write the score for "Plastic Oceans" a major conservation film coming to cinema screens in 2013. 'One of the most Important films of our time..' - Sir David Attenborough. *Visit the Plastic Oceans site.* *November 2011* The Giant Manta Ray has been afforded "Protected Species" status at the UN Convention of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Bergen, Norway Nov 25th 2011. This move was much aided by the campaigning of Dr Andrea Marshall whose BBC film I scored. "Andrea: Queen Of Mantas" was shown to delegates just before the meeting to cast votes. This multi award winning documentary has already moved people all over the world, and has now shown the power of heartfelt campaigning television. More news this month - The BBC's "Empire Of the Desert Ants" featuring Al's intense and atmospheric score has been entered for the RTS Awards for Best Music. November 2011 "Azorian: The Raising Of the K129" is shown over two nights on PBS UK Nov 30 and Dec 1st. October 2011 - Al is supplying music for a new BBC film "Queen Of The Savannah" for the Natural World strand. Producer is Verity White. Work completing on indie film - "Soup to Nuts" Directed by Tim Leandro (Ultimate Force, The Vice, Justice In Wonderland). Sept 2011 another chance to see the outstanding BBC film Andrea: Queen Of Mantas (Sept 28th,8pm BBC2 and BBC HD). This film has now won ten international awards. Visit the "Andrea Queen Of Mantas" BBC site Begin recording first ideas for new spanish guitar album in Galicia, north western Spain. Aug 2011 Aug 10th "Empire Of the Desert Ants" airs on BBC2 And BBC HD to much acclaim (see press page). Ant mayhem, filmed in exquisite and gruesome detail, with a dark score that was a lot of fun to write! "Empire Of The Desert Ants" BBC site Start work on indie film- "Soup to Nuts" Directed by Tim Leandro (Ultimate Force, The Vice, Justice In Wonderland). July 2011 Launch on Discovery Channel worldwide of "Azorian: The Raising Of the K129" a spectacular documentary from independent filmmaker Michael White. Set in 1974, at the height of the Cold War, it tells the story of a top secret CIA mission to recover a wrecked Soviet nuclear submarine, from its resting place three miles down in the Pacific Ocean. The mission has been described as the greatest ever feat of twentieth century marine engineering - it was the oceanic equivalent of the Apollo missions to the moon. This film prompted the CIA to finally open their files and reveals the dramatic and covert involvement of the Howard Hughes Corporation, in the construction of one of the most elaborate smokescreens ever devised. Azorian - the Trail - and for those of you who may be especially interested: Buy The DVD March - June 2011 I'm working on a new album for Universal, title is "The Living Soul". Set for a January 2012 launch. February 2011 Universal seem to like "Inspiring Worlds" and they have now commissioned me for a new album. Start work on this now! January 2011 Universal Publishing launch "Inspiring Worlds" Al's new production music album on the Atmosphere label. Listen now and download "Inspiring Worlds". I've now heard that a film I have been scoring for the BBC - "Empire Of the Desert Ants" will be shown sometime in autumn 2011. I'll post updates on this. December 2010 Al has been playing spanish, steel, and electric guitars for the BBC's new landmark series "Madagascar". The composer is Brit award winning Sarah Class. November 2010 "The Dolphins Of Shark Bay" screened on BBC2 Nov 3rd to much acclaim. It featured on The One Show, BBC News, Radio 4's Woman's Hour and many more. The film is now on it's way around the world's tv networks and film festivals. Made by the same team behind the multi-award winning "Andrea: Queen Of Mantas" (also scored by Al), and directed by Emmy award winning Nick Stringer. Visit the BBC film site October 2010 Scoring "Love Not Loss" - a campaign film for Wildscreen, to be screened this month at the Nagoya Biodiversity Conference Japan. Al is attending the Wildscreen Festival in Bristol UK- the world's foremost natural history film festival. "Jane Goodall: Beauty And the Beasts" screened on BBC4. A definitive look at Jane's legacy. The film features Al's music alongside that of Max Richter and John Adams. Visit the BBC film site September 2010 Starting scoring a new film for the BBC - "Empire Of The Desert Ants". and just got news that "Andrea: Queen of Mantas" has scooped it's 9th international award at Green Screen, Germany (Best Marine Film) It's also been nominated at the Ocean Film Festival, Monterey, California. Visit the "Andrea Queen Of Mantas" BBC site August 2010 Dolphins have swum away, now back on "Snork Maiden" with Jenny, and heading north from SW France towards Falmouth in Cornwall. Coming back to start work on a relentlessly dark and violent film about ...ants - "Empire Of the Desert Ants". One of the set designers from the film "Alien" is involved, so will no doubt be pretty creepy. July 2010 Scoring "The Dolphins Of Shark Bay" for Big Wave TV and the BBC. "Andrea Queen Of Mantas" has collected another prestigious award - the Cine Golden Eagle. Late June 2010 While sailing off France got a surprise call to start work with Emmy award winning director Nick Stringer. Had to sail boat quick from Southern Brittany to La Rochelle in slightly necky weather - with wife and skipper Jenny Jones, we just got to EasyJet in time. Nick has been filming for six months on Australia's north west coast - Shark Bay. A film about dolphins, which has captured on film for the first time, the birth of a baby bottlenose dolphin.The film will show in November 2010 as part of the BBC's new "Natural World" season. We go back to the "Snork Maiden" in August and plan to bring her back to Falmouth, weather gods permitting. May & June 2010 Away sailing "Snork Maiden" in the Bay of Biscay. Excited at prospect of recording some tracks at sea on my iPhone. Follow the adventure on the Snork Maiden Blog April 2010 Awards -"Andrea: Queen Of Mantas" has won a Silver Medal at the New York Film and Television Festival, multiple IWWF Awards at the Missoula International Willdlife Film Festval, Montana, and is finalist in the Festival De L'Oiseau Et de La Nature. Expecting more and similar news for this wonderful film. March 2010 Recording a new album of guitar music in a house near Halzaphron Cliffs,The Lizard, Cornwall. Wild weather and big seas. No internet, no phone signal unless you climb the cliff. This means no distractions, no Google. No mail. Weird. But good. *February 2010* Al's music is being used in a new film for the BBC "Jane Goodall: Beauty and The Beasts" about the great veteran researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall, and a lifetime spent with Chimpanzees. The film is set to broadcast on BBC4 in December 2010. January 2010 Al is very pleased to announce that he has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Faber Music. He joins a brilliant roster of some of the best known and respected film and television composers working in the UK and internationally. These include Carl Davies, Howard Goodall, Stephen Warbeck, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Dan Jones. Go to the Faber Music site here. January 2010 Al has finished work on a new album for Universal's Atmosphere label. Release is due third quarter 2010. December 2009 The film "Hope In A Changing Climate" has been screened at No 10 Downing St and was watched by a global audience of 78 million on BBC World - 27th Nov 2009. Watch Here: Earth's Hope November 2009 "Andrea: Queen Of Mantas" - aired 11 Nov at 8pm BBC2 as part of the flagship "Natural World" series. This film has met with fantastic press and a phenomenal response from viewers. A new giant species discovered, another filmed for the very first time. Watch a short clip of a rare giant sting ray with 2.5m wingspan, never before captured on film: Mysterious Giant Stingray Movie The whole film is available to watch on the BBCiPlayer for the next 3 months (UK Only) Watch Here: "Andrea: Queen Of Mantas" November 2009 Al has been commissioned to score "Hope In A Changing Climate", a unique look at a potential agrarian revolution for the 21st Century. This film will be aired globally Nov 27th on BBC World, and will have a theatrical screening to an audience of world leaders at COP15 - the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit December 7th-18th. This conference is widely seen by the scientific community as the world's last chance to stem runaway global warming. November 2009 DVD Release Nov 4th of "Azorian: The Raising Of the K129" A major 120min Cold War feature documentary from Michael White Films. It tells the story of a secret CIA mission to recover a Russian nuclear armed submarine from a depth of three miles in the central north Pacific, in 1974. This film features spectacular CGI reconstructions, and has an explosive and controversial narrative. See the trailer, DVD sales and more info here: Azorian - the Trail October 2009 "Around The World In Eighty Days" for BBC1 and Children In Need starts a 6 week run 9pm Tuesday 13 Oct. This series features celebrity travellers in a race around the globe - including Frank Skinner, and Michael Palin, John Barrowman etc. Watch here: BBC iPlayer *October 2009* Al is providing music for a major new CH4 series - "Landscape Man", made by Redhouse TV. This 6 hour series is billed by CH4 as the "Grand Designs" for gardens. September 2009 Al is scoring "Around The World Eighty Days" for BBC1. A major six part series due to air in October and November 2009. August 2009 Al & his wife Jenny Jones are back sailing "Snork Maiden" in the Bay Of Biscay. July 2009 Al is scoring "The Manta Queen" for the BBC2 flagship Natural World strand - and Discovery - Big Wave Productions. TX Thursday Nov 12 Autumn 2009. A beautiful film about Giant Manta Rays - the passion of the American marine biologist Andrea Marshall, and her struggle to protect them. Filmed off the coasts of Mozambique and the Maldives. Watch a short film of her work with Giant Mantas here: Giant Mantas Movie June 2009 Al and Jenny Jones are sailing "Snork Maiden" in the Bay Of Biscay. *MAY 2009* Al has been commissioned to score a new BBC1 6x60 series - a sumptuous revisiting of "Eighty Days Around The World" Transmission will be at 9pm on 6 consecutive Sundays kicking off on October 11 2009. March 2009 "Beyond Boundaries - Where Are They Now?" New 2 part series for BBC2 Starts 11pm Sunday March 22 2009. March 2009 "Hero Animals" a new 6 part drama doc series for CH5 begins 7.30pm March 4 2009. Watch here: Hero Animals Jan 2009 Writing....and co-lecturing with TV producer Jenny Jones on use of music in film, to University Of the West of England 3rd year media students, December 2008 Al is scoring "Azorian: The Raising Of the K129" A major 120min Cold War feature documentary from Michael White Films. It tells the story of a secret CIA mission to recover a Russian nuclear armed submarine from a depth of three miles in the central north Pacific, in 1974. It features spectacular CGI reconstructions. See the trailer and more info here: Azorian - the Trail Al is going to Vienna the 15-17 Dec for the final mix. November 2008 Al's music is being featured at the Monet exhibition at the Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. *October 8 2008* "Wilderness Explored" BBC4 (3x60) starts Wednesday Oct 8th at 9pm - see synopsis and clips for this great series for the BBC: Wilderness Explored August 17 2008 "Pacific Abyss" BBC1 (3x60), Starts Sunday Aug. 17th at 8pm - "...this lavish series...a thrilling insight into an unspoiled pocket of underwater heaven." - Radio Times October 5 2008. Al has started work on a major x120 minute cold war drama doc, "Azorian: The Raising Of The K129" for Michael White Films, Vienna. This film is set to raise the bar for CGI in drama doc, and has an explosive and controversial narrative. TX TBC 2008: "Last Flight To Kuwait -The Mystery Of BA Flight 149" Discovery USA and ASIA (x 90minutes) July 12. 7.30pm CH4. DarlowSmithson's "The Day Of the Kamikaze". This film reached no 4 in the "Broadcast" top ten feature length docs of 2008 so far. May June 2008 "Across The Andes - Beyond Boundaries" BBC2, (4x60) Easter Monday Al provided music for "Bear Grylls' Mission Everest" a feature length doc (x90) screened at 9pm CH 4. This film reached no 8 in the "Broadcast" top ten docs of 2008 so far. 18 Feb CH4. DarlowSmithson's "The Day Of the Kamikaze" screened to rave reviews - Radio Times Documentary Of the Week, and pick of the day in much of the national press. "..pure cinema, astonishing..heartbreaking, and beautifully shot.." "..sensitive..breathtaking.." "..Rivetting.." Jan/Feb 2008 "Paradise Or Bust" - Transmitted: 9pm pm BBC2 Mondays - Al provided music for the 5 x 60 mins series made by Shine for BBC2. Eco warriors have created a new community on the remote Fijian island of Vorovoro - follow their adventures and visit the site - www.tribewanted.com April/May 2008 Al is scoring "Wilderness Explored"- a 3x60 series for the BBC Natural History Unit - telling the stories of early European explorers who reached the wildernesses of Canada, The Congo, and Australia. This series has masses of beautiful footage and a fascinating narrative TX TBC 2008. August 2007. "Nuremburg - Goering's Last Stand" has won the prestigious 2007 BAFTA Hugh Weldon award (Specialist Factual including performance - series and single films). An amazing drama documentary directed by Peter Nicholson, it won this "best film" award in a field of very strong nominees, including a spectacular episode of David Attenborough's "Planet Earth". September 2007. Al has now finished the score for "Pacific Abyss", a three part flagship series for BBC1 and Discovery. Produced by the BBC's Natural History Unit, the series goes in search of new marine species off the deepwater reefs of Micronesia. May 2007. )Comic Relief 2007: providing music for the fundraising films being produced by the BBC. May 2007 Completed the score for " Day Of The Kamikaze", (Director - Peter Nicholson) a one and a half hour drama doc about the Japanese suicide pilots of WW2. Produced by DarlowSmithson for CH4 and Smithsonian TV - delivery in early 2008. April 2007 Work completed on a major new dramadoc for the BBC, Discovery USA and ZDF Germany - "Last Flight To Kuwait -The Mystery Of BA Flight 149" for Blakeway Films. TX April 2007 BBC2 Jan 2007 Provided music for a BBC1 xfifteen part series, "Mission Africa" - adventure with a conservation theme. It ran from Wed. 3rd Jan @ 8.30pm for 3 months . A Diverse West production for BBC1 MORE ABOUT "LAST FLIGHT TO KUWAIT - THE MYSTERY OF BA FLIGHT 149": The making of this film has proved controversial . It investigates allegations that successive UK governments have been guilty of deception, lies and coverups in the wake of Saddam's invasion of Kuwait in 1991. The story has now broken in both the Sunday times, and the Mail On Sunday. It is set to run, Liberal democrat MP Norman Baker has called for a full independent public enquiry in a recent press conference at the House Of Commons. Full article from the Sunday Times here: www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2404675.html And From the Mail On Sunday: www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=410436&in_page_id=1770