Laurence Wright
Encyclopedia
Laurence Wright is a music composer who has composed film scores for award-winning short films as well as attractions for museums, heritage attractions, World's Fairs and theme parks.
(CALARTS). As one of the first students of the prestigious arts program, Wright graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Film and Video.
magazine and Released in 1975. The film, part documentary and part disaster movie spoof, was narrated by Hans Conried
and featured legendary Disney Studios animator, Ward Kimball
in a guest starring role. The film received several awards for the short film category, including "Best of Category" at the San Francisco International Film Festival
, the "Chris Statuette" from the Columbus International Film & Video Festival
, the Golden Eagle Award
at the CINE
Awards in Washington DC, the "Bronze Medal" for the International Film and TV Festival of New York and the "Best of Category" for the Photographic Society of America
's 46th Annual American International Film Festival.
Following his music composition for the model railroad film, Laurence Wright went on to compose the music score for a 1979 short educational film entitled, "Meadowlark Lemon Presents the World," which featured legendary Harlem Globetrotter, Meadowlark Lemon
. The educational short film, which teaches grade school children the importance of mapping and geography, continues to remain in distribution.
In 1980, Laurence Wright performed both the role of actor and the composer of the theme music for the 1980 cult film Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind
. This film, a parody of Steven Speilberg's 1977 box office blockbuster film Close Encounters of the Third Kind
, Closet Cases continues to remain in distribution through Pyramid Media, and can be found readily on the internet through IMDB and YouTube.
pavilion, one of the original attractions to open in 1982 at the Orlando, Florida Walt Disney World EPCOT
theme park. Here, Wright composed the music for the attractions: "Bird and the Robot," "The Water Engine," "Lean Machine," and "Torture Test." The diversity of each composition is a testimony to Wright's broad range as a composer. His music for the attraction, "Bird and the Robot" featured a funky vaudevillian flavor, while the music for the attraction "Torture Test" was recorded in a garage using sounds made by a Cadillac
automobile, and the music for the attraction "The Water Engine," was recorded at London's famous Abbey Road Studios
, and performed by the prestigious 90-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
.
and the California Science Center
, was accompanied by a soundscape
composed by Wright. The exhibit, the first of its kind to employ the three-dimensional theatrical effects "Holavision" presentation, combines film, effects and Wright's musical score to trace the history of the manufacturing process.
Wright also composed the musical score to accompany the presentation of a fictional "history-based" story called "Our American Crossroads," which was a traveling exhibit re-purposed from the original 1936 General Motors
"Parade of Progress," originally featuring GM Futurliner traveling exhibit vehicles. The attraction presented a narrated scale model of a small town which would mechanically transition with historically significant milestones, so as to reveal the improvements brought about by the automobile age.
Some of the music featured on the CD include sessions composed and performed entirely by Wright, as well as his compositions that were recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios, and performed by the 90-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Education
Wright was an early graduate of the then experimental art college, California Institute of the ArtsCalifornia Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
(CALARTS). As one of the first students of the prestigious arts program, Wright graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Film and Video.
Early Career and Awards
Wright's early involvement in film score composition began with composing the original music score for the award winning short film, "Model Railroading Unlimited," commissioned by Model RailroaderModel Railroader
Model Railroader is an American magazine specializing in the hobby of model railroading. It was founded in 1934 by Al C. Kalmbach and is based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It is published monthly by Kalmbach Publishing...
magazine and Released in 1975. The film, part documentary and part disaster movie spoof, was narrated by Hans Conried
Hans Conried
Hans Georg Conried, Jr. was an American comedian, character actor and voice actor.-Early years:He was born on April 15, 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland to Hans Georg Conried, Sr. and Edith Beyr Gildersleeve. His mother was a descendant of Pilgrims, and his father was a Jewish immigrant from Vienna,...
and featured legendary Disney Studios animator, Ward Kimball
Ward Kimball
Ward Walrath Kimball was an animator for the Walt Disney Studios. He was one of Walt Disney's team of animators known as Disney's Nine Old Men.-Career:...
in a guest starring role. The film received several awards for the short film category, including "Best of Category" at the San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival is the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas. Organized by the San Francisco Film Society, the International is held each spring for two weeks, presenting an average of 150 films from over 50 countries...
, the "Chris Statuette" from the Columbus International Film & Video Festival
Columbus International Film & Video Festival
The Columbus International Film + Video Festival is a Columbus, Ohio, USA annual film festival which is designed to encourage and promote the use of film and video in all forms of education and communication...
, the Golden Eagle Award
Golden Eagle Award
The Golden Eagle Award is an accolade by the Russian National Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences of Russia to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, directors, actors, and writers...
at the CINE
CINE
CINE is a consortium formulated to depict American life and thought realistically for a global audience. CINE recognizes and fosters the highest quality of non-theatrical film and video production through its semi-annual film competitions....
Awards in Washington DC, the "Bronze Medal" for the International Film and TV Festival of New York and the "Best of Category" for the Photographic Society of America
Photographic Society of America
The Photographic Society of America is one of the largest, non-profit organization of its kind. Despite its name it is an International organisation open to anyone with an interest in photography. Established in 1934, it has expanded to include members of over 70 countries. The Society includes...
's 46th Annual American International Film Festival.
Following his music composition for the model railroad film, Laurence Wright went on to compose the music score for a 1979 short educational film entitled, "Meadowlark Lemon Presents the World," which featured legendary Harlem Globetrotter, Meadowlark Lemon
Meadowlark Lemon
Meadow "Meadowlark" Lemon is an American basketball player, actor, and minister. For 22 years, Lemon was known as the "Clown Prince" of the touring Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. He played in more than 16,000 games for the Globetrotters and is a 2003 inductee of the Naismith Memorial...
. The educational short film, which teaches grade school children the importance of mapping and geography, continues to remain in distribution.
In 1980, Laurence Wright performed both the role of actor and the composer of the theme music for the 1980 cult film Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind
Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind
Closet Cases of the Nerd Kind is an award-winning short film spoof of the classic science fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.-Plot:...
. This film, a parody of Steven Speilberg's 1977 box office blockbuster film Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, and Cary Guffey...
, Closet Cases continues to remain in distribution through Pyramid Media, and can be found readily on the internet through IMDB and YouTube.
Theme Park Scores
Wright's early work with theme parks included his composing the music for several of the attractions featured at the General Motor's World of MotionWorld of Motion
World of Motion , sponsored by General Motors, was the former tenant of the Transportation pavilion at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort...
pavilion, one of the original attractions to open in 1982 at the Orlando, Florida Walt Disney World EPCOT
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
theme park. Here, Wright composed the music for the attractions: "Bird and the Robot," "The Water Engine," "Lean Machine," and "Torture Test." The diversity of each composition is a testimony to Wright's broad range as a composer. His music for the attraction, "Bird and the Robot" featured a funky vaudevillian flavor, while the music for the attraction "Torture Test" was recorded in a garage using sounds made by a Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
automobile, and the music for the attraction "The Water Engine," was recorded at London's famous Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, and performed by the prestigious 90-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
.
Educational Attraction Scores
In addition to his work with theme park attractions, Laurence Wright also produced musical scores for several educational attractions. Of these are included the attractions: "The Wizard of Change" and "Our American Crossroads." The attraction, "The Wizard of Change," presented to the general public at both the Chicago Museum of Science and IndustryMuseum of Science and Industry
MOSI may refer to:* MoSi — molybdenum silicide, an important material in the semiconductor industry* MOSI - Master Out Slave In, a signal on the Serial Peripheral Interface Bus* MOSI protocol, an extension of the basic MSI cache coherency protocol...
and the California Science Center
California Science Center
The California Science Center is a state agency and museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Billed as the West Coast's largest hands-on science center, the California ScienCenter is a public-private partnership between the State and the California Science Center Foundation...
, was accompanied by a soundscape
Soundscape
A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. The study of soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology...
composed by Wright. The exhibit, the first of its kind to employ the three-dimensional theatrical effects "Holavision" presentation, combines film, effects and Wright's musical score to trace the history of the manufacturing process.
Wright also composed the musical score to accompany the presentation of a fictional "history-based" story called "Our American Crossroads," which was a traveling exhibit re-purposed from the original 1936 General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
"Parade of Progress," originally featuring GM Futurliner traveling exhibit vehicles. The attraction presented a narrated scale model of a small town which would mechanically transition with historically significant milestones, so as to reveal the improvements brought about by the automobile age.
Album
In 2010 Wright released an album, entitled "Ocarina Man," which features some of his early film scores. The title of the 2-CD set is named for the woodwind instrument frequently incorporated into Wright's soundtracks.Some of the music featured on the CD include sessions composed and performed entirely by Wright, as well as his compositions that were recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios, and performed by the 90-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.