Samantha Fonti
Encyclopedia
Samantha Fonti http://www.samanthafonti.com (born 12 February 1973) is an Australian film composer and classically trainedviolin
ist.
Samantha Fonti was raised and born in Sydney, Australia.
She started her classical music training at the age of 3 and completed her Bachelor of Music degree as a violin major at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
in 2000. She also attended the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) graduate screen composition course in Sydney.
She is most known for her highly emotive orchestral film scoring and as a former session musician and multi-instrumentalist, performs on most of her scores. All works presented on her website (www.samanthafonti.com) are programmed and performed by Samantha.
She was nominated for Best Original Score for the short film Moving Day at the St Kilda International Film Festival 2011 and was a finalist for APRA's Professional Development Awards in 2009.
Her feature films credits include composing the score for Brush, The 7th Hunt http://www.the7thhunt.com which screened at the New York City Horror Film Festival http://www.nychorrorfest.com/ in 2008 and You Can't Stop the Murders
as additional score composer.
Currently signed to Perfect Pitch Publishing (http://www.perfectpitchpublishing.net) as a commissioned composer, she has worked on television series for Endemol Southern Star
and Cordell Jigsaw http://cordelljigsaw.com/about.htm including Big Brother Australia (2008), Download (2008), Friday Night Live
(2008), Gladiators, Battlefronts, Bondi Rescue Bali, Bondi Rescue
, Kenny's World
, ABC's Message Stick
, Black Olive and Burke's Backyard
.
She has worked on several ABC
documentaries including Boxing for Palm Island, Desperate Times, Desperate Measures and Sisters in the Black Movement and Channel 7's Hardliners. She has scored many television commercials including Mercedes Venger
, Sony, Nurofen
, St Vinnies Christmas Appeal, Volvo
, Asthma Foundation http://www.asthmansw.org.au, Friends of the Earth
and Soothers http://www.nestle.com.au/Products/Remedies/Soothers/default.htm.
She has scored over 20 short films including the award-winning Dark Horse http://darkhorsefilm.com/ winner for Best Short at Byron Bay International Film Festival, Spoonman http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400853/ (winner of Flickerfest
2003), ABC's The Farm, Death's Requiem http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1002975/ winning awards at 2007 Method Fest http://www.methodfest.com in Los Angeles, St Kilda Film Festival, 2007 Shriekfest Los Angeles International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival http://www.shriekfest.com, Big Island Film Festival (Hawaii)http://www.bigislandfilmfestival.com, Swansea Bay Film Festival (Wales) & Staten Island Film Festival http://www.sifilmfestival.org. Other shorts include Wrong Answer http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480059/, winner of the 2005 Frankly Film Festival http://www.franklyzoe.com/
and 2007 Red Rock Film Festival http://www.ophilia.com/
As a performer she is most known as the violinist from Vicious Hairy Mary http://www.myspace.com/vicioushairymary and as a session player and string arranger including Silverchair
, Wendy Matthews
, The Whitlams
, Caligula, Def FX
, Vicious Hairy Mary, Primary and Circus Monoxide http://www.circusmonoxide.com.au.
She has toured nationally and internationally throughout Europe and Asia and at various festivals and events including the Commonwealth Games
(2006), Big Day Out
, Falls Festival
, Byron Bay Arts and Music Festival, Peats Ridge Festival http://www.peatsridgefestival.com.au and Tamworth Country Music Festival
.
Brush (2011), The 7th Hunt (2008), (Miramax) You Cant Stop the Murders (2002)
Advertising:
Venger
(2011) Nurofen Zavance (2009), Australian Geographic (2009), St Vinnies Christmas Appeal - Clemengers BBDO (2007), Volvo Cars - Chase (2007), Asthma Foundation - Escape (2007), The Heat is On - Friends of the Earth (2006)& Soothers theme song (2004)
Series:
City Chic (2011), Big Brother 2008 (commissioned composer), Battlefronts (2008 - commissioned composer), Gladiators (2008 - commissioned composer), Download (2008 - commissioned composer), Bondi Rescue Bali (2008 - commissioned composer), Black Olive (2003 - commissioned composer),
Burke's Backyard -'Tropical Tree Make Over' (2002 - commissioned composer)
Documentaries:
(ABC) Boxing for Palm Island (2010), (ABC) Sisters in the Black Movement(2002) & (ABC) Desperate Times, Desperate Measures (2002)
Short Films:
Mercedes 'Venger'
(2011), Dark Horse (2009), Daysleeper (2009), The Farm (2009), Best Enemies (2009), Deaths Requiem (2007), Wrong Answer (2005), Control (2005), Pookie (2004), Language of Love (2004), Rendezvous (2003), Spoonman (2002), Echoes in the Mountains (2002)
Other Media:
ABC Message Stick compilation album(2002), Book - Post Me to the Prime Minister (2004), Mokal Music Sound Libraries (2001), Soundtrax Sound Libraries (2000/1)
String Arranging and Recording:
Commonwealth Games 2006- Fly By Night, Circus Monoxide - Crash and Burn (2005), Tracy Redhead (2004 & 2008), Darren Hanlon (2002 - Hello Stranger album), Silverchair (2000 -Neon Ballroom), The Whitlams (1999 -'Melbourne), Wendy Matthews (1999 & 2000), Vicious Hairy Mary (1999 - Orchestra Phantasma), Primary (1998 & 2000), Robyn Loau (1998 - Love Addiction), Eva Trout (1997 - album), Def FX (1997 - Majick), Caligula (1996 - Rubanesque), Karma Zoo (1995 - Karma Zoo), Godstar (1994 - Godstar), Beathaven (1991, 1992 & 1993 - album & singles)
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist.
Samantha Fonti was raised and born in Sydney, Australia.
She started her classical music training at the age of 3 and completed her Bachelor of Music degree as a violin major at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
in 2000. She also attended the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) graduate screen composition course in Sydney.
She is most known for her highly emotive orchestral film scoring and as a former session musician and multi-instrumentalist, performs on most of her scores. All works presented on her website (www.samanthafonti.com) are programmed and performed by Samantha.
She was nominated for Best Original Score for the short film Moving Day at the St Kilda International Film Festival 2011 and was a finalist for APRA's Professional Development Awards in 2009.
Her feature films credits include composing the score for Brush, The 7th Hunt http://www.the7thhunt.com which screened at the New York City Horror Film Festival http://www.nychorrorfest.com/ in 2008 and You Can't Stop the Murders
You Can't Stop The Murders
You Can't Stop the Murders is a 2003 Australian comedy film, directed by Anthony Mir, and written by and starring Mir, Gary Eck and Akmal Saleh. The plot revolves around a series of Village People-themed murders in a small town, and the police who investigate the crimes...
as additional score composer.
Currently signed to Perfect Pitch Publishing (http://www.perfectpitchpublishing.net) as a commissioned composer, she has worked on television series for Endemol Southern Star
Endemol Southern Star
Endemol Southern Star was an Australian television production company made up of a joint venture between Southern Star Group and Endemol. The joint company ceased to exist after Endemol bought Southern Star Group in 2009.-Programs:...
and Cordell Jigsaw http://cordelljigsaw.com/about.htm including Big Brother Australia (2008), Download (2008), Friday Night Live
Friday Night Live
Friday Night Live may refer to:* Friday Night Live , a television series aired on Network Ten as a part of Big Brother Australia* Friday Night Live , successor to Saturday Live...
(2008), Gladiators, Battlefronts, Bondi Rescue Bali, Bondi Rescue
Bondi Rescue
Bondi Rescue is an Australian factual television program which is broadcast on Channel Ten. The programme, which has aired for six seasons, follows the daily lives of the lifeguards who patrol Bondi Beach....
, Kenny's World
Kenny's World
Kenny's World is an Australian television mockumentary on Network Ten that is a spin-off from the 2006 mockumentary film Kenny.The series stars Shane Jacobson, reprising his role of Kenny Smyth, Australia's favourite portaloo plumber who scours the globe for bizarre, intriguing and often downright...
, ABC's Message Stick
Message Stick
Message Stick is an Australian television series about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lifestyles, culture and issues. It began screening in 1999 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It features features profile stories, interviews, video clips, short films and cooking segments.The...
, Black Olive and Burke's Backyard
Burke's Backyard
Burke's Backyard is an Australian gardening and lifestyle program, broadcast on both radio and television. On television, it was a regular weekly series on the Nine Network from 1987 to 2004.- History :...
.
She has worked on several ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
documentaries including Boxing for Palm Island, Desperate Times, Desperate Measures and Sisters in the Black Movement and Channel 7's Hardliners. She has scored many television commercials including Mercedes Venger
Venger
Venger is a branded film series directed by Marc Furmie. It is seen as a possible re-invention of the BMW film series The Hire. Production on the 15-minute movie began in July of 2010 when executive producer Jesse Press arranged a commercial deal with Sydney based Mercedes-Benz dealership G Brothers...
, Sony, Nurofen
Nurofen
Nurofen is the brand name of a range of pain-relief medication made by Reckitt Benckiser. Introduced in 1983, the Nurofen brand was acquired following Reckitt Benckiser's acquisition of Boots Healthcare in 2005...
, St Vinnies Christmas Appeal, Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, Asthma Foundation http://www.asthmansw.org.au, Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
and Soothers http://www.nestle.com.au/Products/Remedies/Soothers/default.htm.
She has scored over 20 short films including the award-winning Dark Horse http://darkhorsefilm.com/ winner for Best Short at Byron Bay International Film Festival, Spoonman http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400853/ (winner of Flickerfest
Flickerfest
Flickerfest is an Australian, Academy Award-accredited short film festival. Founded in 1992 at Balmain High School which is now called Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus, it is held every January in Sydney. The films then go on tour throughout Australia. The Festival Director is currently...
2003), ABC's The Farm, Death's Requiem http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1002975/ winning awards at 2007 Method Fest http://www.methodfest.com in Los Angeles, St Kilda Film Festival, 2007 Shriekfest Los Angeles International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival http://www.shriekfest.com, Big Island Film Festival (Hawaii)http://www.bigislandfilmfestival.com, Swansea Bay Film Festival (Wales) & Staten Island Film Festival http://www.sifilmfestival.org. Other shorts include Wrong Answer http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480059/, winner of the 2005 Frankly Film Festival http://www.franklyzoe.com/
and 2007 Red Rock Film Festival http://www.ophilia.com/
As a performer she is most known as the violinist from Vicious Hairy Mary http://www.myspace.com/vicioushairymary and as a session player and string arranger including Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
, Wendy Matthews
Wendy Matthews
Wendy Joan Matthews is an Australian adult alternative pop singer originally from Canada who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist...
, The Whitlams
The Whitlams
The discography of The Whitlams consists of six studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, and eighteen singles.-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Videos:-Music videos:-Awards:...
, Caligula, Def FX
Def FX
Def FX was an Australian industrial-dance-rock group, formed in Sydney. The core of the group was keyboardist and vocalist Sean Lowry and vocalist Fiona Horne ....
, Vicious Hairy Mary, Primary and Circus Monoxide http://www.circusmonoxide.com.au.
She has toured nationally and internationally throughout Europe and Asia and at various festivals and events including the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
(2006), Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
, Falls Festival
Falls Festival
The Falls Festival is a New Year's Eve music festival, held annually in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania Australia since 1993.It lasts four days, from 29 December to 1 January each year. The headline acts play mostly over two evenings, 30 December and 31 December...
, Byron Bay Arts and Music Festival, Peats Ridge Festival http://www.peatsridgefestival.com.au and Tamworth Country Music Festival
Tamworth Country Music Festival
The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia and is a celebration of Australian country music culture and heritage. The festival lasts for two weeks during late January and during this period the city of Tamworth comes alive, with...
.
Screen Credits
Feature Films:Brush (2011), The 7th Hunt (2008), (Miramax) You Cant Stop the Murders (2002)
Advertising:
Venger
Venger
Venger is a branded film series directed by Marc Furmie. It is seen as a possible re-invention of the BMW film series The Hire. Production on the 15-minute movie began in July of 2010 when executive producer Jesse Press arranged a commercial deal with Sydney based Mercedes-Benz dealership G Brothers...
(2011) Nurofen Zavance (2009), Australian Geographic (2009), St Vinnies Christmas Appeal - Clemengers BBDO (2007), Volvo Cars - Chase (2007), Asthma Foundation - Escape (2007), The Heat is On - Friends of the Earth (2006)& Soothers theme song (2004)
Series:
City Chic (2011), Big Brother 2008 (commissioned composer), Battlefronts (2008 - commissioned composer), Gladiators (2008 - commissioned composer), Download (2008 - commissioned composer), Bondi Rescue Bali (2008 - commissioned composer), Black Olive (2003 - commissioned composer),
Burke's Backyard -'Tropical Tree Make Over' (2002 - commissioned composer)
Documentaries:
(ABC) Boxing for Palm Island (2010), (ABC) Sisters in the Black Movement(2002) & (ABC) Desperate Times, Desperate Measures (2002)
Short Films:
Mercedes 'Venger'
Venger
Venger is a branded film series directed by Marc Furmie. It is seen as a possible re-invention of the BMW film series The Hire. Production on the 15-minute movie began in July of 2010 when executive producer Jesse Press arranged a commercial deal with Sydney based Mercedes-Benz dealership G Brothers...
(2011), Dark Horse (2009), Daysleeper (2009), The Farm (2009), Best Enemies (2009), Deaths Requiem (2007), Wrong Answer (2005), Control (2005), Pookie (2004), Language of Love (2004), Rendezvous (2003), Spoonman (2002), Echoes in the Mountains (2002)
Other Media:
ABC Message Stick compilation album(2002), Book - Post Me to the Prime Minister (2004), Mokal Music Sound Libraries (2001), Soundtrax Sound Libraries (2000/1)
String Arranging and Recording:
Commonwealth Games 2006- Fly By Night, Circus Monoxide - Crash and Burn (2005), Tracy Redhead (2004 & 2008), Darren Hanlon (2002 - Hello Stranger album), Silverchair (2000 -Neon Ballroom), The Whitlams (1999 -'Melbourne), Wendy Matthews (1999 & 2000), Vicious Hairy Mary (1999 - Orchestra Phantasma), Primary (1998 & 2000), Robyn Loau (1998 - Love Addiction), Eva Trout (1997 - album), Def FX (1997 - Majick), Caligula (1996 - Rubanesque), Karma Zoo (1995 - Karma Zoo), Godstar (1994 - Godstar), Beathaven (1991, 1992 & 1993 - album & singles)