Yessian Music Scores & Mixes Interactive 4D Film

July 17th, 2012 by Janice Brown

Yessian Music recently scored and mixed an historical “four-dimensional film,” Northern Light, for Fort Edmonton Park in Alberta Canada.

Yessian has studios in NYC, LA, Detroit and Hamburg, Germany.

The film takes viewers through the history of Edmonton, starting with the journey of the earliest settlers of the area from the ice age and following through to the roaring 20’s – and it premiered at Fort Edmonton Park’s Capitol Theatre.

The film’s producer Doug Yellin explains, “Our goal with Northern Light was to create an experience that not only enhanced the interpretive experience already at Fort Edmonton Park, but to bring some new storytelling and [if you will] magic to the park.”

After months of ethnomusical research Yessian brought the sound of each individual historical period of the Edmonton area to Northern Light by creating music that differentiates and defines the various people who called the area home throughout each era of civilization. Musically, this included tribal songs representing the first nations natives, to the Baroque classical of the European settlers, to the rootsy jigs of the Scottish, into the big band and orchestral sounds of the 20s.

Yessian handled all the music, sound design and mixing – the film was presented in 12.1 surround sound. The lead composer on the project was NYC-based Dan Zank; Jeff Dittenber sound designed the film, and Scott Gatteño mixed it out of Yessian Detroit. Scroll down for a credit list…

Click to watch a short on the making of the film.

Northern Light Credits (Abridged):
Production: Matilda Entertainment in conjunction with Jordan Films
Presented By: Artisan Design
Director, The Bezark Company: Adam Bezark
Director of Photography: Reed Smoot
Executive Producer: Steve Chattargoon
Executive Producer, Artisan Design: Rob Wyatt
Supervising Producer: Cheryl Dalmer
Producer/Director/Writer: Cory Brake
Producer, Matilda Production Services: Doug Yellin
Co-Producers: Doug Steeden & Laurette Bourassa
Creative Director: John King
Post Production: Kevin Mitchell
Sound Design, Mix & Music: Yessian
Creative Director – Audio Producer: Brian Yessian
Music Composer: Dan Zank
Sound Designer: Jeff Dittenber
Sound Mixer: Scott Gatteño
Musicians: Native Drums – Cliff Glaude, Violin/Fiddle – Sonia Lee, Cello – Sarah Cleveland, Flugelhorn/Trumpet – Bill Lucas, French Horn – Brian Kennedy, Double Bass – Scott Gatteño, Percussion – David Taylor, Piano/Organ/Guitar – Dan Zank