105: The Moth Diaries (2011) - With Janal Bechthold
In the run up to Shocktober, and with Cam in LA, Becky sits down with composer Janal Bechthold to talk the 2011 gothic YA novel adaptation The Moth Diaries. Directed by the legendary Mary Harron, with a score composed by Leslie Barber, we get excited about the complicated world of vampires (Ghosts? Vampire Ghosts?), integrating pop music with original composition and how to make an effectively ambiguous movie. As an added bonus, we discuss Janal’s excellent profile in Now Magazine, about why the industry of composers is so full of dudes, and what that actually means.
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The Moth Diaries is available to rent from the NFB.
This week’s end credit music is Numb by Marina and the Diamonds.
On this week's show
Janal Bechthold was 9 years old when she discovered her love of composition. She has composed music for everything from string quintet, piano solo, alternative rock music, choir, marching band, to toilets and garbage cans!
Janal's compositional style is diverse and innovative as she tends to combine musical elements and styles in a natural manner. Her comfort using non-traditional textures and tambres within her music makes for a fresh and intriguing sound. The multi-faceted nature of her musical background makes Janal unique in that she has a large amount of resources, skills, experiences, and ideas from which to draw to create compelling and emotionally charged music.
Janal studied composition while completing an Honours Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.
"Music Therapy was a natural transition to scoring for film and other media.... It enables me to recognize the emotional content of a scene and be able to create music which would support the emotions of the actors, the underlying themes, and guide the audience to a greater experience."
As an integral part of film and television projects, Janal's music has appeared in numerous film festivals and broadcast both domestic and internationally.
Find out more about Janal on her Twitter.
