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HPC News Hollywood News Music/Concerts

Tenant Spotlight with Marrsha Sill

Chicago Music Library's Executive Marrsha Sill.
We chatted with Chicago Music Library’s Executive Vice President, Marrsha Sill.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Marrsha Sill of Chicago Music Library from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Marrsha Sill is the Executive Vice President at Chicago Music Library. Marrsha Sill began her music library career as an Account Executive at APM Music, where she spent many years becoming an expert at promoting and growing APM’s business in the areas of film, television and advertising. Then became Vice President of Film and TV Music at Megatrax and Opus 1 music Library. Marrsha is now a proud member of the “Chicago Music Library” team where she retains her outstanding industry-wide reputation for “representing the artists.”

Marrsha, how did Chicago Music Library (CML) come about?

The Chicago Music Library was the dream child of Robert J. Walsh (veteran film composer and creator of the Hollywood Film Music Library) and James E. Moore (Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur). On a flight back from Chicago to LA, both decided that there was a future for a new boutique online music catalog with unique, pristine content. They then were very fortunate to find the multi-talented Nicholas Castelli (VP – Operations), Marrsha Sill (Executive VP), Jason Jamison (Sales Manager), and Renee Dawes (Creative Manager). And POW! a diverse and talented team was born!

How is Chicago Music Library making its mark in the entertainment industry?

Look, we know music is everywhere so we must separate ourselves by being known as a reliable resource and service – focusing on providing the best content efficiently and affordably, no email goes unanswered. If we have what you’re looking for you will get it ASAP, usually within the hour, and if not we can create it on spec, and done with a smile.

Who is your typical client and how are most of their licenses used?

Our typical client is a studio music exec/creative and/or an independent music supervisor, independent filmmaker, or online content creator, who use “Trusted Sources” such as CML to acquire the music that they need for their production. Some clients score their entire production with library music, or a variation of custom and library music. And some peeps use us for everything the composer does not do (needle drops).

Any notable movies or shows?

Well, over the years we’ve had hundreds of placements, however, some recent feature films would be The ButlerRunner Runner and Paranormal Activity 5. Further, we’ve had several placements on TV such as, ABC’s Revenge and Warner Brothers’ Shameless, and several placements in Sony’s shows Justified and Community, to name a few.

Your company was founded in 2011. What key changes have you seen the industry take since then?

Wow, well since 2011 we just like all industries have felt the economic changes, everything from decreased budgets to music sources giving away music for free. Most notably would be the increased requests for indie bands by music creatives and, subsequently, the demand for independent music libraries such as CML to carry this content. In essence we are becoming the new record industry!

What’s in the future for Chicago Music Library?

The Chicago Music Library is constantly growing and innovating – offering it’s diverse catalogs at moderate industry rates in many unique ways; constantly featuring new catalog expansion, and the best possible service to our clients in the Film, Television, Advertising, and Online world. Most importantly, we feel it is our duty to educate others and take the lead in moving the industry forward. We are constantly on social media engaging with others and have actually just launched our Face the Music Blog Series (#FTMBS) on our website, where we will offer unique industry insights and news.

The Chicago Music Library team would like to extend a neighborly offer to all HPC tenants, which includes 25% off all annual and per project blankets!

 

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to interview with us, Marrsha!

Categories
Hollywood News Movies/Television

Summer Movies Lineup

We see summer in the horizon, but what is summer without those top blockbuster movies? Los Angeles is no stranger to good weather, but when we’re not busy catching rays, you’ll find us in the theaters playing critic to some of the best summer films. Last summer was topped by Iron Man 3, and this summer is sure to not disappoint. So what do you have to look forward to?

We already saw the official kickoff to summer blockbusters with The Amazing-Spiderman 2 early this month, Godzilla last week, and we’ll be seeing X-Men: Days of Future Past release this weekend. What’s a huge movie franchise without Disney’s remake of the Sleeping Beauty story we all know and love with Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent to hit theaters May 30.

June will be faring well with DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train a Dragon 2 expected to be a hit. To close out the month, Transformers: Age of Extinction (that’s the 4th installment of the franchise in case you lost count, and no, there’s no Shia LaBeouf) will premiere on June 27.

July will bring in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the sequel to 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes. What are we personally excited about in July? The Purge: Anarchy. The original 2013 The Purge was so intriguing that we just can’t wait for more.

By August we’re all sad to be seeing those perfect summer months come and gone, but we still have those films to look forward to. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is expected to do well, as well as the childhood favorite, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

See Box Office Mojo’s predictions for this summer’s hits.

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Glendale News Movies/Television

Glendale Making its Debut on HGTV’s ‘Flipping the Block’

Hello HGTV, and welcome to Glendale! HGTV came to Glendale to film their newest reality television show, Flipping the Block. Four condominiums in Glendale were chosen to be featured in a new competition show where two-member teams go head-to-head to remodel their home on a $40,000 budget, which is then to be sold at a future auction. The team/condo that brings in the highest bid at the auction will be crowned the winners of the competition, and be taking home an additional $50,000 in cash.

The four identical condominiums are located on Sonora Avenue, and are each 960-square feet. The starting bid for each condominium at the auction will be $225,000, and will take place on May 17 at the Hilton in Glendale. The condos each have two bedrooms and one and a half baths.

Flipping the Block was shot over 7 weeks, and is the newest reality competition to hit the Home and Garden Television network. The show is based on an Australian program that follows the same premise. Flipping the Block is set to premiere in July on HGTV.

See the full story at Glendale News Press.

Categories
Movies/Television Music/Concerts

‘American Idol’ is Back for a 14th Season

Yes, American Idol is here to stay. Fox has announced that American Idol will return for its 14th season this year. There has been no confirmation as to who will be at the judges table this time around, but they finished off season 13 with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban.

The network made the news official by announcing the audition dates that will bring in the ultra-talented singers for this season. American Idol auditions will hit 15 cities across the country, with its launch on June 18 in Minneapolis. The reality singing competition is sure to be a good one, as always.

Fox sees competition with other reality singing competitions, such as NBC’s The Voice, which is on its 6th season. The Voice is home to judges/coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani. The most recent performance episode of American Idol brought in 8.65 million viewers.

See full story at E!.

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Movies/Television Celebrity News

Damon Wayans Jr. Now a Regular on ‘New Girl’

Damon Wayans Jr. is now a regular on New Girl. Wayans starred in the pilot episode as Coach on New Girl, but left after that. He made his return to the show this year, during season 3, and he’s been given “regular cast member” status for season 4 since then.

Damon Wayans Jr. made his first appearance on New Girl in 2011 for the pilot episode, but had to exit the show after it was picked up by Fox because of a second season renewal of his prior commitment, ABC’s Happy Endings. The show ended after season 3 in 2013, and Wayans made his return to New Girl just in time for season 3 in 2013. Fox added him for a 6-episode arc, but was soon after signed on as a special guest star for the remainder of the season. His title as a regular on the cast comes as no surprise as he starred in 17 consecutive episodes in season 3.

Wayans plays Coach, the basketball playing roommate who Jess, played by Zooey Deschanel, replaced in the loft. The other loft mates are Nick and Schmidt, played by Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield. Damon Wayans Jr. has been highly sought after for numerous pilots during the recent pilot season, turning down projects this time for New Girl.

Read full story at The Hollywood Reporter.