james wesley stemple


Composer Reel FEATURED PROJECTS



Bukowski
Every Dog
THE COMPOSER
James Wesley Stemple James Wesley Stemple enjoys a prolific career composing music for film and television, applying his natural diversity of style and attitude to suit each project's inherent uniqueness.

While James is well versed in cutting edge technology, he still prefers handcrafting some manuscripts on actual paper. "I prefer working on a surface that I can spill coffee on—safely," he smiles dryly. "It is my goal to blend the best elements from the acoustic and digital worlds to deliver premium sound and the biggest "bang for the buck."

James is comfortable working both domestically and internationally, and has crafted music for features, television, documentaries, animation, commercials and live performance. Sparked by the challenges of exploring new directions and diverse styles, the projects he pursues are usually ones he feels strongly about, despite box-office projections.

His recent work, "WALT & EL GRUPO" is the story of Walt Disney's journey to South America in 1941 on the eve of the United States' involvement in WWII. A film blending art and politics, "WALT & EL GRUPO" is complimented by an original score written in styles from Brazil, Argentina, the Andes as well as vintage American swing. Preparation for the score included travel to Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and New York to research styles, meet with musicians and scout studios. The original soundtrack was recorded in multiple locations with a stellar group of 35 musicians. The film will premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2008.

"SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS," is a testimony to his deep commitment to a project he believes in. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize. It is a powerful look at crime and punishment, forgiveness and redemption - all brought about by a prison production of Shakespeare's Tempest.

"BUKOWSKI: BORN INTO THIS," (also a Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee) is a rare and piercing look into the complex heart and soul of a literary iconoclast, whose work continues to resonate with each succeeding generation through its clarity and truth.

Please, take a few moments to sample some of the music from these unique and eclectic scores.

THE SCORING PROCESS
"Greatness doesn't come from asking for 'the same thing, only different.' Find someone whose aesthetic you admire and work with them to create something new and exciting."

"The task of composing music for a film is a complex one which requires a musical solution that can consider many different (and sometimes competing) elements and respond with an organizing thread that can be woven throughout. This musical thread may be called upon to take an aggressive role in the case of main titles and highly emotional moments, or may best serve the picture by merely supporting what is already being said on camera in a very subliminal and transparent manner. Sometimes the music may act as narrator (hopefully without editorializing). Sometimes its most powerful message is silence. The important fact is that it sets a tone for the film that acts as a unifying element."


CONTACT INFO
James Wesley Stemple
email: contact.js@verizon.net
phone: 310.475.4289 Audio CD/DVD packages are available by request to interested production entities.
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 CREDITS
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
  • EXPLORING THE HIGH FRONTIER
    Emmy Nomination
  • THE PINK PANTHER
    Emmy Nomination
  • SLEEPING GIANT
    First Prize–National Media Music Competition | Premiered by the Denver Symphony Orchestra

MOTION PICTURES & DOCUMENTARIES
(partial listing)
  • WALT & El GRUPO
    Theodore Thomas Productions
    Theodore Thomas, director
  • SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS
    Philomath Films
    Hank Rogerson, director
  • BUKOWSKI: BORN INTO THIS
    Magnolia Pictures
    John Dullaghan, director
  • APRIL FOOL'S DAY
    Sony Pictures
    The Butcher Brothers, directors
  • EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY
    Red Dog Films
    Marc Chiat, director
  • DAMNED RIVER
    MGM/United Artists
    Michael Schroeder, director
  • EDEN AT THE END OF THE WORLD
    National Geographic Special
    Doug Bertran, director
  • EXPLORING THE HIGH FRONTIER
    NBC/National Geographic
    Tim Scoones, director
  • THE ROAD TO UBAR
    Thomas Road Productions
    Nicholas Clapp, director

TELEVISION
(partial listing)
  • Jag
  • Journeyman *
  • First Monday *
  • Likely Suspects
  • Perry Mason *
  • Diagnosis: Murder *
  • Jake and the Fatman
  • Father Dowling Mysteries *
  • The Pink Panther *
  • Tiny Toon Adventures *
  • Batman: The Animated Series *
  • Goof Troop *
  • Darkwing Duck *
  • Marsupilami *

  • * co-composer credit

    • Full list of credits available upon request.