Walther Neto is a Brazilian director, pianist, composer, conductor, music filmmaker and artistic director who lives in Sao Paulo and performs classical, jazz and contemporary formations.
In the 90s began his contact with Brazilian TV and composed songs for several opening TV Shows on SBT, Record TV, Globo channels.
1. How would you describe your musical background?
My background is as a classical and jazz composer, and then knowledge and study of Brazilian music, not only samba or bossa nova, but a wealth of rhythms and sounds that Brazil has. Having had the opportunity to work with popular and classical music has helped me in my career as a composer for Films.
2. What is your compositional process?
The process depends very much on the relationship with the Director. The more I can understand what he thinks and hears, the more I can translate that into the narrative of the film. To understand the expectations, and to be able to present new ways to always be one more tool to enhance the dramaturgy.
Then I enter the phase of creating the harmonic and melodic ideas and searching for a sound identity for the film. First I assemble them all in my DAW, and then we go to the studio to record with the musicians.
Walther working at the piano.
3. You are from Brazil. Do you think that your heritage influences your musical style at all?
This influence must be beneficial to the picture. Yes, I will use Brazilian rhythms and sounds if the composition allows it; however, if the film's characteristics are different, I, as a composer, must have all of the tools necessary to write what the scene and the director require, whether it is a Baroque piece, a Big Band piece, or any other style.
We need to be ready for it, and then we need excellent performers to put the styles into action.
4. What can you tell us about a recent project that you have completed?
I finished 4 short films and 3 feature films in 2021, as a composer and sound designer. The feature film Destinos Opostos is a special film because it allowed the use of many Brazilian rhythms, and a search for a cinematographic language that unites regionality with a more universal character.
A mixture of orchestral and country guitars from the Brazilian Pantanal region. Composing pieces that could maintain the flavour of the Pantanal and at the same time, a universal sonority was a great challenge.
Aside from the songs, I composed music for the film, attempting to preserve the region's
harmonic patterns.
5. Do you plan to remain in Brazil or can you see yourself to another country such as USA, or UK?
The film industry in Brazil is growing, and there are numerous chances. My production firm has more than 5 projects planned for this year, including an 8-episode streaming series, two-part documentaries, and more than three films planned for 2022.
I'll continue to study and attend events outside of the country that will help me better my education and network with producers, distributors, and directors, as well as attend film festivals. But if good chances present themselves, we can't ignore them, and I'll go where they are.
That concludes things for this interview. We hope you enjoyed reading. For more from Walther you can check out the links below:
Contact - jack@northernfilmorchestra.com
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/nforchestra
Twitter - https://twitter.com/NFOrchestra
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