Mel Wesson: Music is Noise

Features - Black Hawk Down (2001)


Black Hawk Down

Black Hawk Down (2001)

Directed by Ridley Scott
Released in theatres on December 28, 2001

Visit the official website

Credit: Ambient Music Design

Overview: I'd read Mark Bowden's book during the Hannibal dub, before spending a few weeks back home with an eclectic collection of material, including Moroccan street scenes and Black Hawk helicopters recorded on location. I arrived back in LA just after 9/11 and at the subsequent studio screening emotions were running high. Eight weeks were taken out of the post-production schedule leaving us just five to complete a very emotive score for an extraordinarily powerful movie.

Highlights: "Hunger" paints the opening scene perfectly, but I guess "Mogadishu Blues", the flight into Bakara Market, became my moment, and the only moment in the movie without dialog or effect. The entire picture still sends shivers down me.

Return to the Features Page