James Edward Barker
Encyclopedia
James Edward Barker is a British
composer
, music producer and film producer
. Many of his music works include the hybrid mixture of sonic
experimentation with grandiose classical motifs.
, music producer and film producer
from the UK. He is also a relation to Benjamin Frankel
, one of Britain's most prolific and most successful film composers of all time. He is a self-taught musician from a young age, as well as late becoming classically trained after studying at Newcastle University in the UK. His music suggests influences from an eclectic mix of genres from: Jazz
and Blues
, rock
, Classical
and more contemporary styles of Electronica
and Dance
. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, performing as a guitarist
, percussionist, pianist
and vocalist. Throughout his scores he performs a variety of alternative and ethnic instruments including: Tibetan Singing Bowls
, Thai Saw Duang
,African drums, Japanese Percussion (taikos) Dilruba, Hammered Dulcimer
, Glockenspiel
and his scores often include performances on authentic and traditional instruments but in an experimental and contemporary fashion. Most distinctively, he experiments heavily with many leftfield
techniques for his tones and sounds, including using items such as detuned music boxes, match boxes, bamboo
and he has been quoted for using a number of modified live sampled recordings taken from various atmospheric locations around the world. He quotes Muse
, Matthew Herbert
, Django Reinhardt
, Rachmaninov and film composers Hans Zimmer
, Ennio Morricone
and Christopher Young
as some of his main influences, with the latter inspiring him to "experiment with children's toys".
Other influences can be heard in his work, from bands such as The Crystal Method
and Aphex Twin
. He uses techniques such as recording traditional and authentic instruments through a variety of collectible
guitar pedals and analog machines. He stated: "Much of my work has been the result of trial and error with working for many years alongside the chief designer for Vestax
, Steve Hills, who worked there during the late 1980s and 1990s. We spent time remodelling a number of already rare and vintage pedals in order to attain certain sounds and uses. These have included the rebuilding and modifying of pedals such as the Roland GR-300
and the 1980s Morley Pik series, including the ultra rare Pik-Percussion and Pik-A-Wah pedals. Steve also encouraged me to experiment with the early pre DJ Vestax pedals which he introduced me too".
Prior to University, his late teens were spent in a various rock and Jazz bands as lead guitarist; and recording early demos as a singer–songwriter
at Abbey Road Studios
, where he worked with childhood friend and music engineer Charlie Andrew, drummer and founding member of The Laurel Collective. After honing his production techniques at one of the UK's leading studio environments, Barker moved to Newcastle University, in the North of England, where he received his classical training in music composition, performance, orchestration and technology. After receiving a BA Honours Degree in Music, he joined rock outfit Revere as manager and lead guitarist and toured the UK's top venues, supporting acts such as The Futureheads
, Maxïmo Park
, Simple Kid
and Martin Grech
. He also then moved to London
and formed his current dance collective, Liberation Jumpsuit, who secured a residency at Ginglik Club, Shepherd's Bush, in west London (UK). They continue to perform around Europe and have played with dance acts such as Andy C
, Four Tet
, Shut Up and Dance, Alex Paterson
(The Orb
), Aphrodite
, Cylob
and Nicky Blackmarket.
In 2005, he produced music for commercials for brands such as Shell
, HSBC
, UNICEF and started Veneration Music Ltd
, a UK-based music production company, coordinating scores for feature films. Having trained in all areas of music and music production, he runs all areas of composing
, orchestrating
, performing, recording
, mixing
and mastering of the score
.
His first feature, Unhitched
, was an $11 m romantic comedy starring Seth Green
, Stuart Townsend
, and Amy Smart
, and was directed by Shooting Fish
director Stefan Schwartz
. He then went on to work with veteran director Robert Young
, known for his comedies such as Fierce Creatures
, the sequel to A Fish Called Wanda
. Barker followed these films with a number of dark and moody scores, including Psych:9, starring Sara Foster
, Carey Elwes and Michael Biehn
, and the British low-budget horror film Reverb, starring Leo Gregory
, Margo Stilley
and Eva Birthistle
.
In 2007, Barker also scored the $7 m British ITV
television production, The History of Mr Polly, starring Lee Evans
, and the DVD–BBC
release of Jim Threapleton
's Extraordinary Rendition
, starring Andy Serkis
and Omar Berdouni
. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for a number of awards and festivals including the British Independent Film Awards
, Locarno
and Edinburgh Film Festivals.
In 2008, he went on to work with BAFTA-nominated director Martin Radich on the WARP Film and UKFC production Crack Willow. This was swiftly followed with two film scores, one for Adrian Vitoria's gritty urban thriller The Crew
, with Stephen Graham
and distributed by Momentum Pictures
, and the other, a dramatic score (collaborating with Canadian/British composer Tim Despic) for Ashley Judd
's role as a manic depressive in the Sundance
selected Helen, directed by the critically acclaimed Sandra Nettellbeck of Mostly Martha
.
In 2009, Barker worked as Composer and Music Producer on Scott Mann
's The Tournament
starring Ving Rhames
and Ronert Carlyle and he also worked in tandem with the Relentless
energy drink's company to score two features, Powers of Three and the groundbreaking - "Lives Of The Artists" featuring Gallows
and world renowned snowboarder Xavier De La Rue. He also wrote the music and produced the sound design for their 2010 campaign for their Relentless Shots commercials.
In 2010, Barker worked on Mark McQueen's debut Zombie flick - Devil's Playground
with Danny Dyer
and Craig Fairbrass
and Jaime Murray
; two shorts: one for 2007 Sundance
winner Jonathan Hopkins - a Sci-Fi comedy called One Man and His Dog, and a drama for director Tristan Goligher called Cowards & Monsters. His other projects for the year included a docu-drama for US award winning and Emmy nominated director Guido Verweyen, based on the Purlitzer prize wiining book by Robin Gaby Fisher - called After the Fire; and he also Produced Noel Clarke
's "4.3.2.1" which he produced through his Veneration Music outfit.
At the end of 2010, Barker announced a merger with Scott Mann
's Mann Made Films, through which they will develop and produce films together. They announced a gothic slasher horror film Saint Mary's with director Michael J Bassett attached, which Barker will produce and compose for; another supernatural horror Mara
and a feature by Lawrence Gough, director of Salvage called The Drought'. Mann is also developing his own directing gigs through the company.
As well as developing features with Michael J Bassett, Scott Mann
, Adrian Vitoria, Barker continues to be prolific with his music scoring. In early 2011 he has already completed The Holding
for Lionsgate and has been signed onto Momentum Pictures
Weekender
from the award winning UK director Karl Golden; the newly selected SXSW UK indie Weekend, directed by Andrew Haigh; and the follow-up to the cult horror hit The Human Centipede, called The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence). For later in the year, Barker will produce and compose Shaun Robert Smith's The 4th Reich and he will produce The Vanishment with Tristan Goligher of The Bureau
- which will see him co-compose alongside his greatest influence, Christopher Young
, who has scored Hollywood films such as Spider-Man 3
and The Exorcism of Emily Rose
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, music producer and film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. Many of his music works include the hybrid mixture of sonic
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
experimentation with grandiose classical motifs.
Biography
James Edward Barker is a composerComposer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, music producer and film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
from the UK. He is also a relation to Benjamin Frankel
Benjamin Frankel
Benjamin Frankel was a British composer. Frankel's most famous pieces include a cycle of five string quartets and eight symphonies as well as a number of concertos for violin and viola; his single best-known piece is probably the First Sonata for Solo Violin, which, like his concertos, resulted...
, one of Britain's most prolific and most successful film composers of all time. He is a self-taught musician from a young age, as well as late becoming classically trained after studying at Newcastle University in the UK. His music suggests influences from an eclectic mix of genres from: Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, Classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and more contemporary styles of Electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and Dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, performing as a guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, percussionist, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and vocalist. Throughout his scores he performs a variety of alternative and ethnic instruments including: Tibetan Singing Bowls
Singing bowl
Singing bowls are a type of bell, specifically classified as a standing bell. Rather than hanging inverted or attached to a handle, singing bowls sit with the bottom surface resting...
, Thai Saw Duang
Saw duang
The saw duang is a bowed string instrument used in traditional Thai music. it has a higher pitch than a saw u. It has a hardwood soundbox covered on the playing end with python skin. It is held vertically and has two silk strings that are played with a bow. Like the saw u, the bow is between the...
,African drums, Japanese Percussion (taikos) Dilruba, Hammered Dulcimer
Hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
, Glockenspiel
Glockenspiel
A glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
and his scores often include performances on authentic and traditional instruments but in an experimental and contemporary fashion. Most distinctively, he experiments heavily with many leftfield
Leftfield
Leftfield are a British duo of electronica artists and record producers, namely Paul Daley and Neil Barnes, who formed in 1990 in London, England...
techniques for his tones and sounds, including using items such as detuned music boxes, match boxes, bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
and he has been quoted for using a number of modified live sampled recordings taken from various atmospheric locations around the world. He quotes Muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
, Matthew Herbert
Matthew Herbert
Matthew Herbert , also known as Herbert, Doctor Rockit, Radio Boy, Mr. Vertigo, Transformer, and Wishmountain, is a British electronic musician...
, Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
, Rachmaninov and film composers Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
, Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
and Christopher Young
Christopher Young
Christopher Young is an American music composer for both film and television.Many of his music compositions are for horror films, including Hellraiser, Tales from the Hood, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, Urban Legend, and Drag Me to Hell...
as some of his main influences, with the latter inspiring him to "experiment with children's toys".
Other influences can be heard in his work, from bands such as The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method is an American electronic music duo that was created in Los Angeles, California by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland in the early 1990s. The Crystal Method's music has appeared in numerous TV shows, films, video games, and advertisements. The most prominent is the US television...
and Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
. He uses techniques such as recording traditional and authentic instruments through a variety of collectible
Collectible
A collectable or collectible is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector . There are numerous types of collectables and terms to denote those types. An antique is a collectable that is old...
guitar pedals and analog machines. He stated: "Much of my work has been the result of trial and error with working for many years alongside the chief designer for Vestax
Vestax
The Vestax Corporation of Japan began in 1977 as a designer and manufacturer of electronic guitars. In the 1980s Vestax introduced a series of cassette based multitracks to challenge established products from Fostex, Yamaha and Tascam's portastudios...
, Steve Hills, who worked there during the late 1980s and 1990s. We spent time remodelling a number of already rare and vintage pedals in order to attain certain sounds and uses. These have included the rebuilding and modifying of pedals such as the Roland GR-300
Roland GR-300
-External links:*...
and the 1980s Morley Pik series, including the ultra rare Pik-Percussion and Pik-A-Wah pedals. Steve also encouraged me to experiment with the early pre DJ Vestax pedals which he introduced me too".
Prior to University, his late teens were spent in a various rock and Jazz bands as lead guitarist; and recording early demos as a singer–songwriter
Singer–songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, where he worked with childhood friend and music engineer Charlie Andrew, drummer and founding member of The Laurel Collective. After honing his production techniques at one of the UK's leading studio environments, Barker moved to Newcastle University, in the North of England, where he received his classical training in music composition, performance, orchestration and technology. After receiving a BA Honours Degree in Music, he joined rock outfit Revere as manager and lead guitarist and toured the UK's top venues, supporting acts such as The Futureheads
The Futureheads
The Futureheads are an English post-punk band from Sunderland. consisting of Ross Millard , Barry Hyde and David "Jaff" Craig...
, Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park are a British alternative rock band, formed in 2000. They are signed to Warp Records. The band consists of Paul Smith , Duncan Lloyd , Archis Tiku , Lukas Wooller and Tom English...
, Simple Kid
Simple Kid
Simple Kid, real-name Ciaran McFeely, is an Irish-born solo musical artist. In early 2011 it was announced on the official website that there will be no further music or tours by Simple Kid.-History:...
and Martin Grech
Martin Grech
Martin Grech is a Maltese-English singer, songwriter and musician from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.-Career:He first achieved critical acclaim after his falsetto track, "Open Heart Zoo" was featured on a Lexus advert on British television in 2002...
. He also then moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and formed his current dance collective, Liberation Jumpsuit, who secured a residency at Ginglik Club, Shepherd's Bush, in west London (UK). They continue to perform around Europe and have played with dance acts such as Andy C
Andy C
Andy C , born Andrew John Clarke, is an English DJ and producer and co-founder of the RAM Recording Studio. He is the son of Mick Clarke, bass player and founder member of the Rubettes, who had hits in the seventies like Sugar Baby Love, Tonight and I Can Do It.He is considered a pioneering force...
, Four Tet
Four Tet
Kieran Hebden is a post-rock and electronic musician. Hebden first came to prominence as a member of the band Fridge before establishing himself as a solo artist under the moniker of Four Tet....
, Shut Up and Dance, Alex Paterson
Alex Paterson
Alex Paterson is an English musician and co-founder of the ambient group The Orb, in which he has worked since its inception....
(The Orb
The Orb
Throughout 1989, the Orb, along with Martin Glover, developed the musical genre of ambient house through the use of a diverse array of samples and recordings. The culmination of its musical work came toward the end of the year when the group recorded a session for John Peel on BBC Radio 1...
), Aphrodite
Aphrodite (artist)
Aphrodite also known as A Zone or DJ Aphro, is a UK jungle and drum and bass DJ/producer commonly referred to as the "Godfather of Jungle", who works along with Micky Finn on their joint Urban Takeover label...
, Cylob
Cylob
Cylob is the alias of UK electronic music maker Chris Jeffs. A trombone player in his youth, he progressed to experimenting with electronic music and recording in his late teens.-Career:...
and Nicky Blackmarket.
In 2005, he produced music for commercials for brands such as Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
, HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
, UNICEF and started Veneration Music Ltd
Veneration Music Ltd
Veneration Music Ltd is a UK based music production and film score coordination company. Since 2008, it has also been involved in the development and production of feature films including the raising of finance and development monies...
, a UK-based music production company, coordinating scores for feature films. Having trained in all areas of music and music production, he runs all areas of composing
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
, orchestrating
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
, performing, recording
Recording
Recording is the process of capturing data or translating information to a recording format stored on some storage medium, which is often referred to as a record or, if an auditory medium, a recording....
, mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
and mastering of the score
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
.
His first feature, Unhitched
The Best Man (2005)
The Best Man is a comedy film starring Stuart Townsend, Amy Smart, Seth Green and Kate Ashfield. It was directed by Stefan Schwartz from a script by Schwartz and Ed Roe.- Plot :Childhood friends Olly Pickering and Murray go their separate ways Olly goes to university...
, was an $11 m romantic comedy starring Seth Green
Seth Green
Seth Benjamin Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show, and the voice of Chris...
, Stuart Townsend
Stuart Townsend
Stuart Townsend is an Irish actor and director. His most notable portrayals are of the characters Lestat de Lioncourt in the 2002 film adaptation of Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned, and Dorian Gray in the 2003 film adaptation of Alan Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.-Early life and...
, and Amy Smart
Amy Smart
Amy Lysle Smart is an American television and film actress and former fashion model.-Early life:Smart was born in Topanga, California. Her mother, Judy Lysle , worked at a museum, and her father, John Boden Smart, was a salesman...
, and was directed by Shooting Fish
Shooting Fish
Shooting Fish is a 1997 British film co-written by Richard Holmes and Stefan Schwartz. Holmes produced and Schwartz directed. It co-starred Dan Futterman and Stuart Townsend as two con men with Kate Beckinsale as their unwilling assistant. It was produced by Winchester Films and partly funded by...
director Stefan Schwartz
Stefan Schwartz
Stefan Schwartz is an English/Canadian film and television director/writer plus a former actor , most known for the feature film Shooting Fish and his work for the BBC on Spooks and Luther.-Biography:...
. He then went on to work with veteran director Robert Young
Robert Young (director)
Robert William Young is a British television and film director.Young was born in Cheltenham, and in the 1980s and early 1990s, established himself as a leading director of British TV drama. In the 1970s, he directed Vampire Circus and Hammer House of Horror...
, known for his comedies such as Fierce Creatures
Fierce Creatures
Fierce Creatures is a 1997 comedy film. Although not a sequel, it was a follow-up to the wildly popular A Fish Called Wanda, starring the same four actors, John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin...
, the sequel to A Fish Called Wanda
A Fish Called Wanda
A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 crime-comedy film written by John Cleese and Charles Crichton. It was directed by Crichton and an uncredited Cleese, and stars Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin. The film is about a jewel heist and its aftermath...
. Barker followed these films with a number of dark and moody scores, including Psych:9, starring Sara Foster
Sara Foster
Sara Christine Foster is an American actress. She was previously a fashion model before moving to the film industry. She is best known for her role as Jen Clark on 90210.-Career:...
, Carey Elwes and Michael Biehn
Michael Biehn
Michael Connell Biehn is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in James Cameron's science fiction action films The Terminator as Kyle Reese, Aliens as Cpl. Dwayne Hicks, and The Abyss as Lt. Coffey. He has also acted in such films as Tombstone, The Rock, and Planet Terror...
, and the British low-budget horror film Reverb, starring Leo Gregory
Leo Gregory
Leo Gregory is an English film and television actor. He has appeared in many films such as Green Street, Stoned, Act of Grace, Daylight Robbery, and Menace....
, Margo Stilley
Margo Stilley
Margo Stilley is an American actress and former model.-Biography:Stilley grew up in Conway, South Carolina, and left as a teenager to model in Milan before moving to London at the age of 18....
and Eva Birthistle
Eva Birthistle
Eva Birthistle is an Irish actress, best known for her role in Ae Fond Kiss. She won the London Film Critics Circle British Actress of the Year award in 2004 and has twice won the IFTA Best Actress in a Leading Role award.-Biography:...
.
In 2007, Barker also scored the $7 m British ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
television production, The History of Mr Polly, starring Lee Evans
Lee Evans (comedian)
Lee Evans is an English comedian, writer, actor and musician.-Personal life:Lee Evans was born in Avonmouth, Bristol, England to an Irish mother and a Welsh father, Dave Evans, a nightclub performer. He left Bristol at the age of 13 and then went to The Billericay School in Billericay, Essex...
, and the DVD–BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
release of Jim Threapleton
Jim Threapleton
James Edward "Jim" Threapleton . Threapleton has worked as an assistant director on many films, including Hideous Kinky....
's Extraordinary Rendition
Extraordinary Rendition (film)
Extraordinary Rendition is a 2007 drama film directed by Jim Threapleton and starring Omar Berdouni and Andy Serkis. The film was premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland on 8 August 2007, and at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 21 August 2007, but is still awaiting a full commercial release...
, starring Andy Serkis
Andy Serkis
Andrew Clement G. "Andy" Serkis is an English actor, director and author. He is popularly known for playing Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he earned several award nominations, including the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Two Towers...
and Omar Berdouni
Omar Berdouni
Omar Berdouni is a Moroccan actor now residing in London.After attending the American School of Tangier, he moved to London and graduated from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in 2003. He has starred in a number of feature films including The Hamburg Cell, United 93, "The Situation", The...
. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for a number of awards and festivals including the British Independent Film Awards
British Independent Film Awards
The Moët British Independent Film Awards is an annual award ceremony celebrating achievement in independently funded British film and cinema. Nominations and jury are announced at the beginning of November with the award ceremony taking place in late November or early December.-History:The British...
, Locarno
Locarno International Film Festival
The Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
and Edinburgh Film Festivals.
In 2008, he went on to work with BAFTA-nominated director Martin Radich on the WARP Film and UKFC production Crack Willow. This was swiftly followed with two film scores, one for Adrian Vitoria's gritty urban thriller The Crew
The Crew (2008 Film)
The Crew is a 2008 British crime film based on the novel "Outlaws" by Kevin Sampson. It is set in the criminal underworld of Northern England especially Liverpool, Merseyside.-Synopsis:...
, with Stephen Graham
Stephen Graham (actor)
Stephen Graham is an English actor from Kirkby, Liverpool. He is best known for his roles as Tommy in the movie Snatch, Combo in This Is England and its four-part television sequel This Is England '86, Danny Ferguson in Occupation, Billy Bremner in The Damned United, notorious bank robber Baby...
and distributed by Momentum Pictures
Momentum Pictures
Momentum Pictures , an Alliance Films company, is one of the leading independent motion picture distributors in the UK and Ireland and releases approximately 20 theatrical films a year, with several stv releases....
, and the other, a dramatic score (collaborating with Canadian/British composer Tim Despic) for Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd is an American television and film actress, who has played lead roles in films including Ruby in Paradise, Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy, Where the Heart Is and High Crimes...
's role as a manic depressive in the Sundance
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
selected Helen, directed by the critically acclaimed Sandra Nettellbeck of Mostly Martha
Mostly Martha (film)
Bella Martha is a 2001 German romantic comedy drama film directed by Sandra Nettelbeck. The American movie No Reservations is heavily based on this. It is about a skilled chef in Hamburg, Germany. When her sister dies, she is left taking care of her niece, who gives her problems...
.
In 2009, Barker worked as Composer and Music Producer on Scott Mann
Scott Mann
Scott Mann is a British film director who made his name with his action packed debut feature film The Tournament, which was an $8m movie shot in the UK and Bulgaria. The film starred Robert Carlyle and Ving Rhames and Ian Sommerhalder...
's The Tournament
The Tournament (film)
The Tournament is a 2009 British independent action film, marking the directorial debut of local filmmaker Scott Mann. The film was conceived by Jonathan Frank and Nick Rowntree while at the University of Teesside with Mann...
starring Ving Rhames
Ving Rhames
Irving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.-Early life and education:...
and Ronert Carlyle and he also worked in tandem with the Relentless
Relentless (drink)
Relentless is the brand name of an energy drink created in February 2006 by The Coca-Cola Company. It has been compared to energy drinks such as Red Bull, and is known for its sweet taste. The drink has also been the subject of court proceedings for breach of trademark by Relentless Records...
energy drink's company to score two features, Powers of Three and the groundbreaking - "Lives Of The Artists" featuring Gallows
Gallows (band)
Gallows are a hardcore punk band from Watford, England. The band was formed in 2005 after the disbandment of founding member Laurent Barnard's previous band, My Dad Joe. Gallows' debut album, Orchestra of Wolves, was distributed in the United States by Epitaph Records, and they were subsequently...
and world renowned snowboarder Xavier De La Rue. He also wrote the music and produced the sound design for their 2010 campaign for their Relentless Shots commercials.
In 2010, Barker worked on Mark McQueen's debut Zombie flick - Devil's Playground
The Devil's Playground (2010 film)
Devil's Playground is a British horror film directed by Mark McQueen and starring Craig Fairbrass. Intandem Films has the worldwide rights to the film, which is being produced by Freddie Hutton-Mills and Bart Ruspoli.-Plot:...
with Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer is an English actor, media personality, and chairman of Greenwich Borough, a non-League football team.-Biography:Daniel John Dyer was born in Custom House, an area of East London, to Antony and Christine Dyer...
and Craig Fairbrass
Craig Fairbrass
Craig Fairbrass is an English actor. He is known for his distinctive Cockney accent.-Life and career:Fairbrass was born in Stepney, London. He made his acting debut in an episode of the television series Shelley in 1980. This was followed by appearances in series such as Emmerdale, Three Up Two...
and Jaime Murray
Jaime Murray
Jaime Murray is an English actress, best known for playing Stacie Monroe in Hustle and Lila Tournay in season two of the Showtime series Dexter. She has also had recurring roles as H.G...
; two shorts: one for 2007 Sundance
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
winner Jonathan Hopkins - a Sci-Fi comedy called One Man and His Dog, and a drama for director Tristan Goligher called Cowards & Monsters. His other projects for the year included a docu-drama for US award winning and Emmy nominated director Guido Verweyen, based on the Purlitzer prize wiining book by Robin Gaby Fisher - called After the Fire; and he also Produced Noel Clarke
Noel Clarke
Noel Anthony Clarke is an English actor, director and screenwriter from London. He is best known for playing Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Mickey Smith in Doctor Who...
's "4.3.2.1" which he produced through his Veneration Music outfit.
At the end of 2010, Barker announced a merger with Scott Mann
Scott Mann
Scott Mann is a British film director who made his name with his action packed debut feature film The Tournament, which was an $8m movie shot in the UK and Bulgaria. The film starred Robert Carlyle and Ving Rhames and Ian Sommerhalder...
's Mann Made Films, through which they will develop and produce films together. They announced a gothic slasher horror film Saint Mary's with director Michael J Bassett attached, which Barker will produce and compose for; another supernatural horror Mara
Mara
-Social groups:*Mara people, in northeastern India and western Myanmar* Mara language, a language spoken by Mara people*Mara Salvatrucha, a violent criminal gang in Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the United States...
and a feature by Lawrence Gough, director of Salvage called The Drought'. Mann is also developing his own directing gigs through the company.
As well as developing features with Michael J Bassett, Scott Mann
Scott Mann
Scott Mann is a British film director who made his name with his action packed debut feature film The Tournament, which was an $8m movie shot in the UK and Bulgaria. The film starred Robert Carlyle and Ving Rhames and Ian Sommerhalder...
, Adrian Vitoria, Barker continues to be prolific with his music scoring. In early 2011 he has already completed The Holding
The Holding
The Holding is a 2011 British thriller film directed by Susan Jacobson. It was filmed in 2010 the Peak District in Derbyshire just outside the village of Longnor, and stars Kierston Wareing, Vincent Regan and David Bradley...
for Lionsgate and has been signed onto Momentum Pictures
Momentum Pictures
Momentum Pictures , an Alliance Films company, is one of the leading independent motion picture distributors in the UK and Ireland and releases approximately 20 theatrical films a year, with several stv releases....
Weekender
Weekender
The Weekender is a free weekly newspaper covering Torbay and South Devon, published by the Westcountry Publications. The paper is published in two editions; the Torbay edition covers Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham, while the Newton & Teignbridge edition covers Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton. A...
from the award winning UK director Karl Golden; the newly selected SXSW UK indie Weekend, directed by Andrew Haigh; and the follow-up to the cult horror hit The Human Centipede, called The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence). For later in the year, Barker will produce and compose Shaun Robert Smith's The 4th Reich and he will produce The Vanishment with Tristan Goligher of The Bureau
The Bureau
The Bureau were a New Wave soul group formed in late 1980 in Birmingham, England, when the original lineup of Dexys Midnight Runners split-up....
- which will see him co-compose alongside his greatest influence, Christopher Young
Christopher Young
Christopher Young is an American music composer for both film and television.Many of his music compositions are for horror films, including Hellraiser, Tales from the Hood, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, Urban Legend, and Drag Me to Hell...
, who has scored Hollywood films such as Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3 is a 2007 American superhero film written and directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay by Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent. It is the third film in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
and The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 American courtroom drama horror film directed by Scott Derrickson. The film is loosely based on the story of Anneliese Michel and follows a self-proclaimed agnostic defense lawyer representing a parish priest who is accused by the state of negligent homicide...
.
Filmography
- The Best ManThe Best Man (2005)The Best Man is a comedy film starring Stuart Townsend, Amy Smart, Seth Green and Kate Ashfield. It was directed by Stefan Schwartz from a script by Schwartz and Ed Roe.- Plot :Childhood friends Olly Pickering and Murray go their separate ways Olly goes to university...
(2005) - Bye Bye Harry! (2006)
- The History of Mr Polly (2007)
- Extraordinary RenditionExtraordinary Rendition (film)Extraordinary Rendition is a 2007 drama film directed by Jim Threapleton and starring Omar Berdouni and Andy Serkis. The film was premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland on 8 August 2007, and at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 21 August 2007, but is still awaiting a full commercial release...
(2007) - Reverb (2008)
- Crack Willow (2008)
- The CrewThe Crew (2008 Film)The Crew is a 2008 British crime film based on the novel "Outlaws" by Kevin Sampson. It is set in the criminal underworld of Northern England especially Liverpool, Merseyside.-Synopsis:...
(2008) - Helen (2009)
- Greek Pete (2009)
- Powers of Three (2009)
- The TournamentThe Tournament (film)The Tournament is a 2009 British independent action film, marking the directorial debut of local filmmaker Scott Mann. The film was conceived by Jonathan Frank and Nick Rowntree while at the University of Teesside with Mann...
(2009) - Lives of the Artists (2009)
- Psych:9 (2010)
- Devil's Playground (2010)
- After the Fire (2010)
- 4.3.2.14.3.2.14.3.2.1 is a British crime thriller film directed by Noel Clarke and Mark Davis, released 2 June 2010. It stars, Emma Roberts, Ophelia Lovibond, Shanika-Warren Markland, Tamsin Egerton, Adam Deacon, Ashley 'Bashy' Thomas and Noel Clarke.-Plot:...
(2010) - Weekender (2011)
- Weekend (2011)
- The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) (2011)
- The Holding (2011)
- Gridiron UK (2011)
- The 4th Reich (2011)
- The Drought (2011)
In development
- The Boss Always Sits in the Back
- Space Ninjas From Outer Space
- The Vanishment
Short film filmography
- Pocket Thief (2006)
- Dog's Mercury (2006)
- Consuming Love (2008)
- Five Miles Out (2009)
- No Way Through (2009)
- War School (2009)
- Hit Girls (2009)
- Cowards & Monsters (2010)
- One Man and His Dog (2010)