The Manchester High School for Girls (MHSG) Lakeside DVD production now has that special Hollywood touch, courtesy of famed score writer, Mr Eric Serra, Editions La Marguerite and Gaumont.
Mr Serra generously granted the use of his track 'The Diva Dance', from Luc Besson’s 'Fifth Element' blockbuster film, for inclusion in one of the School’s productions.
Energetic Year 7 students spent a week at Lakeside YHA Outdoor Activity Centre in Cumbria. They participated in orienteering, raft building, canoeing and, perhaps the most daring, travelling on a zip wire! The whole adventure was captured on film by MHSG’s Media Manager, Leighton Moody. While Leighton was editing the film, Mr Serra’s awe-inspiring 'The Diva Dance' music came to his mind and he decided to track down the artist to seek permission for it to be used.
Leighton said: “I wanted Lakeside 2008 to be more complete. Whereas the original film conveyed the emotional journey for girls new to the Senior School, I wanted this version to capture the thrill and excitement of the experience.”
“I was looking for something unique, classical yet modern and forward thinking, much like Manchester High and its students. I think that the track and visuals combined deliver the exciting high impact ending I always envisioned,” he added.
It took two months to track down Mr Serra and the owners of the music in France. It was at this point that the services of Manchester High’s extensive Modern Foreign Languages department were called upon. After an agonising wait, the School received the confirmation which they were hoping for, agreement for the full usage of the track in Lakeside 2008.
Head Mistress, Mrs Claire Hewitt, explained: “We are delighted that Mr Serra agreed to the use of this wonderful track in our Lakeside short film. We have been told that such non-commercial requests for his music are not usually successful, however, Mr Serra viewed last year’s Lakeside film and liked it so much that he granted usage of the track for the Lakeside 2008 production. We feel very honoured and remain grateful to Mr Serra and his team. The girls are simply thrilled.”
Click here to view Lakeside.
www.ericserra.com
Eric Serra was born in Paris on September 9, 1959. He started to play guitar when he was five years old. Detailed below is his musical career:
1974-1980: Guitarist and Bass-Player
Eric formed his first Rock and Jazz-Rock bands when he was 15. In 1976, he became a professional guitarist and started to perform and record with several singers. In the meantime, Eric started to play the electric fretless bass, and was soon to become one of the greatest bass-players in France. For the next 20 years, Eric appeared in more than 50 albums as a Guitarist or a Bass-Player with some of the most famous bands in France: Jacques Higelin, Catherine Lara, Didier Lockwood and Youssou N’Dour.
1980-1984: Bass-Player, Musical Director and Composer
During these years, Eric worked essentially with two artists: Jacques Higelin and Luc Besson. With Jacques Higelin, the greatest French rock-star at this time in France, Eric was the Bass-Player as well as the Musical Director of the band. He performed in the legendary shows at the Cirque d’Hiver, the Casino de Paris, and the POP Bercy. During this period, Eric also composed some of Higelin’s most famous songs. With Luc Besson, Eric Serra entered the Movie World.
1981: Eric wrote the music for Luc Besson’s only short movie “L’Avant-Dernier”.
1982: He wrote the score for Besson’s first feature film “The Last Battle”.
1984: Original music for the film “Subway” directed by Luc Besson.
Eric Serra received the French music award Victoire de la Meilleure de Film and a nomination for the César (French movie award), and a double gold album (more than 200,000 albums sold in France).
1985-1990: Eric Serra Composer
1985: Original music for the film “La Nuit Du Flingueur”, directed by Pierre Grimbalt.
1986: Original music for the film “Kamikaze” directed by Didier Grousset.
1988: Eric Serra composed the music for the film “The Big Blue” directed by Luc Besson.
Top number one album sales in France for more than six months, diamond, platinum, and gold albums in many countries (more than 3.5 million albums sold worldwide). Eric Serra won the César for best soundtrack, the Victoire de la Meilleure de Film and the Grand Prix Sacem (the French equivalent of BMI) for best music image.
1989: Eric was made a “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Minister of Culture.
1990: Eric composed the music for the film “Nikita” directed by Luc Besson. He received a gold album and nominations for both the Victoires de la Musique and César.
1991-2003: Composer, Producer, Lyricist, Musician and Singer
1991: Original music for the film “Atlantis” directed by Luc Besson.
For the first tIme, Eric mixed symphonic, ethnic, rock, and electronic music. Mixing different cultures was soon to become a passion. He received a gold album and was nominated for the Victoires de la Musique.
1991: Eric Serra produced “Djabote”, first album by mastered-percussionist Doudou N’Diaye Rose recorded on the island of Goree, Senegal, with 50 percussionists and 80 singers.
1994: Eric Serra composed the music for the film “The Professional” directed by Luc Besson. He received the third Victoire de la Meilleure Musique de Film, and a nomination at César.
1995: James Bond 007
Eric Serra composed the original music for the film “Goldeneye” directed by Martin Campbell, with more than 800,000 albums sold worldwide. He received the BMI American Film Music Award, and a nomination for the Victoires de la Musique.
1997: Original music for the film “Fifth Element” directed by Luc Besson.
More than one million albums sold worldwide, platinum and gold albums in many countries, nominated for both Victoires de la Musique and César.
1998: Eric Serra released his first solo album as a singer-songwriter: “R.X.R.A”, produced by Rupert Hine (who also worked withTina Turner, Robert Palmer and Bob Geldof), it was released in both French and English language versions. It features a duet with Chrissie Hynde, and the song “Little Light of Love” featured as the end-titles song in the “Fifth Element”.
1999: Eric Serra wrote the music for the film “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc” directed by Luc Besson.
For this almost entirely symphonic score, Eric recorded in Abbey Road Studios, and conducted 120 musicians and a choir of 40 singers. He asked Noa to sing the end-titles song. He was once more nominated for both Victoires de la Musique and Césars.
1999: Together with Phil Collins, Eric Serra produced the French version of Walt Disney’s “Tarzan” songs.
2000: Eric produced and supervised the music for the film “L’Art (Délicat) de la Seduction”, directed by Richard Berry. He co-composed the soundtrack with Sebastian Cortella and Stéphane Brossollet.
2000: He produced the song “Pauvres Diables” performed by Johnny Hallyday for the film “15 Août” directed by Patrick Allessandrin.
2001: Eric Serra wrote the music for the film “Rollerball” directed by John McTiernan.
2002: Eric Serra wrote the music for the film “Jet-Lag” directed by Daniele Thompson.
2003: He wrote the music for the film “Bulletproof Monk” directed by Paul Hunter.
2004: New era…
Eric started to work on conceiving a musical show featuring his soundtracks and his songs.
2005: Eric was promoted to “Officer de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Minister of Culture.
2005: Eric performed his first live show with his band R.X.R.A. and a 65 musician symphonic orchestra.
2005: Eric composed the music for the firm “Bandidas” directed by Roenning and Sandberg, featuring Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek.
2006: Eric composed the music for the firm “Arthur and The Invisibles” directed by Luc Besson. He received his fourth Victoire de la Meilleure Musique De Film.
2007: Eric played live at the mythical French concert hall the Olympia with his band R.X.R.A. and a 60 musician symphonic orchestra.
2008: Eric composed the music for the new show by Cirque du Soleil and Criss Angel which opened in Las Vegas in August 2008.