When you think of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, you probably think of a toothy shark, “you’re gonna need a bigger boat,” and John Williams’ iconic score.
Music and film have long been inextricably linked — even silent films were accompanied by soloists or ensembles, if not full orchestras.
And today, fans are flocking to concerts where the scores from their favorite films, series, and even video games are performed live.
- John Kinsner, CEO of Black Ink Presents — which specializes in IP-based live shows — told The Hustle there were probably ~10-15 such shows annually in 2010.
- Today, he estimates ~2k shows worldwide spanning ~50-75 individual IPs. Black Ink is overseeing ~600 shows this year.
- Examples of successful productions include live performances of romantic dramedy La La Land (2016) and Labyrinth, a 1986 box office flop that’s since become a cult smash.
The shows take place in concert halls, amphitheaters, at convention, and in other venues around the world, with added revenue if they’re also filmed for streaming services, such as Disney+.
Why now?
Technology has improved. For a concert like this, you can’t just pop in a DVD and have the orchestra play along.
“You’re looking at each individual file — the film, the dialog, the effects, the foley, the score — and you’re live-mixing everything,” Kinsner said. “You need the technological ability to not only push all those elements out simultaneously, but also the projection power to make it look compelling on screen.”
Additionally, while theaters may have state-of-the-art projectors and studios have editing bays with ample processing power, they aren’t mobile operations. It took time for advanced technology to accommodate tours at achievable price points.
Meanwhile, fans…
… are seeking out immersive entertainment around their favorite IPs, from “Bridgerton” balls to live “Squid Game” trials. Kinsner attributes the increased popularity of fan events to the rise of social media and cosplay.
“You give [fans] the opportunity to come out and celebrate… they’re going to do that even though they’ve already seen the content,” he said.
Black Ink’s upcoming shows include “The Witcher in Concert,” celebrating the 10th anniversary of the release of video game “Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt,” and Evil Dead with a reworked score by composer Joe LoDuca. Groovy.
