Podcast - What Does "Cinematic" Mean?

I recently had the pleasure of joining the Film Formally Podcast for a roundtable discussion on what the term “cinematic” really means.

Full disclosure: the hosts and other guests on this show are literally my closest collaborators and some of my oldest friends (we all went to the same film school more or less at the same time), and we tend to have these discussions off the air whenever we’re hanging out. I’m obviously biased, but I think we ended up having an insightful and wide-ranging discussion.

Check out the episode, and let them know what you think over on Facebook!

Memento Verbi Tui (2020) - Mark Emerson Donnelly

I’m pleased to share the official video for “Memento Verbi Tui,” a new motet by Mark Emerson Donnelly and Offertorium.

All through the production process, this particular composition has established itself as the crowning jewel of our 2020 recording project.

When we shot this video on February 1, 2020, we had no idea that the footage we got of an empty church would take on a whole different meaning in just a few short weeks. Nor could we have foreseen that what the text says - “Remember Your word to Your servant, O Lord” - aptly summarizes the sense of waiting and uncertainty that most of us have had to live with for the last several months. What was supposed to be a meditation on the interplay of music and architecture became loaded with a much heavier and more immediate meaning.

Editing this video was one of the hardest challenges of my professional life, but I believe we found its necessary shape. My hope is that Mark’s exquisite music, the voices of Offertorium, and the beauty of the locale will lift you up into a hope of your own.

This video is dedicated to the memory of Marie Donnelly, the composer’s mother. It was filmed, as it turns out, on her 94th birthday at St. Augustine’s Vancouver - the same church she was married in 65 years ago. Mrs. Donnelly passed away on July 27, 2020. I urge you to read Mark’s reflection on her life and influence here.

“Memento Verbi Tui”
Music composed and conducted by Mark Emerson Donnelly
Performed by Offertorium
Directed by Nathan Douglas
Produced by Motet Films
Camera operation by Devan Scott
Focus pulling by Paige Smith
Colour by MIA

Interview - Kurt Walker on S01E03

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing my friend and colleague Kurt Walker about his excellent new film, s01e03, which recently played DOXA. You can read the interview at the VIFF Blog.

s01e03 can be viewed at Kinet.

Pater Noster (2020) - Mark Emerson Donnelly

Happy Father’s Day! I’m excited to share the new music video for “Pater Noster” (Our Father), composed by Mark Emerson Donnelly and performed by Offertorium.

“Pater Noster”
Composed & conducted by Mark Emerson Donnelly
Performed by Offertorium
Directed by Nathan Douglas
Produced by Motet Films
Camera operation by Devan Scott
Focus pulling by Paige Smith
Colour by MIA

Podcast - A Man For All Seasons (1966)

I recently had the pleasure of joining the hosts of Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast to discuss Fred Zinneman’s A Man For All Seasons (1966). We had a terrific conversation about the challenges of adapting a great play for the screen.

Criteria is a podcast about cinema from a Catholic perspective. Their current project is to watch every film on the 1995 Vatican Film List. Find them at iTunes and all other podcast places.

Ave Maria (2020) - Mark Emerson Donnelly

Happy Mother’s Day! I’m pleased to reveal “Ave Maria,” a new music video from our collaboration with Vancouver composer Mark Emerson Donnelly and the choral ensemble Offertorium.

“Ave Maria”
Music composed and conducted by Mark Emerson Donnelly
Performed by Offertorium
Directed by Nathan Douglas
Produced by Motet Films
Camera operation by Devan Scott
Focus pulling by Paige Smith
Colour by MIA

Missa Sicut Cervus: Gloria (2020) - Mark Emerson Donnelly

Happy Easter! I’m very excited to present the official music video for “Gloria” from the Missa Sicut Cervus by Mark Emerson Donnelly and performed by Offertorium.

Missa Sicut Cervus is an original Mass composition inspired by the famous Renaissance-era motet “Sicut cervus,” by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. You can find out more about it in a behind-the-scenes spot also being released today.

More to come from this collaboration with Mr. Donnelly and Offertorium! Stay tuned.

“Gloria” - Missa Sicut Cervus
Composed & conducted by Mark Emerson Donnelly
Performed by Offertorium
Directed by Nathan Douglas
Produced by Motet Films
Camera operation by Devan Scott
Focus pulling by Paige Smith
Colour by MIA

From Motet To Mass: Missa Sicut Cervus (2020) - Mark Emerson Donnelly

Over the last few months, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Vancouver composer (and Canucks anthem singer) Mark Emerson Donnelly on a series of music videos and short informational pieces about his original sacred music, which is based on the traditions of Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony.

In addition to his well-known work as a performer, Mark has over 40 years of experience as a choir director and, more recently, as a composer. This video is a glimpse into the journey of his setting of the Mass Ordinary inspired by Renaissance composer Giovanni di Palestrina’s famous motet, “Sicut cervus.”

We’ve also just released the first music video of this series: “Gloria” which is taken from the Missa Sicut Cervus.

Looking forward to sharing more from this project over the next few months!