Category: Documentary

The Space Shuttle that Fell to Earth

Multipart series for BBC and CNN

The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth combines first-hand testimony with previously unseen archive to chart the in-depth story of the Columbia space shuttle tragedy in 2003, when the shuttle disintegrated during re-entry to Earth. Hearing from those closest to the story – the astronauts’ families and NASA officials – some of whom have never spoken before – this multi-part series explores how and why the disaster occurred.

“the finest possible tribute to the astronauts who lost their lives”, The Guardian ★★★★★
“an exemplary three-part study of the disaster”, The Telegraph ★★★★

Watch The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth on BBC iPlayer

Director: Lizzie Kempton
Exec Producers: Emma Whitehead, Emma Tutty
Composer: Alexander Parsons

Who Killed Jill Dando

A flawless piece of work… it’s the Happy Valley of true crime documentaries. Anthony France, Evening Standard ★★★★★

 

This is serious journalism Gerard Gilbert, iNews ★★★★

British broadcasting legend, Jill Dando, was killed by a single bullet on her doorstep in 1999 in broad daylight. Despite one of the biggest homicide investigations in British history, the murder remains unsolved. This three-part series takes viewers through the twists and the turns of a true crime mystery as her family, friends, journalists, investigators and lawyers wrestle with the question: Who Killed Jill Dando?

 

Worlds Collide: The Manchester Bombing

Director: Marcus Plowright
Composer: Alexander Parsons
Production Company: Label1
Broadcaster: ITV

 

Despite the tragedy at its centre, the series also contains stories of warmth and joy. The biggest challenge was for the score to connect these, almost continuously, with much darker contrasting events of the day. I used various musical devices to try to achieve this – firstly the use of very loosely played acoustic instrumental parts, which we hear performed on violin, cello and flute. These bring a sense of warmth to darker scenes, as well as hinting at instability and a sense of what is to come in warmer moments. I also aimed to give an impression of different worlds colliding as parts weave in and out of time. The second was a four-note ascending motif, which returns at points that hint at the tragedy about to occur. Thirdly the use of vocals which we used to invoke a sense of memory and as a reminder of the tragic loss of life.

 

Violin: Alexander Parsons
Vocals: Hinako Omori
Cello: Joe Zeitlin


Curse of The Chippendales

Composer: Alexander Parsons
Record Label: MovieScore Media / Reality Bytes
Mixed by: Alexander Parsons and Jamie Ellis (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 14)
Electric/Upright Bass: Rory Dempsey
Drums: Ollie Howell
Brass: Mike Underwood, Tom Dennis, Olly Martin
Keys: Alexander Parsons, Rob Gentry
Flute: Gareth Lockrane
Guitars: Adam Martin, Edward Mowat
Strings: Pete Whitfield

 

Grayson’s Art Club

Composer: Alexander Parsons
Violin, synths, electronics, tape manipulations: Alexander Parsons
Cello: Klara Schuman, Joe Zeitlin
Guitar: Dave Malkin, Edward Venn Mowat
Voice: Tara Creme

 

 

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