Based out of Portland, Oregon. Filmusik is a collaborative performance group of musicians, composers and actors creating a unique movie experience by performing a new soundtrack for classic films live in the pit.

Whether it’s a vocal chorus wailing away to a spaghetti western gunfight, voice actors dubbing the cartoon characters of Gulliver’s Travels or sound effects (foley) artists smashing crates together for a Japanese monster invasion, seeing professional performers creating sound for the movies live makes for an unforgettable experience.

Scott J. Ordway conducts the orchestra during a performance of the 1940’s cartoon Superman

Our Mission

Filmusik aims to create opportunities for live music and musicians by supporting performers and composers in new venues. Proving the timeless vibrancy of live performance over pre-recorded mediums, Filmusik elevates the art form of new film accompaniment  for today’s audience.

Live film accompaniment was once as commonplace as films themselves, and orchestras like our own could be seen in every major city. In the silent film era, Americans had an exposure to live music unrivaled in history. The industry accounted for nearly half of all musician employment and created more original music than ever before (or after). Although the film and music industries have changed dramatically since then, all of us recognize the vibrancy of live music over prerecorded sound, it’s something time and technology will never replace.

What we do is different from the silver screen orchestras that entertained audiences through the mute flickering pictures of silent film.  We work with sound films by removing and re-imagining the soundtrack, collaborating with film studios to get original film elements for our shows.  Sometimes we even re-create the entire sonic world from scratch with local actors dubbing a foreign or animated film on stage and foley artists creating the sound effects.  We’ve had local Electronica artists score 1950’s sci-fi, full choruses singing and chanting through desperado westerns, any genre of music and film is fair game.  We’re constantly working to create something new, bringing live music for the films to new people and places.  Come by sometime and check out one of our shows!!

For more information regarding what we do or to book a performance, contact galen@filmusik.com