[Lifeordeath1]

Has anyone seen the trailer for The Spiderwick Chronicals?  I dont know if its just the trailer or what, but they totally ripped off JNH soundtrack for LITW!  I looked up the composer of that movie and its James Horner.  He better not be taking the same music from LITW.  Even in the trailer, all I can hear and think of is LITW.  The music doesnt go at all with the trailer.  It just doesnt fit.  Check out the trailer and leave comments.
Sorry for the bad youtube video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8supGNfhJIY

[Dr Malcolm Crowe]

The music in that trailer IS from Lady in the Water. It's become fairly common process to use music from other movies in trailers. I've heard the score by James Horner and it's nothing like Lady in the Water, in fact it's very bland and typical.

There is a trailer out there, however, that features music that truly is a rip-off of Lady in the Water. The trailer is for the movie 'The Life Before Her Eyes' starring Uma Thurman. Oddly enough, that movie is also being scored by James Horner.

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT8fNOnRSnU

[Mr_Glass.1]

Yea, it is common for trailers to take music from other movies, but to copy a similar, almost indentical, but not quite is ripping off.  Or James Horner just sounds a lot like Lady In The Water.

[Dr Malcolm Crowe]

I don't think that's from James Horner's score. Even though Horner's name is one that is often brought up when talking about plagiarism or unoriginal film music, I don't think he'd create a piece like that.

[Mr_Glass.1]

You're right, neither do I.  It did sound too much like Lady In The Water.

[Lifeordeath1]

Watched your trailer for that other movie.  I didnt think it sounded as much like LITW as the Spiderwick Chron. one did.  Whatever, either way there shouldnt be so much copying.  On the other hand, if the director says "I want it to sound like LITW.", thats a different story.  It would be harder to work your way around that sound without it sound so similar.

[Dr Malcolm Crowe]

Watched your trailer for that other movie.  I didnt think it sounded as much like LITW as the Spiderwick Chron. one did.

What I was trying to say earlier, and maybe didn't say so well, was that the music in The Spiderwick Chronicles trailer literally is the music from Lady in the Water. Not a re-recording, or a knock-off, but literally the music directly from the CD.

[Mr_Glass.1]

Yea, I wonder why that is allowed.  I don't think it should be.

[Mr_Glass.1]

But then again, more publicity for James Newton Howard.

[Lifeordeath1]

Interesting.  I wouldnt think M. Night wouldnt want music from his movie put in other trailers.  Although, maybe it isnt considered "his" music.  If the production company has rights to it, and Im sure they do, they can let someone "rent" it for the right amount of money if you know what I mean.  They probably paid big bucks to use that music.  Why anyone would ever do that is beyond me? 

[Dr Malcolm Crowe]

I'm pretty sure the publishing company, which in this case in Warner-Olive, has control over that. They would create a non-exclusive license to give to production company for a fee. And you're right, they probably do pay big $, which is why you hear the knock-off in the other trailer. Somebody creates a piece that sounds similar, and charges a fraction of the price.

[Mr_Glass.1]

Yea, basically the same theme but a lot less expensive.  Not a bad idea.

[Dr Malcolm Crowe]

This is a pretty common practice for trailer music actually. The better tracks tend to be the ones that were "inspired by"  not the ones that are 'duplicates'.

[Mr_Glass.1]

Yea, I see what you're saying.  Good point.

[Dr Malcolm Crowe]

There are some companies that strive to make music that is very unique and original, but it usually sounds like typical trailer music. Ya know... epic choirs, and loud brass, etc.