Brahm Wenger talks about creating music for “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”

Brahm Wenger is the composer and writer of the original music for Disney’s “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”.  He has been working within this franchise since “Air Bud”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Brahm about working on this series and it’s latest installment “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”.

Mike Gencarelli: With “Santa Buddies”, “The Search for Santa Paws” and now “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”, you’ve not only composed the score but also written original songs; tell us about that aspect?
Brahm Wenger: Well the difference about when you write songs for a film is that it effectively then becomes a musical. The biggest difference is that you start before they start filming. You start when the script is written and you work with the director to find where the story will be best served with a song. When you write the score, you wait for them to finish the film and then you write the score. When you do films like “Santa Buddies”, “The Search for Santa Paws” and now “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”, you are in from the minute they finish the scripts. You start by writing the songs. You are part of the casting process, since you have to write the songs to fit the people singing. They have to be able to perform it. If there are dance sequences, then you have to work with the choreographer. Then you are also working with them at the set level, so you are involved with the assistant director, the director etc. It is a real collaborative effort.

MG: Where do you get the inspiration for the Christmas music, specifically in “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”?BW: I think the inspiration comes first from the script. Once you see the story, you can see what you are trying to accomplish. The beauty of doing music and writing songs is that you can say so much more with a song that you can with dialogue. There is a famous lyricist that one said “a page of lyrics is equal to ten pages of script”. It is just so much more effective. So the inspiration is from the story and you find what they are trying to say in that particular moment and then you nail it as a song.

MG: How long did it take create the eight original songs for “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”?
BW: We started about 9 months before they started shooting the film and once the script was done. Not only do you have to write them adapt to the singer, you also have to please the director and the writers etc. It has to work and also has to be in sync for everybody.

MG: How was it working at London’s famed Abbey Road Studio for these scores?
BW: Abbey Road also has a sister studio in London called Air Studios. It was started by the famous Beatles producer George Martin. Sometimes we go to Abbey Road and sometimes we go to Air Studios. It really depends on the feeling. Air has a bit of a warmer sound. It is like a 300-400 year old church. Abbey Road is more of an industrial strength room. It feels a little brassier. So we go back and worth but they both work beautifully.

MG: You’ve been working with the Disney Buddies series since the beginning with “Air Bud”, how has the series evolved?
BW: It is very different. They come from the same genesis but are so completely different. “Air Bud” series focuses on his playing various different sports. He would figure out, how to play a sport and then have some sort of a championship game and go on win it. With the “Air Buddies” franchise, it is completely different because they dogs talk and that opens up a whole new avenue. There are also five of them instead of just one. And it is also a continuing adventure so in when they went to Alaska for the dog sled. The Alaskan theme of the great north is completely different from when they went to Egypt in “Treasure Buddies”. As a composer it is like one minute you are writing the Duke of the North and then the next minute you are working for Indiana Jones. There is no connection. When we did “Santa Buddies” or “Santa Paws 2”, it is straight forward Christmas music but here it is completely different. The next one is “Super Buddies”, which is a superhero movie and again that is completely different. It is really a challenge to start each time with a fresh format.

MG: So “Super Buddies” is next for you then?
BW: Yep, that is next now. We are working on it right now as we speak. They are just about finished shooting that. Then I should be seeing a cut in the next few weeks. So I am looking forward to starting on that one next.

Disney’s “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups” Blu-ray™ Combo Pack Giveaway [ENDED]

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“Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups” Blu-ray™ Combo Pack available on November 20th, 2012

To celebrate the release of Disney’s “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Paws”, Media Mikes would like to giveaway 5 copies of the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray™ + 1 DVD). If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email indicating your favorite Disney Buddies movie. This giveaway will remain open until December 7th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to residents of the United States only. One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Official Premise: he North Pole has a new litter of playful pups. However, when the frisky foursome—Hope, Jingle, Charity and Noble—practically destroy Santa’s Workshop with their mischievous gamboling, they realize the best way to prove that they’re responsible enough to become Santa’s helpers is to show how well they can spread the Christmas spirit all by themselves. With help from a magic crystal, they start granting everyone’s wishes. But their good intentions backfire when one unhappy boy asks that Christmas go away forever! With his wish impetuously fulfilled, and the joyous spirit quickly disappearing from the planet, Mrs. Claus and the pups have to find a way to reverse the spell—or risk losing Christmas forever.

 

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Kaitlyn Maher chat about working on “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”

Kaitlyn Maher is only 8-years old but she has already accomplished so much. She started at the young age of 4 on TV’s “America’s Got Talent”. She has worked with Disney on “Santa Buddies”, “The Search for Santa Paws”, “Treasure Buddies” and most recently “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”. She has a beautiful voice and gets to sing some really nice songs in her latest film. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Kaitlyn about her films and spreading the Christmas spirit.

Mike Gencarelli: This is your fourth role in the Disney Buddies series, how did you originally get involved?
Kaitlyn Maher: Lorna Johnson, the casting director, saw me on “America’s Got Talent” when I was 4-years old. From there she cast me for role of Tiny in “Santa Buddies”. Then they liked me and the director, Robert Vince cast me in “The Search for Santa Paws” and so on…

MG: What did you enjoy most about working on “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”?
KM: Everybody was really, really nice. I liked working with the director, Mr. Robert Vince. Cheryl Ladd is very sweet, wonderful and so very nice. I really enjoyed working with her. Also we shot the film in mountains of British Columbia and we were surrounded by mountains and snow.  It was just really pretty.

MG: How does it compare from your role in “The Search for Santa Paws”?
KM: They both are great movies and both share the Christmas spirit. They both share that message to deliver the Christmas spirit to everybody everywhere.

MG: After three Christmas themed film, is it safe to say that it is your favorite holiday?
KM: I love Christmas. It probably is my favorite holiday. I love to share the joy and spirit of Christmas with everyone, especially with those people that are having a rough time. I want to tell them that they are meant to be happy and to keep believing. God loves them and I love them too.

MG: Tell us about the songs in “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”?
KM: They are very inspiring songs. I love all of the songs. They are songs that you can spread the Christmas spirit with everybody. It also makes the movie really fun. It also makes me smile that other people will be able to enjoy these songs as well and it will get into the Christmas spirit. The songs also promote the true meaning of Christmas for everyone.

MG: What do you enjoy most about music?
KM: I just love making people smile and making others feel happy and loved. I also like to make them know that God loves them even if they don’t feel like it.

MG: What do you most about doing voice work in the film “Santa Buddies” and “Treasure Buddies”?
KM: It is a lot of fun going in the studios and recording. It is nice to imagine what it would be like to voice a camel and a puppy in real life. Though I don’t think I look anything like a camel [laughs].

MG: What do you have planned next? How about a new album?
KM: I have a TV show that is coming out in the Spring called “The Goodwin Games” on Fox. Yes, I will also be doing a new CD next year. I am really excited about that. I really want to give people a lot of encouragement and I want make a really inspiring CD.

Blu-ray Review “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups”

Actors: Cheryl Ladd, Kaitlyn Maher, Josh Feldman, Danny Woodburn, Richard Kind
Directors: Robert Vince
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Run Time: 88 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

The Disney Buddies franchise has been non-stop, ever since “Air Bud” in 1997. This series just keeps expanding, though this latest edition “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups” is definitely one of the cutest.  I was also a big fan of this past Spring’s “Treasure Buddies”, which was also a lot of fun.  But I have to admit, I am sucker though for the Christmas-themed installments. Did I mention this was cute? I am looking forward to watching this again with my wife and daughter, while getting into the holiday mood.  I was just left with such a nice smile on my face and in a great mood after watching this. I have become a big fan of this series and I look forward to the next installment “Super Buddies”  due out Fall 2013. But Disney if you are reading this, I want more “Santa Paws”  sequels as well!

Dad’s if you are wondering why Mrs. Clause is so smoking hot…that is became it is played by Cheryl Ladd aka Kris Munroe from “Charlie’s Angels”.  “Santa Paws 2” also features “The Search for Santa Paws” co-stars Danny Woodburn and Kaitlyn Maher (“Treasure Buddies”) reunite in this latest installment. Kaitlyn is really the cutest thing on the planet and sings beautifully. Which brings me to the original music in the film, which was really cheerful and great. Thanks in that department have to go to Brahm Wenger, who also worked on “The Search for Santa Paws” and “Treasure Buddies”. I think the addition of music to this franchise has really benefited it, especially the holiday installments.  I found myself humming the tunes…but where’s the soundtrack?

Official Premise: he North Pole has a new litter of playful pups. However, when the frisky foursome—Hope, Jingle, Charity and Noble—practically destroy Santa’s Workshop with their mischievous gamboling, they realize the best way to prove that they’re responsible enough to become Santa’s helpers is to show how well they can spread the Christmas spirit all by themselves. With help from a magic crystal, they start granting everyone’s wishes. But their good intentions backfire when one unhappy boy asks that Christmas go away forever! With his wish impetuously fulfilled, and the joyous spirit quickly disappearing from the planet, Mrs. Claus and the pups have to find a way to reverse the spell—or risk losing Christmas forever.

“Santa Paws 2” comes in a combo pack with Blu-ray and DVD disc. The 1080p transfer is sharp and works well the very colorful Christmas town that is created.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also complements Wenger’s music very well. The special features are a little light for Disney but kids will still enjoy.  There is a fun featurette where the pups take over the radio station from the film in “Santa Pups Music Mash-Up”, featuring clips from the film’s songs.  “Blooper Scooper” is some funny outtakes and other on-set Antics from the production.  Lastly, there are some great trailers for upcoming Disney Blu-ray trailers for “Return to Neverland” and “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”, which we can expect in Spring 2013. Hooray! Can’t wait for both of those releases!