Teens in Angst-They Get By With A Little Help From Cathi Black, Music Supervisor on "16 to Life"

March 28, 2009 - PRLog -- The audacity it must take for anyone who is NOT 16-years-old to compile a soundtrack of music for a 16-year-old coming-of-age story is immense.  Either that music expert is actually a sadly dwarfed adult way too in touch with their teen years and time-trapped in musical angst or it is someone who can dust off their high school yearbook without too much therapy and also just happens to be connected to a new, vibrant crop of independent music artists willing to tell the story through song.  In this case, it’s the latter.

“16 to Life”, the new feature film, by Waterdog films and writer/director Becky Smith, is the story of Kate, a smart, witty, small town girl on the edge of her 16th birthday, whose solid head is becoming unscrewed by her burgeoning sexuality.  And she wants to be kissed physically or metaphorically by a guy who isn’t a) completely dorky, b) pathetic; or c) psychotic.  Fortunately, she has a soundtrack to guide her through the painful and awkwardly funny moments throughout the film.

Swedish pop-jazz provocateur Miss Li sings the bouncy, piano-driven love confession “Oh Boy,” which captures the naiveté of the teen crush, and is the music that drives the trailer as well.  Miss Li has had chart-topping radio singles in Sweden, and her MySpace web site has taken a half-million hits, and counting.

“Call Your Guy” by Los Angeles’ Chauncey Jacks and “Roll The Dice” by London’s Sara Schiralli also invite you to dance with the movie’s playful theme with their come-hither appeal and lyrical optimism.  [insert facts about these artist, I don’t have them]

“These Streets”, pairs an Andy Griffith-ish whistle with the lazy-in-love vocals of Ane, Trolle, the singer from Denmark duo Trolle Siebenhaar, who makes a point to punctuate her sing-a-long melody with thoughtful idealism.

And because almost every song has a young female singer songwriter’s mark on it, the music throughout the film authentically underscores the moods the characters are emulating: “Hey, I’m making my way through life, stumbling towards applause.  Are you with me?”

Music Supervisor, Cathi Black, who consequently is not 16, was a believer in the story’s characters from the outset.  "When I saw a rough cut of the film, I knew I had to be involved, there were so many great spots for songs in the film and consequently good soundtrack potential.   Director, Becky Smith and I were completely aligned in our vision for the music to speak to the quirky, whimsical nature of the cast and story.  We have a very international group of artists in film,  from as far away as Italy, Denmark, Hong Kong and Australia, to the UK and Canada and back again....It was intentional, because the tumultuous emotional ride Kate is on crosses all borders.”

Lenka, the Aussie chanteuse who lends her breathy vocals to the love song “Don’t Let Me Fall” may make you re-commit to the inherent magic of a crush or a kiss or love, all over again.   This track is artfully crafted with the arrangement hands of David Cambell (Beck’s father) and sports a nine-person orchestra, as well as one of our favorite lyrics that supports this movie: “Underneath the moon, underneath the stars, here’s a little heart for you / Up above the world, up above it all, here’s a hand to hold onto”.  
After all, when you’re in the midst of teenage uncertainty, sometimes a hand to hold is the best you can hope to get.

And this set of newcomers will hold your hand and walk with you all the way.

"16 to Life" has it's world premire on Sat. March 28 at MethodFest Film Festival.

# # #

For more information about Cathi Black and Beautiful Oblivion Productions, please see:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1192893/
For more information about "16 to Life" the movie, please see:
http://www.16tolifethemovie.org