Composing music for a short film about the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani. 

A few notes on my approach to writing the cues to this fantastic short film by filmmaker Chris Eyre. Chris and I have worked together quite a few times, which really helps. The film is part of a series that talks to people about the work that they do. You can watch them all over here.

“I’m surrounded by things that remind me of different times in my life”

Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani

Who is Bishop Guli?

The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani has served as Bishop of Chelmsford since April 2021.

Born in Iran, Guli’s family left the country in the wake of the Iranian Revolution in 1980, when she was 13 years old, and to date she has been unable to return.

Read more about Bishop Guli here

Working with the film maker  

With this film, communication was mostly over email, maybe a video call, too.

Chris gave a really clear idea of areas he’d like me to explore and represent through the cues, for example the idea of multiple identities. As well as a steer around what he is focusing on in the narrative, there are musical steers, too. Having a playlist to get the vibe or soundworld can be really helpful to get you in the same space as the  filmmaker.

It can also be daunting, especially when Elgar is on the list!! Finding a way to manage expectations, while still delivering cues that support the film is all part of it. 

Trying to write something in the same world as this, for me, is daunting, to say the least!

“Faith is about something that connects us to the big, the beyond life, and you know, life after death. But actually faith is also very much about believing in life before death and trying to be a part of improving the situation in people’s lives.” 

Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani

Writing the cues

For this film, I composed a cue that held most of what Chris was looking for in the brief. This includes my choices on instrumentation and pacing. Before I wrote anymore music, I sent that idea off to Chris to get a sense-check. This saves us both a fair bit of time, and can help us reorient ourselves if I’m way off.

Following that, it’s write, write, write!  

A note about ego. Dropping your ego and getting the amends done is a must! It’s also a time of great learning and seeing your music objectively.

Of course, I become close to the cues, it’d be weird for me if I wasn’t. But there are always amends, radical or (fingers crossed) minor. This film was no different. In fact, for this film there were a few stakeholders, including amends from Bishop Guli’s team in the constituency of Chelmsford.  

We got there, and I’m proud of this film. It’s also an honour to get to ‘meet’ individuals like Bishop Guli by writing music for their words and story. It’s an odd thing, but very special.

I hope you find something in the film that resonates with you.

On a closing note, my favourite amends for this film was for one of the more percussive pieces “more Dark Knight, and less Michael Keaton…”, which we will all have opinions on, won’t we (what about Affleck??)…