No Young Film Composers Competiton?, The Annual TCM Event Nixed in 2008???

Very sad and exceedingly disappointing news here. It certainly appears as if this years TCM YOUNG FILM COMPOSERS COMPETITION has been canceled? Why is no one talking about this? There has been no formal announcement to the best of my knowledge, either by TCM, Warner's or anyone else?

Normally, promo's for the Annual Event start airing by Mid-December. Well, here it is well into January, and absolutely nothing has happened? Zero word pertaining to a contest being held in 2008 of any kind? I was very much looking forward to see which film would be selected to be scored for next year?

In years past, the Website always started running the Film Clips on January 2nd. This year there are no new posts of any kind? A few of us were wondering if TCM didn't perhaps lose one or both of it's sponsors? Or perhaps that budget-cuts may have put and end to the competition?

If so, then I for one am very upset about this! Each of the previous Three Winners work had been exceptional! I certainly hope that the event will return next year, and has not been discontinued completely? Does anyone here have any additional information at all?

Well, I must say that I am pretty disappointed at the lack of response to this post! I expected that I would see a fair amount of feedback?

Anyway, it's official the YOUNG FILM COMPOSERS COMPETITION is "On Hiatus for 2008, while they evaluate the program!" That's basically a polite way I'm afraid of saying that this Annual event has been discontinued! What a dark day indeed! TCM has some new people in charge and all, and this certainly does not bode well for the future in my opinion!

What happens now with MGM titles such as King Vidor's WINE OF YOUTH (1924), and HIS HOUR (1924) is unknown? Will TCM ever get to these movies? Also what about titles such as SALLY, IRENE, AND MARY (1925) with Joan Crawford, Constance Bennett, and Sally 'O Neil? AN EXCHANGE OF WIVES (1925) with Eleanor Boardman, and Renee Adoree? The Norma Shearer feature THE DEVIL'S CIRCUS (1926), the William Haines comedy SLIDE KELLY SLIDE (1927), THE FIRE BRIGADE (1927), with Charles Ray, and May McAvoy, and Clarence Brown's THE COSSACKS (1928) with John Gilbert, Renee Adoree, and Nils Asther? Also how about the Marion Davies comedies TILLIE THE TOILER (1926), THE FAIR CO-ED (1927), and THE CARDBOARD LOVER (1928)?

Then you have a host of First National Silent's in particular THE PATENT LEATHER KID (1927), with Richard Barthelmess Oscar Nominated performance, and the newly discovered Colleen Moore feature HER WILD OAT from the same year? I wonder if TCM still intends to have the same amount of films scored this year, even without the Young Film Composers Competition, or will we see anything new to speak of at all?

TCM is debuting WINGS next month. Hopefully, it is a new restoration? They will also air the William Haines feature SPRING FEVER in March? But that is a hold-over from last years YOUNG FILM COMPOSERS COMPETITION as the Winner is always contracted to score two films. In this case it is Darrell Raby's who's score to THE SHOW last year that won the contest I found to be outstanding.

In addition, TCM in the States has yet to debut the new restorations of Henry King's THE WHITE SISTER (1923), PEG 'O MY HEART (1922), and King Vidor's THE BIG PARADE (1925), among others? So those may appear, but what happens after that is very much up in the air????

I find this news pretty disappointing too. Maybe TCM simply lacks the funds to continue such a competition?

TCM has done wonders to keep the silent cinema alive. I doubt that I would have even seen silent film in the first place, had it not been for TCM airing Silent Sunday Nights. Now some of my favorite movies of all time are silents. I just hope that I can purchase most of the essential silent films before they go out of print! I joined the silent game so late. That's my nightmare.

Count me in as very dissapointed at this news. The competition was a wonderful way to help new musical talent get a break into the industry. It also helped to showcase silent cinema to new audiences with exciting new scores. I truly hope the competition is revived soon!!!

Oh my God, I can't believe that.. Im really depressed now... Giant you dont think it because, as you say, TCM has been taken over by new people? Because if its been taken over by the people who run UK TCM then you won't have ANY silent features broadcast at all (apart the odd token run of "The Jazz Singer" and "The Wind" now and then), and the logo will be on-screen for the entire duration of the movie... If thats the case then "the world at large" will not have much of an opportunity of seeing any silents or especially early talkies as I get most of mine from my friends who have US-TCM...

I doubt that has happened though any reduction in silents on TCM USA isn't to be welcomed its still a long way from TCM UK. I think its a real pity that there isn't a channel in the UK dedicated to classic movies say older than 1970 covering the entire history of film up to that point (with the introduction of digital TV there will space for loads of channels, that would a great idea for one) : right enough even TCM USA shows newer movies sometimes.

Derek, David, Allan, Everybody,

Wanted to mention that last years Winner of the TCM YFCC James Schafer will debut his score for BEAU BRUMMEL (1924), with John Barrymore, and Mary Astor, on the 29th of this month in Prime-Time.

We are at least assured that we will see this Young Composers score one other film. As part of the Prize is the opportunity to score Two-Silent features, and not just one. The second film however, is not revealed in advance? We have no idea what it might be? Nor do we know how soon it may even air either? Probably not until 2009 sometime? That's rather disappointing as well!

While it's possible that TCM could make this a Simi-Annual event, rather than every year., I am not going to hold my breath that the competition will return! We can sure do our part to make it known to the powers that be that we are not happy that the contest isn't taking place this year. It certainly wouldn't hurt any, to let them know that there is a demand for the competition!

If you check on YouTube, (Which I don't like to go to Full of Spyware!), you will see allot of former Contestant's who did not win posting the clips that they scored! I have been very impressed with the work of several of them! Most were ready to enter the event again! So all of them have to be very disheartened with what has happened in turn!

Yeah that must be extremely disheartening for them to know they can't enter this year... What a terrible blow...

People,

Huh, Did anyone manage to catch the promo that TCM is now running for Tuesday's presentation, and the Television debut of BEAU BRUMMEL with James Schafer's score? Anyway, it very clearly reads "THE 9TH ANNUAL TCM YOUNG FILM COMPOSERS COMPETITION"???

Well it's only the 9th Annual event, if they are still going to have one in 2008! Last year would have been the 8th Annual? Very confusing promo??? This would certainly lead one to believe that the contest may yet still take place? Let's hope so!