Trent Reznor: the 'dweeb outsider' who has found his niche

Trent Reznor has been called the ‘dweeb outsider’ by director David Fincher, who also reveals that the Nine Inch Nails’ frontman was the only musician he wished to collaborate with on the soundtrack to his critically acclaimed film The Social Network.

 He says that the synthesizer sound was the perfect instrument for the world of the internet. “I thought the only guy I knew who could take the hum of it, the drone of it, the pneumatics and the booting up – all this stuff with these weird sounds and also understand the horniness of being the dweeb outsider was Trent.”

 When Fincher called him up Reznor’s first reply was ‘no thanks’, the director reveals. “I thinks he was exhausted at that moment in time and I think he felt that he was going to have to drive the thing somehow – and I think when he saw the sequences he sort of thought ‘wow, I just need to interpret what the envelope is for this sonically’.”

 Reznor was in the process of winding up Nine Inch Nails and already had other projects in the pipeline such as a TV mini-series named Year Zero for HBO, based on Nine Inch Nails' 2007 album of the same name.

 He is also putting together a new group, How To Destroy Angels, with his wife Mariqueen Maandig and releasing an album early next year.

 Talking about working with Fincher, Reznor says: “When I actually read the script and knowing David was involved - and David brings a level of excellence to what he’s interested in and what he works on - I knew this wasn’t going to be what I feared it could be in lesser hands. [And it became]: How can I help change people’s preconceived notions of what a Facebook movie is — the same feeling I myself had when I first heard of it …. It’s not about Facebook, so much. It’s about people and greed and creation and entitlement. It’s not about how people use Facebook, necessarily.”

 On the process of scoring his first full-length movie, Reznor says: “I wanted to make it something that inched up the drama a little bit. And darkened the mood. Because I think there’s a great sense of betrayal and greed that runs through this film that I kind of wanted to play up.”

 Pretty much from the beginning Reznor, well, nailed it. “I went off into my laboratory for a few weeks with Atticus [Ross], my conspirator, and just generated a bunch of sketches … Somehow we got it right almost the first time. [David] didn’t have a constructive criticism because he was blown away in trying some of these out in different scenes. I would like to say it was genius, but it was probably luck.”

 Reznor’s dark, edgy score is perfect for a film that will be viewed as defining a generation. It’s a modern day tale of greed, inspiration, friendship and envy - played out to a rich, operatic soundtrack composed on the synthesizer.

 As well as cementing his reputation as a film composer, Reznor is also working on a remastered version of Nine Inch Nails’ 1989 debut album Pretty Hate Machine, which is slated for release next month.

 He is also not afraid to experiment with social media and has been at the forefront of the digital revolution, notably by putting up albums on torrent sites (Ghosts) and releasing the soundtrack for The Social Network through Amazon Deals programme.

 Twenty-one years after he gave us his first sonic experience, Reznor continues to inspire and create; love him or loathe him you certainly can’t ignore his enigmatic presence in our world today.

Untitled

Lies, paranoia and jealousy on the internet's social networks inspire Hollywood

'From the Facebook film to movies about internet predators and treachery among friends, cinema is waking up to the importance of this new aspect of many people's lives'

Here's a link to the above story from Sunday's Observer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/24/easya-social-network-chatroom-catfish

My screenplay deals with this exact subject, I'm currently seeking funding, have a producer and director involved, but open to offers and collaboration etc.

"This new appetite for using the internet as a plot device is clearly a response to the growing significance of social networking sites."

I'm on the money with this.

email: tony.myers@me.com

This life

Date: 25 October 2010 06:14
Topic: This life
Awake. It’s 6am and I’m in York, at my parents’ with my children, in my old bedroom in a traditional two-up two down terrace house near to the station.

This is the house I grew up in and was desperate to leave from aged 16. I got out and against all the odds and being equipped with only a secondary education managed to make something of myself. It was hard, but there are many more people I know whose childhood was much worse than mine. We were poor, but at least there was some kind of loving, and it’s only by coming a parent that I realise the problems my mum and dad went through. I gave them a hard time, but t could have turned out much worse, in the end they are proud of me and I of them.

Back in York this weekend I went to a reunion, loosely based on the music scene in the city in the 80s for all those that hung out at the Roxy nightclub. The evening was a reminder of why I had to leave and do something with my life. At the time there were a lot of Goths, I was never a Goth and I didn’t really identify with many of the musicians, we were more indie/punks.

The reunion was full of ageing Goths and a mx of the weird and wonderful that made it a very vibrant scene back in the 80s. It was good to catch up, there were some genuinely interesting and good people that I enjoyed chatting to. Many were still locked in their own little worlds, some still chasing the dream and you could tell they hadn’t travelled far - spiritually, emotionally, creatively.


I had this theory that York with its walls and narrow streets is almost like a prison, it locks you in. It’s a lovely city, a great place to live - lots going on so why leave? I am immensely proud of where I come but i always possessed a knowledge that to make something of my life I had to leave my hometown - take a risk, the same way as Joyce and Beckett had to leave Dublin.

I am now on the verge of taking another risk with my life, I really don’t know how it will turn out, but coming back home gives me strength because I remember the times when I had nothing and there really was nothing to lose. These days my circumstances are different, I have children, responsibilities, and I wonder if in my own way I am still chasing a dream?


Can I ever change anything, would it be better if I had stayed in York led a quiet life, being content with my lot? People I met the other night appeared content - was that through ignorance or choice?

I don’t know, I can only speak for myself on this matter. I have made this life and this life has made me, it’s the only one I’ve got so I better make the best of it.

There is a reason

Date: 15 October 2010 08:56
Topic: There is a reason

Well, yesterday I resigned from the Guardian. I have accepted the redundancy offer, which is quite generous, but begs the question what am I going to do with the rest of my life?

Working as an editor on the Guardian was a lifetime achievement, but for many reasons I was never truly happy. My life has been full of challenges, I have taken risks before and it has always worked out. The challenge now is to survive, not blow all the redundancy money, be a reliable and good father to my lovely children.

When I leave there will be a period of flux, things are not going to be as they were, but it’s been a pretty shitty year so I had to change something. Where I am going to live? I don’t know. What am I going to do? I don’t know? Exciting and scary and I shall have to rely on my intuition to see me through.

I leave my flat in January and will go to California for a few weeks, that much is certain. I need to refresh, recharge and find a new perspective.

Journalism will see me through, I have no doubt I will find freelance work and am already building contacts to get some work lined up for next year. There maybe a couple of permanent job opportunities, which would bring security - but do I really want that? Why leave the Guardian?

My screenplay is where I am focussing my energies at the moment and could be something that points to a new career, a new direction. I am re-drafting for a micro-budget, it is going incredibly well and there is funding available in November of up to £100k. I am working hard on getting a proposal together. I have a producer to help me with a budget, I have a director, have a named actor in mind whom I can get the script to when it is ready.

Should I be successful with obtaining funding then I shall pay myself a reasonable amount for my work and next year will be focussed on getting the film produced.

That’s the plan anywhere.

Keep calm and carry on.

There is a reason

Well, yesterday I resigned from the Guardian. I have accepted the redundancy offer, which is quite generous, but begs the question what am I going to do with the rest of my life?

Working as an editor on the Guardian was a lifetime achievement, but for many reasons I was never truly happy. My life has been full of challenges, I have taken risks before and it has always worked out. The challenge now is to survive, not blow all the redundancy money, be a reliable and good father to my lovely children.

When I leave there will be a period of flux, things are not going to be as they were, but it’s been a pretty shitty year so I had to change something. Where I am going to live? I don’t know. What am I going to do? I don’t know? Exciting and scary and I shall have to rely on my intuition to see me through.

I leave my flat in January and will go to California for a few weeks, that much is certain. I need to refresh, recharge and find a new perspective.

Journalism will see me through, I have no doubt I will find freelance work and am already building contacts to get some work lined up for next year. There maybe a couple of permanent job opportunities, which would bring security - but do I really want that? Why leave the Guardian?

My screenplay is where I am focussing my energies at the moment and could be something that points to a new career, a new direction. I am re-drafting for a micro-budget, it is going incredibly well and there is funding available in November of up to £100k. I am working hard on getting a proposal together. I have a producer to help me with a budget, I have a director, have a named actor in mind whom I can get the script to when it is ready.

Should I be successful with obtaining funding then I shall pay myself a reasonable amount for my work and next year will be focussed on getting the film produced.

That’s the plan anywhere.

Keep calm and carry on.

Calling Card

Arrived back in London last night after two weeks holiday with my children. It felt strange to be back in the flat - seems there’s more space here than in the former marital home. My ex was in Amercia on some kind of shamanic quest. As mentioned previously money is tight but I took the kids camping, and for the rest of the time we hung out in the house, played cricket in the park, frsibee etc - went to the cinema, went on walks etc, simple pleasures and my children didn’t seem to mind. My daughter was invited to various sleepovers - and both her and my son and friends for sleepovers. Even cooked pancakes one day - and baked a crumble made from berries picked in the garden.

I thought/wanted to bring them to London for a few days but in the end I simply couldn’t afford it. London costs big time and they would have ended up in the flat in front of the tv or computer most of the time, so we stayed in the west country, enjoyed the fresh air.

Been back in the house was claustrophobic, it’s tiny for one and little privacy, but at ages 12 and 10 my kids are are gaining semi autonomy and are happy to go off an play with friends, which suits me as I got time to write- or read. I also kept up my yoga practice, abstained from coffee for a full fortnight - and still have not touched alcohol.

I have promised them if I make some extra money I will take them away, maybe later this year - certainly next year.

I also got an iPhone4, couldn’t afford one - but can I afford not to have one? Can sync all data with my Macboook Pro - I even have a screenwriting app for it, so it made sense. I need to be organised with contacts etc and it seemed the best solution - especially as my old crappy phone died on me.

So I am back at work today; I have a fairly easy week but really concentrating on the ‘business’ side of my first screenplay, provisionally called CROCODILE EYE. I have a meeting with a developer as part of a National Film and Television programme - have sent it to a couple of actors to read and for feedback so must chase their comments. My screenplay is a manageable 81 pages at the moment so space to develop plot and characters, the structure may also need some work. It felt good to take a break from it, I must now concentrate all my efforts on selling/producing it as it may well be my calling card into the industry.

My new screenplay seems much easier to write, mainly because I took time to work on a structure, I am 12 pages in and the process has been incredibly easy. Having a structure as allowed me to concentrate on the characters and dialogue.

It has been a happy exercise in escapism so far as I am totally in the story and it’s a joy to return to it.

Apart from coffee there is nothing in the flat so I must source breakfast from outside - ie the staff canteen so going to go to work early. I am looking forward to cycling across London and picking up the vibe of the city again after my little west country sojourn.

Old Man and the Wood

My children are my inspiration. I am separated from their mother so time with them is precious. I have a girl and a boy, 12 and 10 respectively and they are wonderful, I am so proud how they have adapted to the new circumstances, they are bright, funny, creative and energetic. It helps that the marriage break up was amicable and I am still on friendly terms with their mother, despite our differences. I write this from the family home, she is away and is letting me stay here with them - I have also given up my flat in London for her when she needed it for a weekend. It’s that kind of relationship and not many couples are fortunate to have that understanding after a break up. When I have my children (every other weekend, as they live quite far from London) we have fun and stimulating times exploring London, going to galleries and exhibitions or simply hanging out. I enjoy showing them another world, different to their small market town in deepest Hampshire.

Last week we went camping together in Wareham Forest, Dorset. Like many families budgets are tight this year and it was all I could afford. No matter, we have been camping together for the last three years since the separation and always enjoy it. This time was a bit different. We stayed on a campsite with not much for entertainment apart from an outside heated outside pool. There were of course lots of walks to be had, bike trails etc (we didn’t take bikes) and we actually camped in the woods. The campsite was peaceful. It was a relief to be out of contact with the world for a few days - I switched my phone off, and of course left my Macbook at home so no emails, Facebook updates or twitter. The children were equally bereft of TV, computer, PSPs etc for four days - although my daughter kept her mobile with her at all times.

It was just the three of us and a pack of cards, cricket set, boules and a frisbee. These past four days were a simple joy. We spent time in the pool and indulging in all the above activities, hot chocolates at 10pm, stories, reading in the tent and lights out. We swam together and went on walks, I cooked dinner every night on the cooker - and because they are now at an age where they are more independent the children could go off and do their own thing without me; giving me some time to recharge.

I work as a journalist in London so quite a demanding job and it’s easy to suffer from information overload. I have also written one screenplay, which is in development and my time is constantly spent emailing pitches, obtaining feedback, editing, rewriting, reading screenplays etc etc.

On holiday I only took one book ( I usually have several on the go at once) Boredom by Alberto Moravia, an author I greatly admire, and a notebook. I also took the decision to not drink alcohol or coffee during this time - it is now over a week since I have imbibed either and I feel so much more energised. I drank organic tea while away and continued my yoga practice.

What happened next came as a surprise as while been fully engaged with my children over these four days away I came back with an outline for a new 90-page screenplay. The creative process was as such: I would wake early sit outside the tent with a brew for an hour or so alone with my thoughts and slowly and unforced ideas would come - characters, plot, scenarios etc. I should confess that the original story is an idea I already had wrote a mishmash of 90,000 a few years ago. Using this as my research I would slowly sketch out a structure, either sat by the pool while the children swam or simply snatching quiet moments. I didn’t force anything, sometimes I would read my book. The process was slow, at times I felt like Santiago in Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea, each day he goes fishing, even though he knows the likelihood of bringing in a catch is remote. He endeavours for something like 80 days (I forget) before he is rewarded, but even then his victory turns into a defeat of sorts as he has to wrestle with a giant Marlin and then when he kills it the fish is devoured by sharks.

Unlike Santiago I did not have to wrestle with my catch, ideas flowed naturally, sure I had blocks, felt like abandoning the idea thinking it was a waste of time, but in my own silent way I persevered with it and slowly the plot, characters, structure fell into place - I came back with a beginning middle and end of an original screenplay that I feel excited about.

Been around my children without doubt helped the process, but what I discovered is to the best way to work is simply go away, get out of your usual environment, keep it simple, have no expectations, avoid all distractions such as phone and emails etc and listen to your subconscious. After all writing is really thinking, and if you don’t catch anything this time maybe next time, or the next, like Santiago if you have to keep trying, it those that give up who ultimately come away with absolutely nothing.

Coffee and alcohol are optional; for me I felt like cleansing my body and mind. Both drugs have played a part in my creativity before, what I discovered is that they weren't essential to the process and I do feel so much better, clearer, sharper, I am also sleeping longer and deeper. I have my children for another week, and while back in the modern world I am continuing the vibe of writing when I can but my main priority is and always will be them: because without them I am nothing.