Composer Donna McKevitt joins The Film Scorer Podcast! Donna is someone that I’ve chatted to here and there over the last few years, so it was a treat having her on the show and finally getting the chance to “meet” her. Her latest scores are for The Swimming Diaries and My Name is Alfred Hitchcock, two very different documentaries and very different scores. Unsurprisingly, we spend much of our conversation talking about those two works, while also pivoting into other topics like the discrepancy in representation of male and female composers, the challenges that touring musicians face (and how much better things used to be, such as during her time in Miranda Sex Garden), the importance of arts programs and funding, and plenty more.
Donna and I kick off our conversation by talking about some of the issues that female composers face, particularly how drastically underrepresented they are. I don’t like to bring up this conversation topic with female composers unprompted for a number of reasons, one of which being that male composers are never asked the same thing (something that Donna brings up). However, it’s a topic her and I have repeatedly touched on in the past, and I wanted to use this as a chance to flesh it out even more. While there’s not an easy solution, other than from the executive and filmmakers, Donna put the issue succinctly: “men composers are hired on their promise, and women on their experience.” It’s something that’s continued to stick in my mind, even weeks after our conversation.
Donna’s scores, and much of her other music, is available on all major platforms. The Swimming Diaries and My Name is Alfred Hitchcock are both forthcoming. You can find out more about Donna on her website.
Have a listen to our conversation below or wherever you get your podcasts (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts). Enjoying these interviews? Show the love by subscribing and leaving a rating or review!
