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Music is a big part of our family. It’s either constantly playing, or we’re trying to learn to play an instrument. Lately, Channing has been into the guitar and let me tell you, I’m already having visions of her in a rock band and it’s awesome. So when I had the opportunity to interview someone truly influential in the music industry I jumped at the chance.
Anne Cecere is the Senior Director, Film, TV & Visual Media Relations at BMI – a music rights company. Cecere is the visionary behind creating a platform at WonderCon of composers and creators. In 2009, she realized there was no discussion of any music at any of the Con festivals. So she championed for the opportunity to have BMI composers involved at WonderCon by giving them the opportunity to elaborate on the importance of music behind some of TV’s biggest shows, films and video games.
L to R Gabriel Mann (Composer for “School of Rock”) Steven Vincent (VP of Music and Soundtracks- The Disney Channel) Anne Cecere (Co-moderator and Senior Director, Film, TV & Visual Media, BMI) Christopher Lennertz (Composer for Galavant) Chandler Poling (Co-Moderator and President of White Bear PR) Rachel Rusch (VP of Event Series at FOX – Oversaw Grease Live!) Jeffrey Hornaday (Director: Teen Beach Movie & Choreographer for films, Flashdance, A Chorus Line and Dick Tracy)
She tells me that the Con people in power initially told her “no”, citing that no one would come to a music panel. And in 2010 she proved them wrong by hosting the first BMI panel at WonderCon to a packed house. The BMI music panels are now some of the most anticipated and attended panels at both WonderCon and Comic-Con. Cecere believes, and rightly so, that music is just as much of a character playing alongside Wonder Woman, Superman, Spiderman, Rick & Morty and so many more cult classics.
Anne Cecere congratulating Iconic BMI composer John Williams after one of his concerts at the Hollywood Bowl
As the BMI panels grew in popularity at both WonderCon and Comic-Con, it attracted major TV networks and creators. The networks offered exclusive footage and the creators asked to join the conversation of the important of music’s role in TV, film and video games. Over the years, the BMI panels at WonderCon and Comic-Con have included exclusive footage from shows such as Arrow and Looper, included award-winning composers such as Blake Neely, Christopher Lennertz, Charles Fox, Nathan Barr, John Ottman, Tyler Bates, Laura Karpman, Lolita Ritmanis, Heather McIntosh and many more. In addition, top Film, TV and video game executives and creators have also participated.
In addition to changing the culture of the Cons, she is also a new mommy to a baby boy. She tells me she and her husband are avid cosplayers and that her son Jackson has already dressed up for his first Con. It’s so awesome to see moms working their passion into parenting. I do the same with Channing which is why she eats so much cheese!
L to R Chandler poling (co-moderator and President White Bear PR) Harry Manfredini (Composer Friday the 13th) Charles Bernstein (Composer Nightmare on Elm Street) Tyler Bates (Composer Dawn of The Dead) Anne Cecere (Co-Moderator and Sr Director, Film, TV & Visual Media, BMI) Laura Karpman (Composer Carrie) Richard Band (Composer Re-Animator) Maurizio Guarini (of the group Goblin…composed the music for Suspiria) Douglas Tait (Special guest that introduced the panel…Actor who played Jason in the film Freddy vs Jason)
I loved chatting with Anne and you will truly be inspired by her story too. If you’d like to catch the BMI panel at WonderCon and see the magic of music for your self, the schedule is here.
WonderCon runs March 23rd-26th in Anaheim. You can follow the latest news from BMI on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
