Joe Rudge
For full credits please click on the above biography download.
Joe Rudge knows music supervision is about more than music. An experienced licensing pro, his motive is always to enhance the moving image - film, TV, commercials and multimedia - and help the director's vision come alive.
As seen from an expansive list of credits, Rudge's expertise is increasingly in demand. His work on films like Blue Valentine (starring Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams), Terri (starring John C. Reilly), Gigantic (starring Paul Dano & Zooey Deschanel), Brick (directed by Rian Johnson), and Roman Polanski: Wanted & Desired (Think/HBO Films) demonstrates the necessary ability to take a diverse approach to each individual project.
Rudge's introduction to music supervision springs naturally from his rich family background -- his father Peter Rudge tour-managed for the Rolling Stones and his stepfather was the iconic director Elia Kazan (On the Waterfront, East of Eden). "To me, film is this wonderful, collaborative medium," says Rudge. "That's why film and TV attract so many creative people: Successfully completing a production calls for this amazing choreographed act, from writer to producer to director to music supervisor."
After starting out as a film director/documentarian himself, Rudge found himself fascinated by the soundtrack's role in elevating a project. Today, he draws on that experience to ensure that each project he takes on has a fast start. "You can't take a cookie-cutter approach to music supervision," he says. "Every project has a completely distinct personality, driven by its inspiration, message, and the people who created it.
"How you complete the soundtrack for a drama is completely different from how you approach a comedy. I always enter into a creative dialogue to see exactly what the director/producer's expectations are, then apply that to the budget and find a way to make it happen as best I can."
From there, it's Rudge's intricate knowledge of licensing and deep database of music industry contacts that come into play. "Licensing music is a complex operation," notes Rudge. "I understand the difference between obtaining the rights for the Beatles and a Brooklyn hipster band, and the value of their catalogs. After 10 years+ of music supervision, I also have a huge network of publishers, labels, and artists - so I know how to manage expectations and where to find creative solutions."
Whatever the size and scope of the film, TV show, or commercial, Joe Rudge's perspective is that magic awaits in the soundtrack. "There's so much that music supervision can do for your project," he concludes. "Used properly, music has the powerful ability to heighten a film - for the filmmaker and the viewer. It's what transforms the experience into something special."
Film Credits
Shark Night 3D
Directed by David R. Ellis
Relativity Media
Upside Down
Directed by Juan Diego Solanas
Produced by Jouror Productions
Margin Call
Directed by J.C. Chandor
Lionsgate
George Harrison: Living in the Material World (documentary)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
HBO Documentary Films
Blue Valentine
Directed by Derek Cianfrance
The Weinstein Company
Terri
Directed by Azazel Jacobs
ATO Pictures
Public Speaking (documentary)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
HBO Documentary Films
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Directed by Wayne Wang
Fox Searchlight Pictures
180° South (Music Consultant)
Directed by Chris Mallory
Magnolia Pictures
Twelve
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Gaumont & Hanover House
The Good Guy
Directed by Julio DePietro
Roadside Attractions
Motherhood (Music Coordinator)
Directed by Katherine Dieckmann
John Wells Productions & Killer Films
The Windmill Movie (documentary)
Directed by Alexander Olch
HBO Documentary Films
Gigantic
Directed by Matt Aselton
Killer Films & First Independent Pictures
Management (Music Clearances)
Directed by Stephen Belber
Image Entertainment & Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Goodbye Solo
Directed by Ramin Bahrani
Roadside Attractions
Visioneers
Directed by Jared Drake
Screen Media Ventures
Beautiful Losers (documentary) (Co-Music Supervisor)
Directed by Aaron Rose & Joshua Leonard
Arthouse Films
Momma's Man
Directed by Azazel Jacobs
Kino International
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (documentary)
Directed by Marina Zenovich
BBC / HBO / THINKFilm
The GoodTimesKid
Directed by Azazel Jacobs
Benten Films