LOCAL NEWS
Sidney Daily News,Thursday, June 20, 2013
COMPOSER
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“I was given a ukulele when I was 5 years old,” he said. “That was the beginning of the end for me. “I started writing songs when I was 9. So from the time I was 6 years old, I knew what I wanted to do with my life,” he said. Pottorf attended college at Ohio University for one year before transferring to the Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. After performing at Kings Island for several years, Pottorf was hired as the senior music composer with Paramount Parks. “I was head of the music department,” he said. “I wrote for shows being performed at all five parks (owned by Paramount Parks). I did stage shows and character shows for them.” For photo reprints, visit www.sidneydailynews.com SDN Photo/Luke Gronneberg In 1999, Pottorf deGOBA RIDER Leon Slabaugh, of Orrville, tries out a replica high-wheeler bi- cided it was time to purcycle on display by The Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen Wednes- sue his career in film and day. The museum put the replica outside for visiting GOBA riders that were television and he created his own company, RPMucamping out next to the New Bremen High School. sic. His music has been heard on CBS, HGTV, Court TV and PAXNET. “I decided I wanted to do more television,” said Pottorf, “and figured it was now or never. So I resigned from Paramount to do television and films.” Pottorf has done various commercial work, but said he is probably best known for an animated series that was on CBS. “I did the music for ‘Danger Rangers,’ which was on CBS on Saturday mornings,” said Pottorf. “As a kid, I lived for Saturday morning cartoons.” Rangers” “Danger starred Mark Hamill (“Star Wars” fame) and Jerry Houser. His recent films include 20th Century Fox’s “The Trial,” starring Matthew Modine, and Lion Gate’s “Unrequited” starring Michael Welch of “Twilight.” His latest work, “Dog Days of Summer” starring Will Patton, will be out soon, he
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For photo reprints, visit www.sidneydailynews.com SDN Photo/Luke Gronneberg
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Gateway Arts Council Ellen Keyes, of New Bremen, looks over an antique bike on display at the Gateway Arts Council headquarters Wednesday. Behind her are pictures taken by GOBA riders that will be on display through Friday. said. The film to be shown Friday, he said, stars Ted Levin, Kelly Carlson and Bob Gunton. It tells the story of a mentally challenged teenager who inwith teracts supernatural beings he calls “Watchers.” Pottorf said it takes three to six weeks to compose the music for an entire film. “People will ask me if I get a copy of the movie I’m supposed to compose the music for,” said Pottorf. “I tell them it’s like hiring a painter to do a portrait. You give them all the supplies and then you don’t give them the canvas to do the painting on. You have to have the picture before you start writing the music.” Composing the music is a collaboration between the film’s director and the musical director. “When the film’s director hires someone to do the music, they already know the music style and body of work of the composer,” he said. “There might be a temporary music track on it from when they edited the film. So I can like the scene and like the feel of
the music there. As a composer though, I hate that because sometimes I’m locked into that style of music. “But with the music track there, I know what’s going on in the director’s head and what he’s looking for from you,” he said. “No matter what, your style of music is going to come through.” While the Pottorfs currently live in Kentucky, he said they are planning a move to Austin, Texas, next year. “We love Texas,” said Pottorf. “My wife and I will be ‘empty nesters’ in the fall as our daughter Haley is leaving for college. Our son Luke is in his third year of premed at the University of Kentucky. “We plan to lease a studio apartment in LA for when we have to be there,” he said. “We love Texas — it’s warm all year round there.” Tickets for Friday’s shows are $5 each and will be available Friday at the theater. The box office opens one hour ahead of the show. DVD’s of the film will also be available for purchase at the theater.