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Meet Christopher Caliendo – Caliendo World Music Publishing, Inc. Gilbert, Arizona – https://christophercaliendo.com/film-scores/ 

•Primary production role/s: Composer, orchestrator, arranger, conductor 

•What is your professional background (major job positions you've held and where)? As a composer, performer, publisher, and entrepreneurial teacher with over 30 years of experience, I have developed traditional and nontraditional scores for major and independent film studios. My work spans across several notable productions, earning special honors, awards, and significant orchestration roles.

I started composing music at 11 years old. It was that inward voice that kept deciding for me. Music is a self-justifying primal need. You live for it.

•What are some of the favorite projects you've worked on? For film: Rescoring Sony Pictures, Major Dundee. It was the first time a composer was asked to re-score an existing major motion picture. I had 25 days to compose 85 minutes of music and record the entire score at Capitol Records with Hollywood's best musicians. It was my first big break in film.

For TV: I won Henry Mancini's Film Award while a student at UCLA.  It was Henri who introduced me to Jerrold Immel, the composer of Dallas, Knott's Landing. I met Jerrold at his Sherman Oaks home. Several weeks later I was walking on the MGM lot to Lorimar Studios to record my first action cue for Dallas under his supervision. That was my first big break as a TV composer.

•Why should people film in Arizona? Arizona's diverse natural landscapes, ranging from majestic deserts and iconic canyons to lush forests and breathtaking mountains, offer filmmakers a versatile array of stunning backdrops. Coupled with the state's recent tax incentives, Arizona presents a cost-effective alternative to traditional filming hubs. The year-round sunny climate ensures minimal weather-related delays, and our state boasts a highly skilled local workforce ready to support all aspects of production. Organizations like Film Tucson and the APA provide invaluable resources and networking opportunities, making the logistics of filming here seamless.

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