Film Compositions

Jan’s theme to the iconic ABC TV series, AUSTRALIAN STORY, was heard every Monday night nationwide in Australia, from 2000 to 2006.

She composed the soundtrack for all five AUSTRALIAN DYNASTIES  Series on ABC TV, the 4 part drama series BASTARD BOYS, and hundred of documentaries and documentary series for well known award winning film makers such as TOM ZUBRYCKI, RAY QUINT, JUDY RYMER, AVIVA ZIEGLER, GAYLENE PRESTON, ROBIN NEWELL and JESSICA DOUGLAS HENRY.

Jan has recently completed music for her 7th feature film, her sister Dame Gaylene Preston’s latest movie, “My Year with Helen”, about the iconic NZ ex-Prime Minister, Helen Clarke, and her  bid to become Secretary General of the United Nations.

Jan has also composed and performed the music for 10 silent movies at the Sydney Film Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Australian National Film and Sound Archive, and the NZ Film Festival.

I find the process of adding music to the sound effects and dialogue of a film endlessly fascinating and totally obsessive. The musical layers possible from the underscore can change the emotional impact and the meaning of the film to the viewer, and I love the way every film score I compose emerges from the world of the film.