Academy Disqualifies ‘Dark Knight’ Score
Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard collaborated on the score for The Dark Knight and now both men are being notified their efforts are being disqualified for consideration as Best Score by the executive committee of the Academy music branch. This matches their collaboration and disqualification for Batman Begins in 2005.
Zimmer, Howard, music editor Alex Gibson, ambient music designer Mel Wesson, and composer Lorne Balfe all were listed on the music cue sheet, the document judged by the Academy. They all signed an affidavit stating that the score was primarily the work of Zimmer and Howard but that was not good enough for the Academy. A different document provided to the Academy indicated more than 60%, but less than 70% of the score came directly Zimmer and Howard.
According to Variety, the Academy has spent hours and hours on the issue since the use of multiple composers is on the rise throughout theatrical production and this is not an isolated incident.
Zimmer told the trade “that listing multiple names on the cue sheet was a way of financially rewarding parts of the music team who helped make the overall work successful.”
And who disqualifies the Academy?