Kid Cudi Earns Two SCL Awards Nominations from Society of Composers & Lyricists

Posted on January 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Kid Cudi is doubling his chances…

The 37-year-old half-Mexican American apper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, has earned two SCL Awards nominations from the Society of Composers & Lyricists , his first-ever nods from the organization.

Kid Cudi earned one nod in the Song Drama/Documentary category for co-writing “Guns Go Bang,” alongside Jay-Z and Jeymes Samuel for the Netflix film The Harder They Fall.

He’s also nominated in the Song Musical/Comedy category for co-penning “Just Look Up,” with Nicholas Britell, Ariana Grande and Taura Stinson, for Netflix’s Don’t Look Up.

Germaine Franco is also a two-time nominee…

The 34-year-old Latina film composer is nominated in the Studio Film category for her work on Walt Disney Pictures’ Encanto.

She’s also nominated in the Interactive category for her work on Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has earned a nod in the Song Musical/Comedy category.

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican multi-hyphenate is nominated for penning the track “Home All Summer” for In The Heights, the film adaptation of his Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name.

Alberto Iglesias is competing in the Independent category.

The 66-year-old Spanish award-winning composer is nominated for his acclaimed work on Pedro Almodovar’s Spanish-language film Parallel Mothers, which stars Penelope Cruz.

Cristobal Tapia de Veer is a nominee in the Television category.

The 48-year-old Chilean film and television score composer, arranger, producer and multi-instrumentalist is nominated for his work on Apple TV’s The White Lotus.

The annual SCL Awards, now in their year, honor music in visual media — film, television, streaming, interactive — spanning seven categories plus the David Raksin Award for Emerging Talent.

The in-person trophy show — COVID-19-permitting — will be hosted by Darren Criss on Tuesday, February 1, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

Composer Carter Burwell and filmmakers Joel Coen & Ethan Coen will receive the Spirit of Collaboration Award for their 17-film team-up along with a musical tribute performance. The live lineup includes Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear and Judith Hill.

The 76-year-old Society of Composers & Lyricists is the primary organization for professional film, TV, video game, and musical theater composers and lyricists.

Here are the nominees for the third annual SCL Awards:

STUDIO FILM

Nicholas Britell
DON’T LOOK UP
Netflix

Hans Zimmer
DUNE
Warner Bros.

Germaine Franco
ENCANTO
Walt Disney Pictures

Alexandre Desplat
THE FRENCH DISPATCH
Searchlight Pictures

Jonny Greenwood
THE POWER OF THE DOG
Netflix

INDEPENDENT FILM

Kubilay Uner
AMERICAN TRAITOR: THE TRIAL OF AXIS SALLY
Vertical Entertainment

Daniel Hart
THE GREEN KNIGHT
A24

Rachel Portman
JULIA
Storyville Films/CNN

Alberto Iglesias
PARALLEL MOTHERS
Sony Pictures Classics

Jonny Greenwood
SPENCER
Neon/Topic Studios

SONG MUSICAL/COMEDY

Nicholas Britell, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi, Taura Stinson
“Just Look Up” from DON’T LOOK UP
Netflix

Jamie Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, Carole King
“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from RESPECT
MGM/United Artists

Amie Doherty
“Fearless” from SPIRIT UNTAMED
DreamWorks Animation

Kris Bowers, Siedah Garrett
“Together All the Way” from DEAR WHITE PEOPLE
Netflix

Lin-Manuel Miranda
“Home All Summer” from IN THE HEIGHTS
Warner Bros.

SONG DRAMA/DOCUMENTARY

Billie Eilish & Finneas O’Connell
“No Time To Die” from NO TIME TO DIE
MGM/United Artists

Diane Warren
“Somehow You Do” from FOUR GOOD DAYS
Vertical Entertainment

Rufus Wainwright
“Secret Sister” from REBEL HEARTS
Discovery+

Diane Warren
“(Never Gonna) Tame You” from THE MUSTANGS: AMERICA’S WILD HORSES
Virgil Films

Shawn Carter, Scott Mescudi, Jeymes Samuel
“Guns Go Bang” from THE HARDER THEY FALL
Netflix

TELEVISION

Natalie Holt
LOKI
Disney+

Jung Jae-il
SQUID GAME
Netflix

Nicholas Britell
SUCCESSION
HBO

Christophe Beck
WANDAVISION
Disney+

Cristobel Tapia de Veer
THE WHITE LOTUS
Apple TV+

INTERACTIVE

Austin Wintory
ALIEN FIRETEAM ELITE
Cold Iron

Hildur Guđnadóttir & Sam Slater
BATTLEFIELD 2042
Digital Illusions CE & Electronic Arts

Germaine Franco
KUNG FU PANDA: LAND OF AWESOMENESS
Universal Beijing Resort & Dreamworks Animation

DAVID RAKSIN AWARD

Joy Ngiaw
BLUSH
Apple TV+

Anne-Kathrin Dern
THE CLAUS FAMILY
Netflix

Stephanie Economou
JUPITER’S LEGACY
Netflix

Amazon Prime Video Releases Trailer for Kid Cudi Documentary “A Man Named Scott”

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kid Cudi’s life story is headed your way…

The 37-year-old part-Mexican American rapper, singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and actor, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, will be the subject of Amazon Prime Video’s new documentary A Man Named Scott.

The documentary comes 13 years after Kid Cudi’s debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi catapulted him into the hip-hop scene in 2008.

Helmed by director Robert Alexander, who has previously directed episodes of LeBron James‘ HBO talk series The Shop, the film will cover Kid Cudi’s decade-plus tenure in the spotlight as both a “musical star and cultural hero.”

Amazon Prime Video will release the documentary globally on November 5.

The documentary will explore the creative choices that went into Kid Cudi’s records, including those outside the Man on the Moon trilogy, along with the personal struggles that affected his life throughout the process. The trailer features clips and dialogue from Kid Cudi about his philosophy as an artist, from fans about his music’s impact on their lives, and thoughts from his closest collaborators about Kid Cudi’s artistry.

Kid Cudi is most celebrated for his Man on the Moon album trilogy, which includes songs about topics like depression, anxiety and loneliness.

Before Man on the Moon: The End of Day‘s 2009 release, those subjects were treated as taboo in the hip-hop world, with the exception of influential records like frequent collaborator Kanye West‘s 808s and Heartbreaks, which came a year prior.

The documentary comes almost a year after Kid Cudi released his last full-length project, Man on the Moon III: The Chosen, in December 2020 to close out the trilogy, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 144,000 album-equivalent units, and at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Kid Cudi Taking Part in Amazon Prime Day Show with ‘Out of This World’ Performance

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kid Cudi is getting primed…

The annual Amazon Prime Day Show will feature a streaming music performance by the 37-year-old half-Mexican American singer/songwriter and actor, whose real name is Scott Mescudi.

In addition to Kid Cudi, who appeared this March as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, Billie Eilish and H.E.R. will also perform.

The events will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video for 30 days starting June 17, with Amazon Prime Days set for June 21 and 22. The streaming is available to all without a Prime subscription needed.

The special will offer performance and storytelling, inspired by Paris, the Dunbar Hotel, and outer space.

“Working with Billie Eilish, H.E.R., and Kid Cudi to bring their music to life through these imaginative experiences has been incredible,” said Ryan Redington, VP of music industry at Amazon Music. “Watching these globally renowned artists create three shows from the depths of their imagination has been unlike anything we’ve ever done before. We’re thrilled to bring fans along with us to celebrate these three remarkable artists and Prime Day.”

“These iconic artists have not only broken new ground in music but are inspired storytellers, culture creators, and visionaries,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “We’re thrilled to partner with Billie, H.E.R., and Cudi to bring these authentic and deeply personal specials to fans around the world as we celebrate Prime Day.”

Kid Cudi will depart earth to establish a new community on the moon in his performance. Featuring music from his album, Man on the Moon III, he collaborates with the International Space Orchestra, the world’s first orchestra composed of space scientists from NASA Ames Research Center, the SETI Institute, and the International Space University as his backing band.

The Prime Day Show with Kid Cudi is produced by Fremantle, Wolf + Rothstein, Mad Solar, and Amazon Studios, and is directed by Sam Wrench. Ashley Edens served as executive producer, along with Chad Wolf, Fam Rothstein and Sam Wrench as co-executive producers. Runtime is approximately 25 minutes.

Beginning today, Amazon Music subscribers and Prime members can access the official Prime Day Show playlist here or by asking, “Alexa, play the Prime Day Show playlist,” to stream Billie Eilish, H.E.R., and Kid Cudi. The Prime Day Show will also be available to stream on Twitch, IMDb TV, and on Amazon devices including Fire TV, Echo Show, and Fire tablets on Prime Video.

Scott Mescudi to Star in Disney+’s Sci-Fi Adventure “Crater”

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Scott Mescudi is preparing for a crate(r) experience…

The 37-year-old part-Mexican American actor/singer, known as Kid Cudi in the music world, has joined the ensemble of sci-fi adventure Crater for Disney Plus.

Mescudi will star opposite Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Billy Barratt, Orson Hong, Thomas Boyce and Gifted’s Mckenna Grace in the film.

Kyle Patrick Alvarez is on board to direct.

The film will be overseen by Disney’s live-action team with hopes to shoot in the spring. Shawn Levy and Dan Levine will produce through their 21 Laps Entertainment banner.

Crater is described as a coming-of-age story about a boy growing up on a lunar colony who takes a trip to explore a mysterious crater with his four best friends. Mescudi will play Russell-Bailey’s dad.

John Griffin penned the script. The film was originally set up at 20th Century Fox with Levy circling the directing chair, but after it moved to Disney Levy chose to focus on producing duties as the film gained momentum.

Mescudi has been busy in the past year most recently seen in HBO and Luca Guadagnino series We Are Who We Are, earning some of the best reviews of his career. On the film side, he was last seen in Bill & Ted Face The Music. He can be seen next in the drama Dreamland opposite Gary Oldman. He most recently finished production on the Ti West horror pic X.

Kid Cudi to Release Trilogy-Capping Album “Man on the Moon III: The Chosen”

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Kid Cudi is headed back to the Moon…

The 36-year-old half-Mexican American rapper/singer, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, will return to the moon with his trilogy-capping album Man on the Moon III: The Chosen on Friday.

And he’s not flying solo: Pop Smoke will receive a posthumous credit on “Show Out,” also featuring Skepta, while Phoebe Bridgers appears on “Lovin’ Me” and Trippie Redd joins him on “Rockstar Knights.”

On Monday, Kid Cudi shared the abstract watercolor album artwork and the 18-song track list, which is divided into four acts: “Act 1: Return 2 Madness,” “Act 2: The Rager, The Menace,” “Act 3: Heart of Rose Gold” and “Act 4: Powers.”

“In the last 10 years, Scott Mescudi has been through hell and back. After feeling like his world was over, he found hope and overcame the darkness that was plaguing his life,” the album’s liner notes read. “But happiness isn’t forever. What he thought was peace turns into a nightmare. He finds himself lost dealing with the same pain he had not felt in years. In one night, he must face himself again and fight to win back his soul from the evil Mr. Rager.”

Kid Cudi first blasted off with Man on the Moon: The End of Day in 2009. His debut studio album was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and gained three Grammy nominations, two of which were specifically for his Billboard Hot 100 No. 3 hit “Day ‘N’ Nite.” The project’s sequel, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, arrived the following year. Now a full decade later, he’s ready to embark on the third and final leg of his expedition.

And he’s reigniting the hype with his first music video in four years, which is helmed by his frequent collaborator and renowned music video director Nabil.

Here’s the official album trailer for Man on the Moon III: The Chosen, which can be pre-ordered here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvexZz-HJkA&feature=youtu.be

Jenna Ortega In Talks to Star in the Horror Thriller “X”

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

X marks the spot for Jenna Ortega.

The 18-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress is in final talks to star opposite Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) and Mia Goth in X, the next horror thriller from director Ti West.

The film will be a co-production between A24 and BRON Studios, who will also co-finance.

West will write and direct the pic with A24, Jacob Jaffke, Kevin Turen, Sam Levinson, and Ashley Levinson producing through their Little Lamb Productions. Mescudi will executive produce.

Plot details are being kept under wraps but the film is expected to bare similarities of West’s past films that put him on the map.

Production is expected to start at the top of 2021.

Ortega was most recently seen in the Netflix sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, and several films she has coming out in 2021 including Paramount and Spyglass’s Scream 5, which has her as one of the leads.

Mescudi was most recently seen in HBO and Luca Guadagnino series We Are Who We Are, earning some of the best reviews of his career. On the film side, he was last seen in Bill & Ted Face The Music. He can be seen next in the drama Dreamland opposite Gary Oldman.

Kid Cudi Launches Mobile App Encore to Help Artists Monetize Their Connections with Fans

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Kid Cudi is keepin’ people connected to their idols…

The 36-year-old half-Mexican American rapper/actor, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, has joined forces with screenwriter Ian Edelman and startup veteran Jonathan Gray to launch Encore, a mobile-based platform to help artists monetize their connections with fans.

“The current streaming model puts artists in competition with one another and only rewards the top 1% of artists who collect 90% of the money,” a press release announcing the app explains. “Encore offers an all-new format that encourages collaboration amongst artists and makes it easy for up-and-coming and established artists to manage and grow a direct relationship with their fans. Artists can drop new music, chat with fans and host live shows from anywhere in the world.”

Encore enables live music experiences through smart phones, fan interaction, community centered content and merchandise offerings to give fans new ways to reward the artists they love.

“The energy from a concert is undeniable, both for the fans and artists. I am excited to launch Encore to help bring the live music experience back to our fans. Encore is committed to empowering both established and new artists and delivering the best mobile music experience out there,” Cudi says.

Earlier this year, Encore closed a $2 million seed round led by global investment firm Battery Ventures. General partner Roger Lee will join the board of directors.

Learn more at clapforencore.com.

HBO Releases Trailer for Kid Cudi’s New Series “We Are Who We Are”

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Kid Cudi is who he is…

HBO has released the official trailer for new series We Are Who We Are,starring the 36-year-old half-Mexican American rapper/singer, whose real name is Scott Mescudi.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the series follows two teenagers living with their families on a U.S. military base in Italy in the coming-of-age story. The eight-part series will premiere on HBO sometime in September on an unconfirmed date.

The “Leader Of The Delinquents” rapper stars alongside Chloë Sevigny, Jack Dylan Grazer, Alice Braga, Jordan Kristine Seamón, Spence Moore II, Faith Alabi, Beatrice Barichella, Francesca Scorsese, Corey Knight, Vittoria Bottin, Tom Mercier,Benjamin L. Taylor II and Sebastiano Pigazzi.

Blood Orange composed the mini-drama series’ score.

Kid Cudi made his HBO debut a decade ago when he portrayed Domingo Brown for two seasons on How To Make It In America from 2010-11.

His return to television includes his own animated Netflix series Entergalactic that he’ll executive produce with Black-ish creator Kenya Barris and How to Make It in America creator Ian Edelman and record an accompanyingalbum. Kid Cudi’s also working on an animated TV series with his “Kids See Ghosts” other half Kanye West by the same name as the duo.

HBO to Premiere Season 3 of Rodrigo Santoro’s “Westworld” in March

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Rodrigo Santorois heading West(world) this March…

HBO has set Sunday, March 15 at 9:00 pm for the release of the eight-episode third season of its Emmy-winning drama series Westworld, starring the 44-year-old Brazilian actor.

In addition to Santoro, who portrays Hector Escaton, the returning cast includes

Evan Rachel Woodas Dolores, Thandie Newtonas Maeve, Ed Harris as the Man in Black, Jeffrey Wrightas Bernard, Tessa Thompsonas Charlotte, Luke Hemsworthas Stubbs and Simon Quartermanas Lee Sizemore.

New cast members this season include Aaron Paul, Vincent Cassel,Lena Waithe, Scott Mescudi, Marshawn Lynch, John Gallagher Jr., and Michael and Tommy Flanagan.

Created for television by Jonathan Nolanand Lisa Joy, and based on the film written by Michael Crichton, Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the birth of a new form of life on Earth.

The theme for the new season is “New World” and at Comic-Con in July, Nolan said one of the inspirations for the new season was Blade Runner, though he noted he wanted to do it differently.

Nolan said they went out in the world to find some beautiful places to shoot to capture the show’s future. “Dystopia can look pretty beautiful in the world. Just because the world is corrupt inside, doesn’t mean it can’t be smothered over and pretty. We wanted to find a version of dystopia that we hadn’t seen before,” Nolan said at Comic-Con.

The first two seasons of Westworld received a combined 42 Emmy nominations. The second season’s 20 noms resulted in three wins, including: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Newton, Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic) and Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series.

Kid Cudi to Star in Nicholas Jarecki’s Opioid Thriller “Dreamland”

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Kid Cudiis living in a dream(land)…

The 35-year-old part Mexican-American actor and Grammy-winning recording artist, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, has been cast in Nicholas Jarecki’s opioid thriller, Dreamland.

Kid Cudi joins new additions Sam Worthington and Indira Varma. They join a solid cast that includes Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguezand Lily-Rose Depp.

Currently filming in Montreal, the film follows three colliding stories: a drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin

addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.

Kid Cudi is an FDAinvestigator delving deep into prescription safety.

His previous credits include a series regular role on the HBO series How to Make It in America and appearances the films Drunk Parents, Entourage and Two Night Stand.

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