Introduction
The National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive is celebrating the centenary of Jerry the Troublesome Tyke (Sid Griffiths, 1925-1927) by creating new archival scans of the 40 original films, and curating 10 films, with music, for cinema and screening bookings.
This project will be making use of previous compositions for some of the films and will support a brand-new commission for the rest.
This purpose of this project is to offer cinemas, exhibitors and audiences in Wales easier access to Jerry on the big screen, including an excellent musical experience.
This is a National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive project, in collaboration with British Pathe, supported by Film Hub Wales as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), made possible by the National Lottery.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for Wales-based musician(s) to create original music for 5 Jerry the Tyke films, each film being 3-5 minutes in duration. Here’s a link to the film He Gets Fired as an example.
The music does not necessarily need to conform to usual expectations of silent film accompaniment. We want music that feels fresh and contemporary, much like Jerry would have felt in the 1920s! Jerry is indeed a troublesome tyke, a mischievous and cheeky character who often stands up, with comedic effect, to his animator.
Please bear in mind the tight timeframe of this project – you will have around 5-7 weeks for delivery of the material.
What you’ll receive
If you’re selected for the commission, you’ll receive:
- Commission fee of £750 per film score
- Hi-res screeners of the films to facilitate composition
- Full on-screen credit and credit in any promotional material
- Offer of an optional mentoring session with composer John M. Rea
What we’re asking of you
If you’re selected for the commission, we’ll ask you to:
- Deliver your original compositions as separate WAV 48kHz / 24 bit files
- Deliver these within the agreed timeframe
- Be available for a check-in meeting as the work progresses
- Consider contributing to the marketing/promotion of the finished work
Please note, we will not consider any proposal which involves AI-generated music and will not accept any commission using AI-generated elements.
Intellectual property and screening rights
You will retain full copyright of your work. We will retain the right for the music to be included as soundtracks to these films for public screenings and for use in promotion and marketing. A specific license agreement will be drawn up with you, but our usage of the work for the purpose of film screening and promotion is a condition of the commission.
How to apply
Please send us a short outline (no more than 500 words) introducing yourself and your work to us, and your vision for the scores. Please include one or two examples of your work, either as web links or attachments.
If you’d prefer to send us a video or voice note instead of a written application, please drop us a line first and we can accommodate.
To make an application, or for any questions, please e-mail [email protected].
Timeline
Deadline for applications: 5pm, 10 November
Notification date: 16 November
Final deadline for delivery: 4 January 2027
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