The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 246

WEDNESDAY! MAY '1994 THE: RECORD 11 The guy who knows the score -jam Composer's movie career is on a roll "I didn't want to be known as this nerdy musician type. There weren't a lot of bands in the school. It was just before it would have been cool." Und fT 1 By EVONNE COUTROS Staff Writer The Garden State already knows the faces of Joe Pesci of "My Cousin Vinny," and Danny DeVito of "Twins," but the music behind both films was scored by fellow Jerseyan Randy Edelman. Edelman, born in Paterson and raised in Teaneck, also has scored the films "Beethoven," "Beethoven's 2nd," "The Distinguished Gentleman," 'The Last of the Mohicans," and "Kindergarten Cop." He has shared credit for other projects, but never imagined he'd see his name on a screen. "It wasn't a dream of mine to be doing what I'm doing now," said the 46-year-old composer and songwriter in a telephone interview from his California home recently.

"I wasn't a kid that went to films and studied film scores." Edelman is currently writing the scores for "Angels in the Outfield," starring Danny Glover, and "The Mask," starring comedian Jim Carrey. Both films open in July. During the course of his career, Edelman, married to singer Jackie DeShannon for 17 years, has basked in a string of film successes that have catapulted him into the hefty price-tag category in Hollywood. Scored Kennedy drama His other films include "Dragon, The Bruce Lee Story," and the original John F. Kennedy docudrama "Executive Action." He scored the six-hour mini-series "Gettysburg," as well as Fox television's "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr." and ABC's long-running "MacGyver." For the 1965 graduate of Teaneck High School, his big break came after scoring the chil- "Composers are very valuable commodities.

You've got to get the right guy at the right time," said onetime Teaneck resident Randy Edelman. songwriter laughs most about his score for "Gettysburg." "It was used as a theme for the earthquake in California," he said of its use by one television network. But Edelman's career is anything but shaky. I'm in a field that's overwhelmingly creative and exciting," he said. "It's very intense.

I'm locked up that's the only way to do this work." There's always pressure' He admits it can take it's toll on family life. He and DeShannon have a 15-year-old son, Noah, so Edelman works, writes, but does not record at home. His average deadline for a film is 3 to 6 weeks. "Mine is a very short time in the life of a film, but it's a major contribution," he said. "There's always pressure because I have to create from scratch." "After story, cast, and direction, music is the fourth element," said producer Joe Roth who has worked with Edelman on several films.

"Composers are very valuable commodities. You've got to get the right guy at the right time." Said Edelman: "Any time they producers and directors make changes in a picture, it changes the way the music fits." Edelman usually sees the completed films but must often imagines a mood or visuals if the special effects are incomplete. Within his own industry, Edelman said the invention of electronics, synthesizers, and corn-Continued on page 12 IN THE SPOTLIGHT dren's animated feature "The Chipmunk Adventure." Edelman recorded his music with the London Royal Philharmonic and was soon sought after by producer Ilo-na Herzberg and director Dan Goldberg for their 1988 film "Feds," starring Rebecca De Mor-nay. It was Edelman's stepping stone into every major studio from 20th Century Fox to Disney. 'That was the distinct break in my career," said Edelman, adding that he hasn't forgotten his roots and is a frequent visitor to Bergen County, where his father, an accountant, and mother, a teacher, still live.

From "Feds," Edelman met Ivan Reitman who directed both "Kindergarten Cop" and "Twins," and was a moving force behind both "Beethoven" films. Edelman said the back-to-back openings of "My Cousin Vinny," and "Beethoven" in 1992 proved advantageous. "I didn't perceive it as a film that was going to be successful," he said of "My Cousin Vinny." "I also did not perceive 'Beethoven' as a successful film. I didn't know that in the can I had these monsters." Earthquake theme Now skater Elvis Stojko uses Edelman's "Dragon" score during competitions and a tabloid television show uses Edelman's theme from the film "Come See The Paradise" as its opening. But the BULLETIN BOARD NEW JERSEY "Kids Helping Kids," a photo contest, is the first in a series of special events planned to raise money and generate awareness of the work of Healing The Children a non-profit New Jersey-based organization that sends teams of plastic surgeons and other health-care professionals to developing countries to treat children with birth defects, burns, tumors, and other facial deformities.

Photographers of all ages and abilities may submit black-and-white or color photographs of children helping other children, whether It be crossing the street, tying a shoe, or providing a shoulder to cry on. Prizes Include New Jersey Nets tickets, restaurant and store gift certificates, and cameras. Photos must be sent by June 15 to "Kids Helping Kids," care of Andover Communications, 1 Bridge Plaza, Suite 110, Fort Lee, N.J. 07024. Information: 947-4133.

Or. Richard D'Amico, an Englewood plastic and reconstructive surgeon and volunteer medical director of Healing The Children, said that a Kids Helping Kids Club will be launched In the fall at elementary and middle schools throughout North Jersey. Schools and classes will have an opportunity to sponsor a child In Africa who needs sur MODELING Christina Sinsi models the latest spring fashions at the Cresskill Women's Club's 15th annual Children's Fashion Show for residents of the Dunroven Health Care Center in Cresskill. ACTOR IS AUTHOR Englewood actor Jon Koons has an original Sherlock Holmes story, "The Adventure of the Missing Countess," in "The Game Afoot: Parodies, Pastiches, and Ponderings of Sherlock Holmes." The anthology was published by St. Martins Press.

Koons' story places the detective and his faithful biographer, Dr. Watson, in a circus. Healing The Children hopes to raise $25,000 for a mission to Klsumu, Kenya, In March 1995. The Architects League of Northern New Jersey is offering scholarship assistance to undergraduate architecture students. Scholarships Include $1,500 and $2,000 awards.

Residents of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties and parts of Essex and Morris counties are eligible. Entry doadline is May 27. For an application, contact Robert Zaccone, 212 White Old Tappan, N.J. 07875; 767-9575. DUMONT The Lenten food drive sponsored by the Social Ministry Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer netted 50 bags of groceries for the Center for Food Action in Englewood.

FAIR LAWN Jersey Hills Section of the National Council ot Jewish Women win install officers and present its I mwqinq I iidfr Award to Franr.ino Ebersman at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Temple Beth Continued on page 12 i eJhk.v gjJ(B BY JOVE, I THINK HE'S GOT ITI During an Invention Convention at St. Thomas More School In Midland Park, Jean-Claude Kappler, 13, dreaaed as Sir Robert Watson-Watt. Inventor of ivww' iiniavi i van, ii i voi 1 1 vi vi himself, created an automatic radar wde, gery, tw i rt Raj fonder. i.