Filipina composer Denise Santos bagged the “Outstanding Music Composition” at the 42nd Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards on September 28, 2021.
Santos shared the recognition with her writing partner Adam Lukas for their work on the BBC-commissioned documentary, Primates. “We just won an Emmy??” she exclaimed in an Instagram post attaching their video.
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Meanwhile, her partner Lukas took the chance to extend their gratitude to the organization while she is containing her emotions. “We couldn’t be more humbled and honored to accept it. We’d like to thank the BBC Natural History unit for their stunning work. We’d like to thank our families as well as partners for their unconditional support,” Lukas said in the video.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, the Los Angeles-based composer said she still cannot believe that they were nominated in one of the most prestigious awarding ceremonies of all time.
“I’m still processing all of these. I’m still not over being nominated, actually it’s a great feeling. I can definitely feel the support from everyone from back home, everyone I’ve worked with in the past, and I’d have to say it’s validating and overwhelmingly comforting,” Santos shared.
Santos revealed that it only took her three months to finish the documentary series, which encompasses the daily lives of primates in the wild. “It was right around my wedding day, so it was the most stressful three months of my life,” she said in the interview.
BBC documentary series Primates is a three-part nature documentary series that delved into the lives of primates all over the world.
According to the Filipina composer, there is a big difference between nature documentaries versus fictional shows. “The main difference is these animals, these landscapes, there is no talking. You really have to hone in on what the narration is saying depending on the research that they have done. That’s what the big difference is,” Santos said.
Graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor’s degree in Management, Santos, started her professional career in 2012, playing keyboard for alternative-jazz band Hidden Nikki and post-rock band Bones Like Snowflakes, arranging and producing songs for singer-songwriters, and composing original music for advertisements, tv shows, and award-winning films.
Currently, Santos is serving as an in-house composer for Hans Zimmer & Sony Music’s partner company, Bleeding Fingers— a company of composers that create film and television scores.
Source: https://www.bleedingfingersmusic.com/denise-santos/biography, https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x84ncat
Photo Credit: www.instagram.com/denthantoth/
