Composer Craig Wedren – In Conversation

The Sundance Film Festival has wrapped its final season in Park City, Utah. Ending an era of celebration for independent film, unconventional voices, and challenging experimentation. Not to worry — the festival returns next year in its new home in Boulder, Colorado, but it’s still the end of a historic run in Robert Redford’s adopted home of Provo Canyon, Utah.

Over its 48 years, the festival has hosted many emergent and returning filmmakers whose voices define a generation, culture, or movement in the medium. This year was no exception. With returning filmmakers Macon Blair, Jay Duplass, Cathy Yan, Rachel Lambert, and David Wain. Wain, a founding member of MTV-era sketch comedy troupe The State, returned to the festival this year with a new buzzy film, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass. The star-studded comedy features Jon Hamm, John Slattery, Zoey Deutch, and many familiar faces from Wain’s 30+ year career behind the camera. 

Along with Gail Daughtry, Wain and company also celebrated the 25th anniversary of their classic comedy Wet Hot American Summer. Hosting a panel discussion reflecting on the film and performing with their supergroup of musicians, The Middle Aged Dad Jam Band. Which featured the film’s composer Craig Wedren. Wedren is a prolific composer of film, particularly for the many members of The State. He’s scored films for David Wain, Michael Showalter, Michael Patrick Jann, and Ken Marino. Before that, though, he was the lead singer of MTV darlings Shudder to Think.

‘Shudder to Think’ with Craig Wedren

Shudder to Think was a post-hardcore band out of Washington D.C., formed in 1986. Comprised of Wedren, guitarist Nathan Larson, bassist Stuart Hill, and drummer Adam Wade. Their breakout album was 1994’s Pony Express Record which featured the MTV mainstay “Ex-French Tee Shirt.” The band’s insistence on originality, melody, and experimentation made them a “band’s band.” Revered by contemporaries like Sunny Day Real Estate, OK Go, Cursive, and The Smashing Pumpkins. This writer, also, was a massive fan.

In addition to his extensive work with The State et al., he’s also scored such classic films as Roger Dodger from Dylan Kidd, School of Rock from Richard Linklater, Laurel Canyon from Lisa Cholodenko as well as the current Showtime hit Yellowjackets. Wedren has set the tone for many popular musicians to take the leap into film composition. From Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross to Johnny Greenwood, Patrick Stump, and Billy Corgan. 

When it was revealed that Wedren was doing press for Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass as well as Wet Hot American Summer’s 25th anniversary, I leapt at the opportunity to pick the brain of this unique force in popular and contemporary music as well as film score. Craig was generous with his time and knowledge and I was thrilled with our conversation, which you can check out below.

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is still awaiting distribution, but in the meantime you can stream many films featuring Craig Wedren as composer while we await the first new album from, Shudder to Think, in almost thirty years.

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