Music, Sound, and Audio Technology

(New York, NY) Tonal, the original music house led by Creative Director/Composer Alex Lasarenko, continues its long-time commitment to the independent filmmaking community, completing work on the acclaimed documentary The Apple Pushers. The Apple Pushers, written and directed by Mary Mazzio, narrated by Edward Norton, and underwritten by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, follows immigrant street vendors who are rolling fresh fruits and vegetables into the inner cities of New York (where finding a fresh red ripe apple can be a serious challenge). These pushcart vendors, who have immigrated here from all parts of the world for different reasons, and who all have sacrificed so much to come to this country (a near fatal crossing of the Mexican border, as an example) – are now part of a new experiment in New York to help solve the food crisis and skyrocketing obesity rates in the inner city.

The film had a special screening at the Aspen Ideas Festival where thought leaders and policy makers, including Robin Schepper, the head of Mrs. Obama's "Let's Move" campaign, discussed the film and the issues of how to tackle the obesity crisis in low-income neighborhoods across the country. The film not only addresses the issue of food deserts where low income residents have little access to fresh fruits and vegetables – but also the issue of immigrants and what they do for our country.

The film score, like the immigrants portrayed in the film, infuses diversity of culture, musical styles, and beats into the fabric of America. Eastern European, Latin American, Russian, Middle-Eastern riffs are woven into a score full of strings, hip-hop, and rock. "Alex rocks the house with his film score for The Apple Pushers," said director Mary Mazzio. "This is our second project together and Alex's interpretation of the story musically soars."

Resources:

www.tonalsound.com