Ben Kopec

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Ben Nils Kopec

Ben Kopec - Hollywood Film and TV Composer
Background information
Birth name Benjamin Nils Kopec
Born November 10, 1981 (1981-11-10) (age 30)
Derby, Connecticut, United States
Genres Industrial Rock
Industrial metal
Electronic music
Film score
Video game music
Occupations Musician,
Song writer,
Composer
Instruments Vocals
Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar
Programming
Drums
Piano
Synthesizer
Years active 1999-present
Labels Independent
Associated acts Intricate Unit
Website http://www.BenKopec.com

Benjamin Nils Kopec (born November 10, 1981), known better by his stage name, Ben Kopec, is an American based musician and composer.

As a composer, Kopec has had his music used in feature film trailers, such as Never Surrender, The Curse of Micah Rood, and more. He has had many placements on TV as well, including MTV, CBS, Bravo!, Fox, A&E Network, and more.

He formed the American based Industrial rock band Intricate Unit in 1999, but did not start performing live until 2003. Since then Intricate Unit has opened for many major label bands on the East Coast, and even headlined their own tour in 2006.

Kopec has also been successful in starting his own music promotion company and offering assistance for other musicians and composers trying to get their music into film and television with his publishing company, Jukebox Johnny. Kopec has most recently started a Rock Band Authoring service, called The Rock Pulse, to help bands get their music into the Rock Band Network.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Personal life

Kopec was born Benjamin Nils Kopec to a mental health care working mother and a sprinkler fitter father. Kopec's siblings include, older brothers John (from his father's first marriage), Christopher, and two younger sisters, Nanette and Amanda.

Having grown up in Derby, Connecticut, Kopec was involved in sports such as soccer, baseball, and basketball. Finding a passion for music, Kopec bought his first guitar when he was 9 years old. Kopec released 2 albums while in high school but did not play out live until he was 19 years with his band, Intricate Unit.

Kopec studied Music and Sound Recording at the University of New Haven for 2 years before meeting a gentleman named Tim Britt, who lured him to attend the University of Hartford for a degree program called Audio Engineering.

Kopec went on to receive his 4 year Bachelor of Science degree in Audio Engineering at the University of Hartford. He went on to also receive his Minor in Communications. In less than 2 years, Kopec also received his Bachelor's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Kopec is currently taking classes for his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering while pursuing his passion for music.

[edit] Radio Host

While attending the University of New Haven, Kopec inherited a 8 year running Industrial music radio station called The Industrial Revolution. The station itself was called WNHU 88.7 FM. Kopec would go on the air every Wednesday from 6PM to 8PM for over 2 years.[1] It was on here that Kopec regularly invited other local musicians on air for interviews. Kopec would also use this medium to promote his industrial band, Intricate Unit.

[edit] Intricate Unit

Main article: Intricate Unit

Intricate Unit is the brainchild of Ben Kopec. Having played many shows at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT, the band eventually started playing many shows in the Tri-state area.

In 2004, the first time Intricate Unit ever tried to play at Toad's Place, Kopec was arrested for causing a public disturbance.

“ After promoting for months to get over 100 people through the door for us, I observed some other band was taking our tickets and throwing them away. That way, other bands would get the credit for bringing in the people. After two incidences, I became furious and took the other bands tickets and threw them into the middle of the street. Unfortunately there was a cop right next to me who saw me do it. After immediately denying it, I was thrown to the ground and arrested. I never got to play that night. ”

—Ben Kopec

Having played to thousands of people in Ohio in 2006 at the Gathering of the Juggalos, Intricate Unit has been touring and selling records since.

[edit] Professional career

Ben Kopec is an international composer for film, TV, and video games.[2] With over 7 independent releases, Kopec has a very diverse background in musical compositions. Writing for companies such as Fox Sports, Sony, Digital Apocalypse, Cackle TV, Shoot Em Up Media, Kopec has established himself as a unique composer that combines orchestral with a modern day cutting edge.

Kopec has placed 2 years in a row at the Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference in Los Angeles for his music in trailers and video games.[3] Kopec's main focus is on writing high energy, action packed music for feature film trailers, independent movies, and sports cues.[4]

To expand his horizons and marketability, Kopec also frequently works with Massachusetttes based company, Sonicbids, for music licensing opportunities.[5] This allows the licensing for a much broader range of music for various opportunities.

Many people have signed-on Kopec to write for their productions.[6] This includes many non-exclusive libraries as well as many exclusive libraries.

Kopec is an official ASCAP (American Society for Composers and Publishers) member since 2005.[7] Kopec also has a music publishing company called Jukebox Johnny with ASCAP.[8]

In late 2009, Kopec started a company called The Rock Pulse. The mission of this company is to provide a service for bands to get into the Rock Band Network. To date, The Rock Pulse has authored songs for Intricate Unit, Dead By Wednesday, and more.

On 10-10-10 Kopec officially relocated his home and studio to Los Angeles, CA. He currently lives and works out of his Hollywood home studio.

On June 1, 2011, Kopec's latest release, Epic Orchestral and Cinematic Rock for Film Trailers, was reviewed and nominated for Best CD of the Year.[9]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Ben Kopec

  • 2004: Film and Game Trax 1
  • 2005: Film and Game Trax 2
  • 2005: Diverse Dance Music
  • 2005: Acoustic Guitar Works
  • 2006: Piano Pieces 1
  • 2006: Sports Music Vol. 1
  • 2007: High Energy Sports Music Vol. 2
  • 2008: Cutting Edge Orchestral Music Vol. 1
  • 2009: High Energy Sports Music Vol. 3
  • 2009: High Impact Trailer Music Vol. 1
  • 2010: High Impact Trailer Music Vol. 2
  • 2010: Music for Advertising
  • 2010: Tension and Drama Music for Modern TV
  • 2011: Music for Advertising Vol. 2
  • 2011: Music for Video Games
  • 2011: Epic Orchestral and Cinematic Rock for Film Trailers

[edit] Intricate Unit

  • 1999: Deception
  • 2000: Denial
  • 2002: Detached
  • 2005: Thru-Hole
  • 2011: To Live is Pain

[edit] TV Credits

For a Full list of credits, please visit Kopec's official IMDB page:

MTV / MTV2 / MTV3- Real World Road Rules Challenge, Dr. Drew, Parental Control, Rock Dinner

CBS - As the World Turns

Showtime - UFC Fight

Sony Pictures - The Greg Behrendt Show

A&E - Ice Road Truckers (History Ch.), Gene Simons Family Values

FOX Sports - NASCAR

E! - 10 Vampires We Love

Oxygen - Bad Girls Club

[edit] Filmography

For a Full list of credits, please visit Kopec's official IMDB page:

  • Thinking Speed (Score) (2011)
  • We Are the Future (Score) (2011)[10]
  • Peril on Cemetery Road (Score) (2010)
  • The Curse of Micah Rood (Trailer) (2010)
  • Never Surrender (2 songs) (2009)
  • Regret (composer) (2009)
  • Train (Additional Music) (2008)
  • This is the Sea 4 (2 songs) (2008)
  • This is the Sea 3 (2 songs) (2007)[11]
  • This is the Sea 2 (4 songs) (2005)
  • This is the Sea 2 (4 songs) (2005)
  • Silly (2 songs) (2005)
  • That Tiny Little Crevice in the Back of Your Mind (3 songs) (2004)[12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Meet the DJs, WNHU, 2007-11-17, http://www.wnhu.net/?dest=djs, retrieved 2007-05-06 
  2. ^ About Ben Kopec, Indie911, 2008-06-17, http://www.indie911.com/user_browser?uID=38249, retrieved 2009-02-02 
  3. ^ Scoring Contest, Hollywood Reporter, 2008-11-17, http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/filmtv/film-scoring-contest/index.jsp, retrieved 2009-02-02 
  4. ^ Seeking Film Opportunities, Versus Media, 2007-11-17, https://www.versusmedia.com/profile/4839, retrieved 2009-02-02 
  5. ^ Ben Kopec Music Licensing, Sonicbids, 2008-08-05, http://www.sonicbids.com/Opportunity/OpportunityView.aspx?opportunity_id=12920, retrieved 2009-02-02 
  6. ^ Ben Kopec Bio and Licensing Info, Broken Joey Records, 2008-05-05, http://www.brokenjoeyrecords.com/viewartists.aspx, retrieved 2009-02-02 
  7. ^ ASCAP Member search, ASCAP, 2007-11-17, http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1690527&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1, retrieved 2009-02-02 
  8. ^ ASCAP Member search, ASCAP, 2007-11-17, http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300, retrieved 2009-02-02 
  9. ^ Kopec, Ben. "CD Review for Epic Orchestral and Cinematic Rock". Indie Music Digest. http://www.indiemusicdigest.com/K.html. Retrieved 31 May 2011. 
  10. ^ Kopec, Ben. "IMDB page for We are the Future". IMDB. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1858807/. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
  11. ^ Cackle TV, Cackle TV, 2006-11-17, http://www.cackletv.com/this-is-the-sea-3-credits.html, retrieved 2009-02-02 
  12. ^ That Tiny Little Crevice in the Back of your Mind, Neil McKay, 2004-11-17, http://www.neilmccay.com/backofyourmind/media.html, retrieved 2009-02-02 

[edit] External links

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