Portray Stories through the Music.
(Part 2)

New project with National Geographic.

My journey and this project with National Geographic ("Symphony for Our World," which combines natural history footage with symphonic music, first aired on Nat Geo WILD in April 2018, and is now touring) started with my "Legend of Zelda" show, because my contact at National Geographic was a big gamer who came to see my "Legend of Zelda Symphony." That night, the moment I met him, the collaboration on this project began.

Using orchestral music to tell a story is nothing new for Jason. He has worked with and produced live events for such artists as Luciano Pavarotti, The Three Tenors, Elton John and Foo Fighters. In his newest challenge, he combined projected videos from National Geographic’s collection with music from the symphonic stylings of Han’s Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Music (a production music company) and an original fanfare by Elmer Bernstein.

This project aims to immerse the audience in the wonders of the planet. By showcasing them, Jason hopes the audience will understand the importance of nature and become more involved and compassionate inhabitants of Earth.

Leading up to the initial idea of combining National Geographic’s video library with symphony music, I had a personal belief that nature is a great medium that inspires all audiences. Themes such as film, music and video games inherently have rating systems that limit them to particular audiences, while nature is accessible to anyone anywhere.

I have always loved National Geographic's storytelling. I have read National Geographic since my youth. Growing up in San Francisco, the environment was a focal point in my home. They have always exemplified professional journalism and excellent documentaries. I felt the only thing lacking was a narrative that could be told through music. So, I created "Symphony for Our World." I wanted to tell compelling stories through the fantastic visuals in National Geographic's archive and combine them with my team's musical repertoire.

Experience the wonders of this world through an orchestral experience.

When Nat Geo contacted me to produce a concert combining 130 years of archival footage with orchestra and choir it was a no-brainer. I jumped at the opportunity to take on such a project. I pitched my idea to National Geographic, and they loved it. We prepared for the symphony tour and a television broadcast featuring the music and the visuals on their Nat Geo channel on Earth Day. Though it was a tight schedule, the team and I worked hard, and we are more than satisfied with the results.

The symphony comprises five movements, starting with the sea, transitioning into shore, land, mountain, and sky. Each movement depicts the creatures of the relevant environment and its ecosystem, capturing the stories and translating them into music for the audience. Through this storytelling, I want the audience to experience the beauty of nature and be inspired to explore and experience the environment around them. We take many things from nature for granted, and often the small narratives between creatures and the planet are overlooked. This project highlights those narratives through the power of music and showcases the stories of our world that are far from our daily lives.

My motivation comes from the audience’s wonderful expressions.

I feel tremendous joy doing what I do. Seeing the pleasure I can bring to fans, and their appreciation motivates me to keep doing it. I strive for authenticity with my productions, and I want people in my audience to enjoy and be inspired or affected by my work. This applies not only to music but also to the theme I'm showcasing. For example, I want "Legend of Zelda" fans to see my show and leave more interested in the game. The same applies to this project with National Geographic. I want the audience to be more aware of their surroundings and take notice of nature's little narratives, and for them to change the bigger narrative of humans and the environment. I hope to do the same with many different brands and themes and diversify my work.

Jason Michael Paul / Entertainment Producer

A pioneer and leader in the live symphonic concert industry, Jason Michael Paul Entertainment, Inc., produces and promotes concerts for leading international artists, as well as a series of live symphonic concerts that make video game music come to life.