We're in the fascinating business of weaving together stories and sound. As music supervisor and head of department, drawing on skills and networks fostered from over a decade of working in the music industry, we navigate the complexity of researching and selecting songs, licensing soundtracks and developing filmscores. Through conscious collaboration with a truly diverse roster of artists, composers, producers and songwriters, we aim to add a bold new level of authenticity.
all the bells and whistles.
the beginning
Conceptualisation, planning, budgeting, financing
Music spotting sessions
Music research (e.g. period productions)
Artists & Repertoire (musician casting and song briefing)
Composer selection & hiring
Music Clearance
the middle
Live Music Scenes
Original music production
Continued composer guidance
Music Licensing
Musician/actor instruction
the end
Marketing
Trailer music
Cuesheets
End credits
Distributor’s Rights package
the team.
founder / music supervisor Laura Bell
Laura Bell is an Australian Music Supervisor for film and series based in Europe.
Having played as soloist and in bands, orchestras and ensembles, she graduated with first class honours at the Sydney Conservatorium and studied at The Hague Royal Conservatoire. In addition, she’s completed a Master of Management from the Australian Institute of Music, based in the Sydney Opera House boardroom.
In Australia, she worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as Executive Producer & Manager of ABC Classics and Jazz, recording ARIA award-winning soloists, orchestras and choirs, in partnership with Universal Music. After leaving Australia, she was Head of Sync for BMG Talpa Music in The Netherlands and Managing Director for BMG Production Music for Benelux and Germany/Switzerland/Austria, before starting her own music supervision company out of a long-standing love for film and series: Bell Music Supervision.
As seasoned music industry executive, she is now proud to be an advocate for the craft of music supervision, shaping many soundtracks over the past 2 years for Dutch and international films, documentaries and series. Credits include Steve McQueen’s OCCUPIED CITY, Netflix’ STROMBOLI and HAPPY ENDING, Amazon Series MODERN LOVE AMSTERDAM, Cannes-nominated drama series CHILDHOOD DREAMS, Dana Nechushtan’s PIECE OF MY HEART, Aaron Rookus’ GOODBYE STRANGER and Sacha Polak’s SILVER HAZE.
music supervisor / cognitive musicologist Chayenne van den Hazel
Chayenne van den Hazel has been singing and playing instruments and in bands since she was young and (still) loves going to concerts. She studied Cognitive Musicology at the University of Amsterdam and has done two consecutive internships: one at Tribe Management and the other at CTM Publishing as Sync & Creative intern, whilst simultaneously following the Music Business course at SAE Amsterdam. For Chayenne, music supervision is the perfect place to combine her passion for and knowledge of music and her interest in the cognitive aspects of music, with her love for film & series.
Charlotte Stricker
It started at a young age with playing piano, dancing, and later on trying out the drums, but Charlotte knew very well that playing instruments should be left to the professionals (Important note, she does still dance!). Charlotte has worked throughout different aspects of the music industry, with a detour through book publishing, but always keeping interest in music in moving media and music rights. Working as Rights Manager at CNR Music & Overamstel Uitgevers she later moved on to her last role as Head of Sync at CTM Publishing. There she was responsible for the exploitation of their commercial and production music catalogue throughout advertising campaigns, games, films and series. It was all about pitching music for diverse projects and negotiating the best licenses for their writers & composers.
During her time at CTM, Charlotte already dipped her toes in music supervision, with her last project being the Amazon feature film ‘Hardcore Never Dies’ directed by Jim Taihuttu. She’s thrilled to have joined the Bell Music Supervision team and eager to put her knowledge within sync and music rights to work within the music supervision realm.
Nikki Huitink
Nikki Huitink is a MA Applied Musicology student at the University of Utrecht. There are tons of videos of her from a young age performing songs, shouting along with her favourite show tunes and girl group songs. With Music&Media as her major in the BA degree for Musicology, Nikki has fallen in love with music and film altogether, and wanted to work for film ever since. On one of her many dates with herself in the movie theatres, she stumbled upon Bell Music Supervision through the soundtrack of Kiddo. Applying for an internship was the next logical step to take.
As a musicologist, Nikki researches the relation between music and various media, specifically film and theatre. Music often takes the backseat in people’s mind when it comes film, while it is such a huge player for creating an immersive world. So, “Take off those earmuffs!”, as Aaron Copland would say, and listen to the world of cinema. Be it about why we think of the sound of the oboe as feminine, or why low tones make us uncomfortable during a horror movie, Nikki is interested in all of it.
From musical theatre to folk revival to post-punk, Nikki is mostly interested in the techniques of the singing voice and how they can convey emotions in music. She still sings every day, with her band or with her other music-enthusiastic friends. Here at Bell Music Supervision, Nikki applies her knowledge of what music can mean for the cinematic immersion, and learns what it means to work between the world of film and music. The best of both worlds, you could say. Music is the key to happiness in her life, as a singer and as an academic. For now, she wants to explore the world of movie through the sound of music.