Justin Werner running wild

“I landed my song ‘Without a Bang’ in the new Sharon Stone film Running Wild, just recently released in theaters,” says singer-songwriter Justin Werner. The placement came about from knowing the film’s sound designer. “I was at home when I received an email from her needing a Western cowboy song reminiscent of ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ by Johnny Cash. I wrote the first 45 seconds of the song, which was all they needed, and sent a rough recording back within the hour.” Ten minutes later, he was notified the song had sold. “I had a final recording for her by the end of the week, which my friend Chad Farran helped to mix. They paid up front, but will also pay out royalties if they land a TV deal.”

The movie concerns a widow who hires convicts to help rehabilitate wild horses. “My song comes on toward the beginning of the film, as the prisoners are being bused into the ranch for the first time. It comes on loud and clear, with no background noise. I was really happy to hear my song so clearly, vocals and all.”

Previous films to include Werner’s solo music include Dark House (with the track “Birds Eye View”), The Wanderers (“This Highway”), the documentary Hope for Haiti (“Glass”), and a song recorded with 3rd Borough, “Roller Coaster,” was heard in the web series Good Medicine. He’s also been an extra on movie sets, including the locally filmed ode to ’70s rock journalism, Almost Famous. “I was in the audience at the first Stillwater concert scene, filmed at the Sports Arena. I was the rocker with long hair and a tight red T-shirt, going crazy to the music.”

Werner makes his living writing, playing, and teaching music. He performs solo every Wednesday at the Waterfront Bar in Little Italy and every Thursday at the Catamaran Resort in Pacific Beach. He appears with his band Escape Door on March 11 at Winstons.