WHAT TO KNOW: From Music Producer to Film Composer
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
- A common question I get is what to keep in mind when one wants to transition from music production to film scoring. Here's my answer!
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#filmcomposer #composer #filmmaking #advice #filmscoring - Zábava
Tom, can you elaborate on one or more of the "stupid things" you did that actually yielded results. I'd be really interested to hear some stories. Thanks, as always, for everything!
I actually feel that people wanting to do this type of work are at their highest number nowadays but your comment on it makes me feel optimistic! I actually ran into a film producer in front of my front door once and that's how I got to do my first soundtrack to a film so I completely relate on the topic of timing haha
actually been thinking of using ChatGPT to give me a random scene and then make a score based on the description (like a Director giving a script)
Good idea! I’m gonna try that now
Fight - Junkie XL 💖💖💖 foreve
This is really great advice. I always thought I wanted to be a film composer after years of just making whatever music I wanted as an artist. I got an opportunity to try my hand at it, it was so hard! Having someone reject your efforts is not fun. I wish I had somehow seen this video first. The bit about envisioning how YOUR music could work in a film is excellent advice. But also, you might find that film composing is not nearly as fulfilling as making music for yourself and your small audience 🙂
amazing advices from you, I admire how you move on from electronic music to film composing
This was excellent!
Particularly when you mentioned creating a small collection of tracks, an EP, etc and using it as an example score for a film or tv show "that doesn't exist."
I have done exactly that last year, an opening theme, with a short 1 min film I made myself with my iPhone, and commented below the title, 'opening theme to a tv series that does not yet exist."
Same with an EP of underscore music.
A few years ago I was invited to pitch music sketches for a series on a major network whilst in pre-production.
I submitted 2 opening themes and 7 underscore tracks, which I wrote based on reading the script of the pilot episode.
While I didn't get the composer gig, I compiled all the tracks into an EP and gave it a new title, essentially a new identity.
Lo and behold, that album led to me to score 2 indie short films and one indie feature a few years ago.
One of the filmmakers told me the sparse melodies, textures and ambiances just resonated nicely with him and even influenced some of the shots he filmed for the project.
I was beyond flattered to hear such words but anyway, we got to work together and it was a great experience.
So yeah, Tom's advice on this is spot-on.
As a side-note, and this is merely my own opinion, I think this ubiquitous practice of re-scoring downloaded scenes from famous movies is probably not the best way to go.
I think it's ok to hone your craft on your own time and see what you would have done, of course, but not to present or display online with hopes of getting more work.
Again, just sharing my personal opinion, don't start throwing broccoli at the screen. :)
I think simply showing your music on its own is, in fact, more effective.
Let the show runner, filmmaker, producer, etc, imagine (with eyes closed preferably) what it would feel like paired with their visuals.
I say 'feel', as feel is everything, it's deeper and reaches us beyond merely listening and looking.
Once they feel something from listening to your music and it resonates with them in a good way, you're on the right track.
If you do want to add visuals, just try to pair it with something you filmed yourself.
Something unique and original, add some colours, filters and texture to it, or go with a retro grainy black & white, whatever feels right to you.
Doesn't even have to be complicated - just film the waves on an empty beach at sunset, or birds on a tree branch, or passing windmills from the passenger car window on a road trip.
Add your music to that, much more artistic, honest, and satisfying vs. some Marvel clip you downloaded on CZcams.
Just wanted to share my experience.
Thanks Tom.
You’re a legend, Junkie! 🙌🏻
Thank you Tom! This helps me to think of things nearby I might could do. 😊
For me, this was very very useful video with great information at the exact time I needed to hear it!
So, thank you very very much for sharing your experience with others!
Thanks for the video Tom. Very inspiring 👍🏼.
This is excellent advice, very practical suggestions.
A Hunter Gathers is my favorite OST of yours
Haha, many years ago I have even made a playlist "Music for a film that never existed" where I score various types of scenes from a movie that I made up with a short description.
Also for me my favourite music is score music for World of Warcraft. I've been listening to it for years and years when I wasn't even playing the game. It's not a film of course but it's incredibly expressive, unique and memorable, with really great musical lines that just live in you like lines from classic music for instance, I love everything about it.
Thanks Tom! 😎👍
Thank you for sharing!! 🤟
Thanks for sharing, Where do see Library/Production music fitting into this puzzle?
I've been producing electronic dance music since I was 14, became my job, loved it. I then started to incorporate orchestral elements into EDM, I made music for commercials and videos. Now at 34 I feel like I want to transition to film composing/trailer music. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Tom!
Thanks for the advice👍
Thank you for all these! I loved the idea of the reel EP! But is putting the title like “My EP Title(Original soundtrack for Seinfeld: Next Generations)” a valid way to promote?
I would love to see a Tom and BT talk a bit of this or maybe electronic music
Thats interesting, thanks Tom 🙂
Tom is always so busy, that he never change clothes!
Thanks Tom. I would love to get your insights on making theme motifs for different characters in a film or TV show. Do you have any tips on approaching that?
Thanks for sharing your very interesting video's
Another route is doing music for ads...talk to the creative teams in agencies
Would love to send you some of my demos Tom, have a lot of respect for you as an artist and composer so an opportunity like this would be great.
im still drunk now, but im a digital artist and i love ur analog setup but im from reason 2.5 and just got newest cubase , and my point is ( for me) stay true to what i intended when a teen, to explore sonic possibilities whatever the style in other words being progressive, but i agree making films/tv stuff sounds nice and a change of mind, but also im not like you, i dont know music theory by heart, i need the chord track or the thing in the daw to fix it, but i enjoy this handicap as i think a lot about arrangement and composition
Love your soundtracks
Which is ur fav
@@6thour592 yes
@@6thour592 A Hunter Gathers
Why did you make the transition? I've been writing music for over 20 years. And in the last 2 years, I did several indie short films and one feature film. All for hobby. But I find writing music is more satisfying than scoring for film for some reason. I like both.
I got a question: I wonder do you get to see movies and TV shows in advance to sync the music to whats on the screen or are the studio's discrible the scene and you work in the dark to it??
Hey Tom. Do you recommend people having their own website to showcase their music?
Best
I’m a new composer but I can’t for the life of me figure out how to mix my own music yet. Is it fair for me to tell my film director that I know someone who they can hire to mix my music? Or should I just give a portion of my own earnings to my audio mixer. Or should I just not mix my music at all and only give my raw stems to the film audio mixer? I’m brand new to this on my first year. I’m just wondering how should I go about this newbie issue while I’m still learning the basics???
I think it depends on the circumstances.
At the end of the day, they're hiring you to get a job done. If that means you need your friend to mix for you, you get your friend to mix for you. How you go about delivering the score doesn't matter.
I think often in this case it will mean you pay your friend a portion of your paycheck. However, as you get more established, I'm sure there are ways to negotiate higher/additional pay.
How do you navigate someone being less than satisfied with your creation, but that same person is unable to articulate what they would like?
I would love to hear your opinion on AI music.
My question is: how do I get work for streaming platforms?
Uh I dont do anything. I make sequences. With drum samples.
A little confusing because you say that film music is not real music.... Because it is not an artist creating a vision.
But you have become a film music composer. So you are not making real music now?
Also what about the artist being inspired by the story?
John Williams' film music = real music. Go figure. 😄
Geef maar een seintje als je het werk niet meer aankunt, dan help ik je wel:-)
It would piss me off , dialog over the top of my music
Even sound effects are prioritized over music. 😅
😂 what a shit take. Music is music my guy, that’s why there are genres. Just a different medium in which to express it. Go ahead and tell the producers who just forked over a shit ton of money that the music isn’t “real music”.
Why did they bring you back for Godzilla. Your music was generic slop in Godzilla vs Kong and they had the nerve to bring you back for the upcoming MonsterVerse movie.
Your ego is so fragile that you try to back it up by saying a modern Godzilla track wouldn't work. When Bear McCreary already proved you wrong and so did Minus One.
I hope they never bring you or Adam wingard back. You two are horrible for Godzilla.