There is obviously no secret formula here, but I'm really curious about what a good path would be to pursue this. (I'm guessing a lot of music theory and tons of practice)

Even then, you have to get exposed and from what I hear film is SO hard to break into. But there has to be a way.....Anybody here work in that line of business or have any knowledge of how it works and how to break into it? Would be much appreciated. (My only idea has been to take movies, mute them, and make my own sound track, however you lose the dialogue which really doesn't show the mood properly)

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quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Wiley There is obviously no secret formula here, but I'm really curious about what a good path would be to pursue this. (I'm guessing a lot of music theory and tons of practice) Even then, you have to get exposed and from what I hear film is SO hard to break into. But there has to be a way.....Anybody here work in that line of business or have any knowledge of how it works and how to break into it? Would be much appreciated. (My only idea has been to take movies, mute them, and make my own sound track, however you lose the dialogue which really doesn't show the mood properly)

No standard formula here but these things might help:

know people that know people producers directors ect
have a name that rings a bell with most people and an underground following.
Have money and be around people that have money.
Live in la.
Be a good classically trained musician.

I could say that sex with the right people might help you break in the film business but that would be waaaay too cynical.

Not trying to discourage you by the way.
Just going by what I have seen through observation.

quote:

Originally posted by Existo22 No standard formula here but these things might help: know people that know people producers directors ect have a name that rings a bell with most people and an underground following. Have money and be around people that have money. Live in la. Be a good classically trained musician. I could say that sex with the right people might help you break in the film business but that would be waaaay too cynical. Not trying to discourage you by the way. Just going by what I have seen through observation.

Not discouraged at all. I'd rather you make it sound harder than easier. I knew from the get-go it is a very tough scene to get into. That sure does look like a formula for success but it is much, much easier typed than done. Thanks for the input

___________________
Please send your demos to [email protected]
For more information, please visit www.myspace.com/olympikrecords

Talk to Fei Fei. She graduated from USC as a movie directore. She might be able to point you in the right direction.

I work in this industry and I have to say scoring is incredibly difficult to break in to - I got lucky and worked fucking hard. I don't mean to offend Existo but only the last point on your list has any relevance at all.

There's scoring jobs in every country that makes films - it's about who you know (producers/directors will get you no where unless you;ve already got a name as they won't risk it). You have to be prepared to work for free, for a long time, pay your dues and be a nice guy as well as talented.

Yes, it helps to get a foot in the door if your daddy is someone, but you'll still have to be seriously good at musical composition.

Sometimes having graduated from a top music school (berkely, conservatory, royal academy, juliard etc.) can help but still not a shoe in.

They common route is to find a working score composer and become their tea boy (not kidding) and hope you can work your way up but don't expect to be able to write a note for a good couple of years. Even then it will fixes and bed tracks for a couple of years after that and maybe then, if you prove yourself they'll let you write a cue.

having a good demo is very important - not in terms of finish or final mix or fx but in terms of compositional content. Any good composer can hear whether you have any potential in 5 mins of listening.

Another good way to get in to it is via commercials and documentaries. They have lower budgets and therefore are easier to get in to, but pay less and often don't do much for your profile unless you get lucky or do some truly amazing/popular work. Try local production houses and tv stations, even media advertising companies.

I can go on for hours like this but the bottom line is you have to be talented and work very hard for a long time and be dedicated.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN I work in this industry and I have to say scoring is incredibly difficult to break in to - I got lucky and worked fucking hard. I don't mean to offend Existo but only the last point on your list has any relevance at all. There's scoring jobs in every country that makes films - it's about who you know (producers/directors will get you no where unless you;ve already got a name as they won't risk it). You have to be prepared to work for free, for a long time, pay your dues and be a nice guy as well as talented. Yes, it helps to get a foot in the door if your daddy is someone, but you'll still have to be seriously good at musical composition. Sometimes having graduated from a top music school (berkely, conservatory, royal academy, juliard etc.) can help but still not a shoe in. They common route is to find a working score composer and become their tea boy (not kidding) and hope you can work your way up but don't expect to be able to write a note for a good couple of years. Even then it will fixes and bed tracks for a couple of years after that and maybe then, if you prove yourself they'll let you write a cue. having a good demo is very important - not in terms of finish or final mix or fx but in terms of compositional content. Any good composer can hear whether you have any potential in 5 mins of listening. Another good way to get in to it is via commercials and documentaries. They have lower budgets and therefore are easier to get in to, but pay less and often don't do much for your profile unless you get lucky or do some truly amazing/popular work. Try local production houses and tv stations, even media advertising companies. I can go on for hours like this but the bottom line is you have to be talented and work very hard for a long time and be dedicated.

No offense taken. But I will tell you this about the film business. They wont fuck with you unless they know you.

quote:

Originally posted by Existo22 I could say that sex with the right people might help you break in the film business but that would be waaaay too cynical. Not trying to discourage you by the way. Just going by what I have seen through observation.

well alright

You can be the second Vangelis but what is important is who you know and what you have accomplished.
And going to a fancy school like the other guy said wont guarantee you anything but it will greatly increase your chances of breaking into the industry & making the right connections.

But forget all that for a second...

Are you classically trained?
Can you read sheet music?
Can you play the piano?
Can you compose for an orchestra?

quote:

Originally posted by Existo22 You can be the second Vangelis but what is important is who you know and what you have accomplished. And going to a fancy school like the other guy said wont guarantee you anything but it will greatly increase your chances of breaking into the industry & making the right connections. But forget all that for a second... Are you classically trained? Can you read sheet music? Can you play the piano? Can you compose for an orchestra?

I'm telling you, the only bit that matters when starting out is being clasically trained.

Orchestration can be taught on the job (and frequently is) and I know several well known composers that couldn't play piano that well when they got in to major projects (played other isntruments such as woodwind, guitar or were even vocalists).

Knowing someone might get you a foot in the door with a composer to be an assistant (tea, food etc.) but it will never get you straight in to a paid scoring project. Seen it so many times. Producers/studios will just no take the risk of using an unknown on even a small budget project, you have to pay your dues and make years worth of contacts to be able to even pitch for a paid gig.

I've seen so many people join the studio where I am and honestly the main thing that counts is being able to work incredibly hard. Talent is the thing that gets you to the next step.

Well, I don't have any direct experience with the gaming industry, but I do have a friend from 15-20 years ago who is the Music Supervisor for Sony's PlayStation division. We were fellow music majors in the same program, played in similar bands, etc. back in the day, and he is the brother-in-law of one of my good friends and former guitarist/singer. I haven't talked to him in years and we just recently got reconnected through Facebook, but my understanding is that he got into that position primarily through just being an incredible musician, songwriter, and by being heads above everybody else in terms of his technical knowledge with production and MIDI, more so than being well-connected with the right people. Now, granted that was quite some time ago and the playing field has probably simultaneously levelled and raised considerably with the proliferation of home studio equipment since then, so I would assume that the competition is greater than ever for those type of jobs. But, I'm not an industry insider and have zero familiarity with video games, so take it for what it's worth.

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Why not post movie trailers on youtube, with your own music to them? Might be a nice way of getting publicity, especially with new movies on the horizon.
Same goes for games. Just an idea. If you´re good, the right people will notice!

You could try writing some music for the movie No Country For Old Men. It has pretty much no soundtrack. If you made some great music to accompany it and spread the project around, that could be some nice publicity.

Would be hard to create music that could live up to that movie, though, IMO.