| Assignment: SHR4C007R-001 | ID:24102201 | |
| Working professionally as a film composer | Word Count: 1758 |
What is a film composer:
“It’s such a strange life being a film composer because you are not living in reality at all. You are forever in that dream world upon which the movie is based” (IdrLabs, 2024). Hans Zimmer, the German-born film composer, highlights that the career of a film composer is not as simple as it may appear.
By definition, a film composer is a professional artist who creates original music for films, also known as the film score. Although, they are also in control of many aspects of the music. For example, the composer will collaborate with the director to discuss ideas about the film. They would write and record demos to test themes and orchestral textures, then write in ‘cues’ to establish where the music will go in each film scene. Then, once the cues are made, the composer will scope out hit points in the scene so they know where the music may change, this technique of noting down the cues is called ‘spotting’. The composer may work with a live orchestra or singular musician, or they may opt for software instruments when recording draft ideas and for final versions of the score. The final aspect before releasing the film would be completing the producer’s editing request to create the film score’s ultimate version. This includes revising themes and cues and modifying musical themes to better suit the narrative. Also, refining the orchestration based of the feedback given, to make sure the orchestration fits the aesthetic and practicality of the scene (BBC Bitesize, 2024). Film composers use their music to create an atmosphere in sync with the action on screen. In addition, they may also use significant themes associated with locations or characters to portray specific emotions.
The skills required for becoming a film composer:
The necessary skills for becoming a film composer include proficiency in any musical instrument (piano is the most useful skill for composing) as well as gaining an in-depth knowledge of music theory and insight into the film and TV industry. Lastly, it’s essential to be confident with scoring and production software, VSTs and DAWs (indeed, 2024). Generally, this job requires a formal education in music composition including GCSEs and A-Levels and a relevant music degree such as Bachelor of Music (BMus) in composition for Film or Theatre. Attending a school of music or the arts will force composers to fill in areas of their studies where they lack expertise and can strengthen their skills. Having those alumni connections through a Conservatoire or University would enhance career opportunities. On the contrary, it’s important to acknowledge that not all successful film composers went to university. Self-taught study allows composers to nurture niche interests as well as engage in a wide range of experimentation (masterclass, 2021).
Good technical production skills are among the most important requirements for being a film composer. This includes recording, mixing, and even mastering the songs/scores. This is even more crucial in this era of the industry due to budget constraints, which require film composers to be confident in all aspects of the industry. For film composers, basic learning of audio recording with modern software is essential and can be achieved to great levels with even just a laptop and a decent sound card. You don’t always need quality gear to attain amazing results starting. For some film composers, basic audio production skills might be enough if they aren’t required for the process of production process, although for smaller projects, you would have to manage the production process and if you aren’t able to, the production role will be assigned to another composer.
To make a good living as a composer, you need to engage in the industry as there as many refinements when it comes to composing for film. You must know how to set the tone and the mood for a scene, as the music creates emotion for the film, so by looking at and analyzing scores from other popular films, you can learn what things can be expected of in the industry. Another major sector of the music industry is video games, which are becoming more and more demanding. As video games continue to grow and gain popularity, this industry becomes extremely profitable, which is why composers often get advised to be involved in this side of the industry (TheComposersClass, 2024).
Another crucial factor is networking and communication: film festivals, online communities/forums and online networking platforms such as LinkedIn are great ways for film composers to collaborate and cultivate connections with filmmakers and animators. This is a great way to build up a portfolio and increase your presence within the industry. Composers should passionately showcase their talents, keep a dynamic online profile and creative visions to make a memorable impact on potential clients and collaborators (Medium, 2024).
Time management is something all film composers should fully utilize as time and hours are limited. You should plan how you will manage your hours for the next/coming days: ‘What tasks do I need to complete?’ ‘What are the consequences if I don’t complete these tasks?’ These are all questions that composers should be asking themselves to ensure they are productive and complete the tasks needed. Although good time management can increase motivation and creativity, you must write and compose ideas every day and have discipline even on days when you lack motivation as it could come in handy in the future. Composing, sound design, editing, mastering, marketing, business, client management, project meetings and team coordination (orchestrators and musicians) are all examples of times where time management is essential. The use of a word document to write important tasks, notes, deadline contact information on is highly recommended as well as the use of apps such as Slack to assign tasks to your team, both being ways to help with time management (Garratt, 2024).
As a film composer, responsibilities expand further than just creating music: networking, building a portfolio, marketing, and managing a team are all essential. This also involves sourcing musicians, producing high-quality scores, and continuously improving your craft in all aspects, such as composing, recording, mixing, and mastering (WrongTools, 2024). Marketing plays a vital role in gaining visibility and acquiring work, whether that’s through having a website, social media pages, or attending industry events and meeting industry professionals. Staying up to date with industry trends is crucial for keeping aligned with current practices and audience expectations whilst understanding the current demands of the film industry and acknowledging popular styles, which can help film composers remain competitive amongst others. Continuously composing and honing your skills ensures that you stay relevant and professional, meeting the high demands and evolving requirements of filmmakers and producers.
Copyright, licensing and legal issues:
Copyright is a legal term which gives any creator of original works exclusive rights to use and distribute their creations for a period and can protect work like literature, music, film, art, software, and more from unauthorized use, copying or distribution within the film composer industry. Copyright, specifically for film composers, gives them control over how their music is used and allows them to earn royalties when others try to use their works, essentially providing them with both protection for their work and a bonus of financial rewards (Musicians Union, 2024).
Personal challenges:
Going into the film industry as a composer is both exciting and a very daunting journey, which comes with many challenges. For me, one of the biggest challenges I anticipate is standing out. As there’s so much competition in the industry and so much unique talent, it can be difficult to see. Even trying to simply meet the demands of directors and producers whilst still trying to adapt a unique sound can be daunting. I know that building my portfolio, which reflects my work ethic, versatility and skills will take time, and will take a lot of self-promotion, networking and hard work.
I think another crucial challenge is finding a balance between creativity and practicality, as during the writing process, I will always feel like I have a strong musical idea, but film scoring isn’t just about writing music that I love, it’s about fitting the purpose of the film, storyline and the director’s expectations. For me, being able to put aside some ideas, take constructive feedback and turn that into something productive will be an important skill which I can refine over time.
Looking at the industry from an outsider’s perspective, mental health seems to play a huge role as a main cause of the challenges faced by film composers. Music is often seen as a very unconventional and sometimes pointless career, leading many musicians to feel like they have to prove themselves or often feel like their work isn’t good enough for society’s expectations.
Career progression:
Composition students may not land a job right after graduation, but getting a job as an assistant or an orchestrator is a great way to learn from working composers about their approaches and experiences. Furthermore, internships with production companies and post-production studios are also great ways of getting a foot in the door (Think Space Education, 2024).
Composers would benefit greatly by knowing how to effectively market themselves. Maintaining an online presence with a professional website and sharing their work on other platforms, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram etc. will attract attention and improve their overall chances of being seen by the right connections. Learning to pitch ideas can also fall into this as both sharing ideas publicly and presenting your ideas to directors and producers will help to build up confidence when delivering your ideas publicly, and with professionalism and clarity when collaborating alongside them.
After viewing all the aspects of becoming a film composer, it’s clear that it’s a journey which combines musical talent, storytelling and creativity. Composing requires many key skills: music theory, orchestration, harmony and composition just to name a few. Building a portfolio of creative work is essential, furthermore networking and gaining experience through things such as student films, independent films or internships can be crucial. To be successful as a film composer, you must be able to adapt to different genres, collaborate with directors and editors and how to creatively understand the film’s storyline and how the music can enhance the visual storytelling. You must always have professionalism in your work and how you address yourself when collaborating to keep a positive reputation and secure more projects within the very competitive field. Honing these skills and embracing new techniques, new technology, and building their network, film composers will be able to carve out a successful career in the industry.
Reference List:
BBC Bitesize, 2024. ‘Composers for film music’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z7bphbk#:~:text=Film%20composers%20use%20music%20to,and%20added%20to%20the%20film. (Accessed 13/11/24)
DfmgModernAudio, 2024. “Time Management For Composers” https://www.dfmgmodernaudio.com/single-post/time-management-for-composers (Accessed 17/11/24)
Garratt, 2024. ‘The Creative Life’ https://thecreativelife.net/time-management-for-creatives/ (Accessed 29/12/24)
IdrLabs, 2024. ‘Hans Zimmer Quotes’ https://www.idrlabs.com/quotes/hans-zimmer.php (Accessed 13/11/24)
Indeed, 2024. “How to become a film composer” https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-film-composer#:~:text=Key%20skills%20necessary%20for%20a,proficiency%20in%20audio%20software%20applications. (Accessed 13/11/24)
Masterclass, 2021. “How to become a film composer” https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-a-film-composer (Accessed 13/11/24)
Medium, 2024. “Mastering The Art Of Networking” https://medium.com/@kylehartman94/mastering-the-art-of-networking-a-composers-guide-to-landing-film-scoring-jobs-25245cb39d16#:~:text=In%20summary%2C%20networking%20is%20the,world%20of%20film%20music%20composition (Accessed 17/11/24)
Musicians Union, 2024. ‘Music Copyright Law Guide’ https://musiciansunion.org.uk/working-performing/recording-and-broadcasting/music-copyright-performers-rights-in-sound-recordings (accessed 29/12/24)
ScoreCraftAcademy, 2024. ‘Copyright and licensing guide for film composers’ https://scorecraftacademy.com/copyright-and-licensing-a-guide-for-film-composers/ (Accessed 18/11/24)
Think Space Education, 2024 “MA orchestration for film, tv and games” https://thinkspace.ac.uk/postgraduate/ma-orchestration-for-film-games-and-television/ (Accessed 29/12/24)
TheComposersClass, 2024. “Crucial Skills Every Composer Needs” https://thecomposerclass.com/articles/9-crucial-skills-every-composer-needs (Accessed 14/11/24)
WrongTools, 2024. “What Are The Responsibilities Of A Film Composer” https://wrongtools.com/blog/film-composer-job-responsibilities/ (Accessed 18/11/24)
