Getting the Score

Pixar is doing something right, we all know that. I mean, 9 movies in a row that are big financial hits?
So what are they doing? Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story 3 put it best right here.
“It’s important that nobody gets mad at you for screwing up,” says Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story [...]

Here is a video that will explain what it takes to get the most out of your composer, and any other creative type you hire.
This is one of the most exciting videos I have seen in a while. It explains things that goes against the common approach of more money=better results.
Actually, it was found that [...]

For the next little while I will write about what I learned working on the project I recently completed: The Legend of Silk Boy.
First item will be something I learned from the director, David Liu.
David truly left me to my own devices during this project. He had a very different approach than most directors in [...]

Guess what, M Night Shyamalan doesn’t use temp scores! He gets the composer involved before they shoot.

That’s what I like to see!

A new article in Variety online hits the nail on the head about the modern state of film scoring. One of the best, most succinct pieces I have read on the subject.
Read it.
The I ask you, what kind of director are you? One that realizes the power that music and melody can have on the [...]

Quentin Tarrantino on his use of music in film.
I don’t normally use original score. I don’t trust any composer to do it… The music is so important. The idea of paying a guy and showing him your movie at the end and then he comes over it; I would never give anybody that kind of [...]

Marc Shaiman used to write film scores, and he was great at it. Fantastic! He is an intensely talented musician who is now working on Broadway.
He is the kind of musician films would benefit from, and have. So why did he choose to leave? Why does he feel fortunate to be on Broadway?
Here’s why: Whatch [...]

OK, you are a filmmaker and getting ready to listen to a cue from your composer. This is not an easy thing and many filmmakers listen to demos the wrong way.
Here are some important things to remember as you listen.
1. This is a demo
As a filmmaker, how do you listen to a demo?
Listen to [...]

Hello All,
This is what I wrote today on my Composition Journal, where I am writing about my work scoring a feature animated film.
I am currently working on the musical themes for the film, looking for inspiration everywhere and jotting down a ton of ideas.
As I do this work I always refer to a concept for [...]

As a director, part of your job is getting the people around you to function at the peak of their creative powers.
So what do composers need to be as creative as possible? It varies for everyone, of course, but I will speak from my personal point of view here,both in terms of the pure creative [...]