Composing

Discuss, share content, offer tips and advice on hardware, software, style, strategies, process, work-flow and the business of scoring a film, video or theater production

Liked by Pamela Jaye Smith and 2 others

Brian Gunter
Linked In…Yay, or Nay?

Hey all! I’m new to Stage 32 and I’m looking forward to chatting with your all and getting to know you! I wanted to get a quick poll and take the repertoire on whether working composers find LinkedIn to be a valuable resource I’ve seen other positions from he film industry, but mostly executives and...

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Alexander Benra

Can someone explain the "hustle hustle" thing to me. I dont get it, maybe because English is not my mother tongue?

Linwood Bell

Alexander Benra To go after work/gigs. My reference to Van McCoy was a joke. He wrote a song back in the '70's called The Hustle and the hustle was a disco dance. I was at one of Van's recording sessi...

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Brian Gunter

Marsy Robinson Yep, I totally agree. But, for those of us not in a major "hustle, hustle" metro area, like myself, I'm looking for any effective alternative ways to hustle, hustle, hustle! (unless I t...

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Brian Gunter

Linwood Bell that's hillarious, and rad!

Brian Gunter

Kerry Kennard hadn't considered IMDB Pro as a potential source for cold contact. Thanks for the suggestion!

Liked by Brian Gunter

Amanda Toney
12 great original film scores from rock musicians who became composers

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ fantastic Challengers score is the latest to demonstrate the magic that can happen when rockers go Hollywood

https://www.avclub.com/best-film-scores-rock-musicians-1851439236

12 great original film scores from rock musicians who became composers
12 great original film scores from rock musicians who became composers
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' fantastic Challengers score is the latest to demonstrate the magic that can happen when rockers go Hollywood

Liked by Alexander Benra

Maurice Vaughan
4 Ways Video Games Shaped My Approach To Composing

Shanika Freeman (music composer, playwright, and screenwriter) talks about four ways video games shaped his approach to composing in today’s blog.

www.stage32.com/blog/4-ways-video-games-shaped-my-approach-to-composing-......

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Florin Şumălan
HANS ZIMMER - COMPOSER - Team Deakins Podcast

"Composer Hans Zimmer (DUNE, INTERSTELLAR, THE LION KING) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. Hans takes us back to his early career working the espresso machine for composer Stanley Myers and later making runs for director Bernardo Bertolucci on THE LAST EMPEROR before reflecting...

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HANS ZIMMER - Composer
HANS ZIMMER - Composer
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 85 - HANS ZIMMER - COMPOSER Composer Hans Zimmer (DUNE, INTERSTELLAR, THE LION KING) joins us on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast.
Elena Maro

There is not a single sound coming from Hans Zimmer creative space that doesn't work magnificently to the picture, and this is one of the reasons why, I think. Thank you so much for sharing, Florin Şu...

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Brian Gunter

I absolutely adore Hans Zimmers work, and his whole collaborative way he and his trusted artists pull such passionate and moving works out of even the simplest forms!

Always bugs me when HZ gets hate o Expand comment
Brian Gunter

Amanda Toney Yes! He’s showing off a little, because he’s having a ball! But he absolutely creates space, collaborates with the filmmakers because they just love the stories so much, and lets the musi...

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Brian Gunter

Just happened across this one today. Speaks with Zimmer’s primary sound designers and talks about the process of building the sound palette he has in his head BEFORE composing anything.

https://open.s...

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Kerry Kennard

I saw Dune 2 a few weeks ago and saw Hans Wrote the music for the film. I replied in another post about this, and one person said there were a lot of Fx going on - and of course there were many scenes...

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Amanda Toney
Composer Chat: Can You Make a Living as a Composer?

It's a question many musicians want to know. Can they make a living writing music? Whether that's scoring films, writing music for video games, composing for TV the question is much the same. Guy Michelmore has been doing just that for over thirty years so here is his take on this question. IN the v...

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Linwood Bell

I always enjoy Guy’s videos on music and new sample libraries that I might be interested in. Making a living as a composer isn’t easy, but it’s doable. I’ve never done anything but music all my life....

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Elena Maro

Another great one from Guy Michelmore, thank you so much fro sharing, Amanda Toney!

Linwood Bell , I hear you :)...

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Brian Gunter

Love Guy’s videos. For me, making a living and working with people who love the process as much as I do for the rest of my life would be the most rewarding thing! I’m not a public person so the Hollywood “fortune and glory” doesn’t appeal to me.

Arhynn Descy

I’m one of the tutors at Thinkspace Education. It’s a fantastic and very positive organisation.

Brian Gunter

Arhynn Descy awesome! Glad to hear good things from the inside!

Kerry Kennard
Learning composing from Books

Which books have you used in your Composing career ? I use “On the Track” for reference now.

Guerrilla Film scoring … I’ve read almost all the way through.

I recently Learned of “creative strategies in film Scoring”, by Ben Newhouse.

I know it’s Better to do,and make music, though thought I would ask...

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Kerry Kennard

Linwood Bell - Hmm, Nestico ? By Sam ?

So, Equal Intervals life changer ?

Who is the other of this book?

A lot of pages ??

Linwood Bell

The Complete Arranger by Sammy Nestico. Great book and I still reference it. The Equal Interval books were written by Spud Murphy. There are 12 of them. You have to study the course in order to get th...

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Brian Gunter

I still try to learn from books as much as I can, but my brand of neuro-spicy makes it tough. I’m just a little bit jealous of those who absorb books like drinking water. Makes theory tough too, found...

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Kerry Kennard

Brian, I hear you !! Neuro- Spicy ... ohh nice ! We all have our own writing styles. [from this one collab., we have been calling it, Neo-Classical (Piano) and Contemporary / percussion.

Sometimes when...

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Brian Gunter

Kerry Kennard nice! Haha. I think I’ve heard of the “Guerilla Film Scoring Book”. May have to check it out! I like to read, but apparently my “style” is retention adverse to the page.

Like I’ll read a...

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Amanda Toney
Oscars 2024 Q&A: Composer Laura Karpman talks scoring for film ‘American Fiction’

This was one of my favorite films up for an Oscar this year: https://dailybruin.com/2024/02/21/oscars-2024-qamerican-fiction

Oscars 2024 Q&A: Composer Laura Karpman talks scoring for film 'American Fiction' - Daily Bruin
Oscars 2024 Q&A: Composer Laura Karpman talks scoring for film 'American Fiction' - Daily Bruin
This post was updated March 10 at 8:21 p.m. Unlike Thelonious Ellison, Laura Karpman wants to be recognized for her acclaimed composition. The composer, who was previously a lecturer at the UCLA Schoo…
Maurice Vaughan

Great Q&A, Amanda Toney! Daily Bruin asked Laura Karpman "How do different instruments represent different characters in “American Fiction?" That's an interesting way of looking at music and character...

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Ashley Renee Smith

What a cool lady! I love her approach to starting with piano as the backbone of her composition based on the main character's name!

Brian Gunter

Ashley Renee Smith I absolutely LOVE that kind of creative thinking! Thanks for sharing that!

Brian Gunter

Amanda Toney Love it! Thanks for posting!

I had a director recently who was amenable to me coloring a bit outside the lines, and it’s so much fun! When she heard the cue for the first time she got all...

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Pamela Jaye Smith
Movie scores and interviews with composers on KPFK radio --

CinemaScore with John Santana

John Santana presents orchestral music from Hollywood film scores and interviews with the composers.

https://www.kpfk.org/on-air/schedule/

Schedule
Schedule
KPFK Pacifica Radio for Los Angeles, Southern California and the World
Kerry Kennard

Hi Pamela,

Is John Santana’s Orchestra music in this list ?

Is it near the top or bottom? Is there a certain date to look for?

Pamela Jaye Smith

Not sure about that, Kerry. I've not explored the whole site but I do enjoy listening to the show on KPFK.

Miquiel Banks

Thanks for posting PJ Smith (working on your new nickname)!!!!

Brian Gunter

Thanks for the tip!

Navid Lancaster
Article from the SCL (Socitety of Composers and Lyricists)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF INTRODUCES SCL-ENDORSED GENERATIVE AI COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE ACT BILL

https://thescl.com/news/rep-adam-schiff-introduces-scl-endorsed-generati......

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Rep. Adam Schiff Introduces SCL-Endorsed Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act Bill - The Society of Composers and Lyricists
Rep. Adam Schiff Introduces SCL-Endorsed Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act Bill - The Society of Composers and Lyricists
The SCL thanks Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) for his introduction of the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act bill. This legislation is the result of discussions with creators, labor unions, technology...
Richard "RB" Botto

Love to see it.

Maurice Vaughan

I definitely think this bill is needed, Navid Lancaster. We can't wait until later to do something. Later will be too late. Thanks for sharing.

Amanda Toney

Love the political support!

Elena Maro

SCL board members have been working hard back and forth from LA to Washington in the past few months, they are really serving our community. A great organization to be part of. Thanks you for sharing,...

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Suzanne Bronson
Phoenix Composers!

Come to the April S32 In person meetup!

https://www.stage32.com/meetups/1970/April-Stage-32-Phoenix-In-Person-Meetup

Joel Irwin

Sure be nice if there was a S32 meetup here in Houston

Suzanne Bronson

So start one @joelirwin

Ashley Renee Smith

Joel Irwin, happy to help you get one going in Houston! I host one here in Austin for the Austin and San Antonio creators.

Joel Irwin

ashley - there is already one very large film industry meetup group in Houston. Usually has has 50 to 100 attendees. Many are newbees. Perhaps that is all that is needed. I just thought that having on...

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Ashley Renee Smith

I'll reach out to you over email and we can set a time to connect, Joel Irwin!

Navid Lancaster
Maurice Vaughan

My condolences to Dan Wallin's family, Navid Lancaster. He worked on big projects. Some of them classics.

Fran Harris
Music in scenes or nah?!

What’s your take on music or mood music in your films? Open ended…

Fran Harris

Daniel Husbands sooooo true about emotional communication on screen and music - and when it’s baaaaaad, it’s painful.

Fran Harris

Joel Irwin I check out your links - there was some awesome sound — not just music - but sound choices that really elevated the visuals. Thanks for sharing.

Kerry Kennard

Emily J ,

You’re so right - I’m back from seeing

Dune 2 and Hans Zimmer did a great (art) work with all the scenes, and emotions going on throughout the movie.

I mentioned to someone who commented,

“...

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Alexander Benra

I respectfully disagree - not on the movie (and the book). But I just saw Dune 2 and thought the music is full of effects, but nothing sticks in my mind. You could play me some parts and I could not r...

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Kerry Kennard

I do remember one scene where the music (orchestra) seemed more like music w Djembes in the background- quite nice.

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