questions about film scoring

I was wondering if anyone on here does this as a career, or knows anyone who does. Is it a competitive job to get? What would be the best emphasis for majoring in music if I were to go into this field? Thanks.

Yes it is competitive! Why?

a. Because all composers think that film music is "easy" to compose, and simple compaired to the classical masterpieces.

b. Because all people think there's huge money in it.

c. Because if you consider how many films one watches each year in the cinema, it should be around 10? 20? 50? If you consider that many composers work to more than 1 films, you get input from 10-15 composers tops, the AAAs, to what they do and earn.

d. Plus your dreams are formed based to that. Everyone looks at Zimmer, and williams, and would love to score a movie like LOTR! Who wouldn't? But 99.9% of the movies made worldwide are not LOTR!

In all it is the most projected part of a composer for media. The general public knows about movies. And I've never seen anyone asking if they can be composers for ads, or animation, or the telly. Everyone wants the movies.

Cruel reality is that in the end movie composer business is overpopulated, and usually by people who don't make it. Those who do, do have work to do, and yes, there are lots of films made each year.

Majoring:

I'd say

i. Composing

ii. Orchestrating

iii. sequencing/DAWs/music technology/midi

You can major in MIDI?

'Hello. My name's Tyler. I'm a MIDI Major. What about you?'

Heehe. That sounds silly.

You can major in MIDI?

'Hello. My name's Tyler. I'm a MIDI Major. What about you?'

Heehe. That sounds silly.

Hey Tyler, I'm a Major. (or maybe it is spelled Mayor)

You can major in MIDI?

'Hello. My name's Tyler. I'm a MIDI Major. What about you?'

Heehe. That sounds silly.

hehe... nice one.

No but you can major in all things in iii. with the general term music technology, or film music. There are some unis that actually teach film music. Not that it's something that you can't learn on your own of course...

How did the greats start out, anyways? Like John Williams, Howard Shore, Alan Menken, and James Horner?

Well I think that one field that is opening up is scoring for video games... some have greater quality than others though

How did the greats start out, anyways? Like John Williams, Howard Shore, Alan Menken, and James Horner?

Williams started as a jazz pianist ! Then he worked in the "golden age" team of arrangers/orchestrators for Korngold, Alfred Newman. Then he started working on TV for a decade. Finally Spielberg found him , and you know the rest ;)

Zimmer started in punk / rock band and the famous "Buggles". He really started film composing as an assistant to stanley meyers ( british composer ) in the 80s.

I think an aspiring film composer shouldn't restrain himself to "film" composing, but also to video-games / documentary, advertising and show ...

john williams also went to julliard.

Juilliard*

"I was wondering if anyone on here does this as a career, or knows anyone who does. Is it a competitive job to get? What would be the best emphasis for majoring in music if I were to go into this field? Thanks." -Sam524

if you are already composing I would put some sample stuff online and try to contact some independent game developers. if you are good enough they will contact you back. I would do a few free projects to get your feet wet.

That is exactly what I'm doing right now. I'm working on music for a free 8bit rpg just to get my name out there, I'm also writing some music for a book series website. So just learn by doing! you don't HAVE to go to Juilliard to become a paid composer.

Really, you dont HAVE to major in music at all to get a career in film scoring. In fact, if you're already good enough I would major in something different as a fail safe, with possibly a minor in music comp or something similar. Right now I'm majoring in music therapy. It allows me to have a good job available in case I dont make it in the world of film scoring, but it also teaches me more aspects of music and helps my scores get better. If you major specifically in film scoring or composition (etc) you have no choice but to keep trying even if you never make it, theres no out.

The only other thing I would mention is to take EVERY opportunity you stumble upon no matter how little your getting paid or unappealing the project may seem. I doubt there is a single big time film scorer out there who sent in a tape to a producer and got the job. They hardly ever pay any attention to those, its all about word of mouth. Look at John Williams: He went through at least 5 different musical careers and a good 30 years before Spielberg came to HIM. Just get out there, take the little stuff.

Here's an interesting article I had fun reading. Despite all the jokes, it really has some down to earth advice about becoming a film composer. I found it quite enlightening:

So You Want to be a Film Composer?

I know of someone who is trying to get into that field, and I recall a comment from someone - 'well, how many film composers did Birmingham employ last year?' In other words, it is hard to get into the business.

Have a go, by all means - it's what you want to do, isn't it? Everyone should have the chance to do what they want to do. But have something else up your sleeve incase it doesn't go out right.

In all it is the most projected part of a composer for media. And I've never seen anyone asking if they can be composers for ads, or animation.....

Well I do like the idea of being a jingle writer. So I think being a media composer would be one of my favourite jobs, since I can work on anything that is related to "media". :)

For certain, be ready. Get a web site up with demo music. Write around with details of your site so they can hear your work. Write some 'imaginary' film scores or take a few videos and write for them. Doesn't matter too much what the videos are about but your music should integrate with them.

If a chance comes your way take it without hesitation. It may mean a temporary relocation which means some money up-front.

A good part of why few people succeed is i) they don't know what they're doing, ii) they don't keep up contacts iii) they aren't adaptable. They get the chance to go to Hollywood and turn it down, stuff like that.

Good luck.