Working With A Film Composer – The Art of Creative Collaboration

Working with a film composer can be a truly gratifying experience. It can also take your independent filmmaking to new heights. The influence a film score can have at a precise juncture in the film or on a character’s development within a scene can be truly astonishing. Therefore, is it any wonder that music has such an emotional impact on audiences?

Imagine how Jurassic Park would feel without Williams’ soaring trumpet motif! The moment when the helicopter passengers first set eyes on the lush, green landscape, revealing the island’s great expanse. Next, imagine Mission Impossible without Schifrins’ syncopated rhythms and percussive melodies during those thrilling action sequences. Then, imagine how Rocky II would feel without Conti’s pulsating brass and soaring strings, as Rocky climbs the 72 steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

For better or worse, the music you choose will play a big part in setting the tone of your film. However, always keep in mind, that music is a tool in your arsenal. Its purpose is to help you communicate your artistic vision. And this is best achieved through working in partnership with a film composer.

So, for all filmmakers out there who want to employ their first film composer, here are a few pointers to help you turn those creative dreams into reality! Plus, if you’re new to directing in general, be sure to check out these tips!

 

Communicate emotionally

It’s important to speak to your film composer from an emotional standpoint. Film composers, like actors, rely on the intrinsic emotional drive of a scene to engage with. After all, this is their source of inspiration for the type of music they will create. And you don’t need to use correct music terminology to communicate your vision. It’s the job of a film composer to transform your words and your vision into music – however you describe it!

Unless you are confident with music terminology and music literacy, let it go. The last thing you want is to give an instruction where the outcome turns out to be the opposite of what you intended! So, if you don’t know your staccatos from your legatos or your melodics from your harmonics, who cares?

Focus on communicating emotions. That’s what matters.

   

Get your budget in order

A film composer, like all other members of the creative team, is an artist who deserves to be paid for their efforts. Yet, given that music can have a uniquely profound influence on the success of your independent film, it is crucial to consider this expenditure in advance and prepare properly.

Try to anticipate early on how much investment post-production will need. Of course, every film project has a different budget. However, it’s critical that you communicate this with your film composer in advance. This is equally important if your finances become affected mid-production. In turn, the film composer will be able to give you a realistic idea as to the scope of service they can provide.

Lots of factors can have an impact on pricing (usually priced per minute of music). For example, the quantity of music, orchestration, musicians, mixing and mastering, distribution, copyrights, etc. Yet, it’s no use asking for a composition to be performed by live musicians if (a) you can’t afford orchestration services, and (b) you can’t afford the musicians.

 

The crucial difference Between Composition & Orchestration – and why it matters

Composition is the process of creating a piece of music: melody, harmony, and accompaniment.

Orchestration is the process of writing parts for each instrument in an ensemble.

Firstly, imagine composing a 1-minute piece of music. Now, imagine orchestrating it for a 60-piece orchestra! That takes time. A lot of time. And money. Your composer might not have those specific skills. And even if they do, they might not know how to conduct an orchestra. This is perfectly normal, you would expect people to be specialists in their respective fields. But on a limited budget, you need to be realistic about your expectations.

If orchestration, live musicians and a conductor are simply out of the equation – there are other avenues to explore. Consider a classic solo piano score, or a mix of synthesisers, sound design and orchestral/acoustic instruments. These days, most film composers will be able to create a full MIDI orchestral score for your independent film production. Any of these approaches can be:

1. More cost-effective

2. Easier to control

3. A better fit for your film.

That being said, there is something truly wonderful about a live orchestra that gives any film the wow factor! Just talk to film composers openly and honestly about your budget and what you hope to achieve. Then, see what recommendations they can come up with to help meet your aims.

 

 

Don’t rush the process

Where possible, it’s usually a good idea to provide adequate time for your film composer to work at a pace that they are most accustomed to. Constantly feeling under pressure is never conducive to successful film scoring. Of course, this isn’t to say film composers should be free to set their own agenda… It’s all about planning and asking the right sort of questions at the start of the process. For example, asking “how long would you expect this type of project to take?” is not only reasonable but would be expected.

Neglecting to do so and imposing your own schedule on a film composer could adversely affect post-film production. Much of this, like the budget described above, can be pre-managed with solid preparation ahead of time. Strive to give your film composer as much time as possible. Further, try to bring your film composer on board as early as possible in the process, even if the film is in its pre-production stage!

Working with a film composer in this way will mean that they will feel more invested in the production, plus they will likely appreciate the opportunity to carry out preparatory composition tasks at their leisure.

 

Be open to collaboration

Given the impact a film composer can have on a film’s overall success, it’s crucial to recognise that onboarding a film composer is a big milestone in the development of your film. They may be contributing more to your vision than any other team member.

While this may seem intimidating at first, try to think of it as a meeting of minds: a collaborative process where you both have a free-flowing exchange of ideas. That being said, don’t shy away from your vision and requirements: it’s your movie. Likewise, don’t close the door on other ideas either! Your film composer could make a suggestion that dramatically changes a scene for the better.

This partnership works both ways. You shouldn’t hire a film composer and expect them to provide the perfect score the first time. If they are professional and invested in your project – as they should be – they won’t mind making some adjustments after receiving criticism. Remember, everybody wants the same objective, for the film to be a success. However, there is, of course, a reasonable limit as to how many changes should be requested. These factors should be addressed in preliminary discussions.

 

Consider using temp music

‘Temp music’ may be a fantastic approach to quickly and efficiently expressing the overall feel you want to convey to a film composer. This can be tough to articulate, and using pre-existing music as a substitute can be a very simple and effective solution.

However, it’s important to remember that this is only a ‘temporary’ relationship! Therefore, think of your temp music as a guide only, and not something that you should consider cutting or editing your film to. It’s completely normal and understandable that you might become connected to something you’ve been listening to whilst watching the same cuts for weeks, months, or even years. Yet, falling in love with your temp music will never have a happy ending… you have been warned!

The temp music is only a location marker to convey the scene’s feelings at any given moment. Any professional film composer can get a good sense of the music you have used, why you used it, and how it fits into the context. Additional ‘inspiration’ sources, such as other films/scores, can be extremely useful in gaining a better overall idea of the style of music you want to create.

 

Provide a picture lock when working with a film composer

Most film composers would prefer to work with a picture-locked cut of the film. This isn’t to say those film composers would mind experimenting with earlier takes. For example, if they were brought on board earlier in the process as discussed above. However, it’s really a given that there is little point in completing on a composition project only for the work to need altering at a later date.

Remember, with music, timing is everything.

Such alterations will inevitably affect timing and cues. Plus, depending on how the original music was produced, this could even mean having to schedule additional recording sessions at a great cost. This isn’t the same as a quick ‘actor’s voice-over edit’ after the fact: it could have tremendous ramifications for the film production as a whole. So, save yourself a lot of trouble and always deliver the final picture lock!

 

Expand your musical palette

Listening to music from a variety of different genres can be really beneficial when connecting with a film composer! Similar to any other language, the more you practise and listen, the more diverse your vocabulary will become and the easier it will be to express your ideas musically! When describing the influences on your film and its associated soundtrack, being able to mention other scores, genres, periods, and so on may be a fantastic shorthand. Plus, classical music shouldn’t be feared either!

Experienced filmmakers are often great film music enthusiasts. And is it any wonder? The unparalleled impact music can have on an audience, as discussed above, has often inspired filmmakers from a young age. And rather than seeing music as an ‘add-on’ to film production, it is seen as an integral part of it.

 

The Takeaway: working with a film composer

Film composition is a fascinating genre, and extremely competitive. It’s no wonder that professional film composers up and down the land aspire to work in this niche. But that doesn’t mean film composers (even experienced film composers) won’t be receptive to working on independent films. They love doing them!

Firstly, film composers are as passionate, inspired, and dedicated to the art and craft of independent filmmaking as the rest of a typical production team. And as discussed, onboarding a film composer at the start of your project – even if in an advisory capacity – can pay dividends for the overall success of your film.

So, for your next production, why not consider reaching out to a film composer from the outset or even start building those connections in advance, whether it’s on the FILMD platform or elsewhere. Who knows, it could be the start of a long and fruitful partnership. And never be afraid to ask questions about different compositional styles, techniques, and technologies.

Just start the conversation – you never know where it may lead!