film scoring
Sound effects and film sound technique film scoring
Hi there.
I'm not to the point in making my film that I need to score the film (im on the first draft of the screenplay) however I'd like to know something: Does the silm scoring come as the last thing done on the film set to the visuals, or do the visuals and the film scoring come together during editing? I mean, while I'm editing a film should I worry about beats and stuff like that, or is that added after editing the visuals?
What I do when I am setting up to score a film, I give the director a choice of whether they want me to score the film using just the script...send them a CD of the score and let them edit and such, or if they want to send me an edited VHS copy of the film, and have me score, and edit the music, then input it into the VHS using my equipment. The most common method I use is with VHS's to fine tune...but I send the CD of the score to the director to edit (as they usually have better equipment than i do).
I Compose the Main theme, and other minor themes according to the copy of the script I get, and send it to the director for their aproval. I then Get a Rough Draft of the film on VHS so that I an compose Ambient music, and do a bit of fine tuning on the main themes.
SO, through out the entire duration of filming process, I try to keep in close touch with the director as I am comming up with ideas so we are both on the same grounds as far as music goes. This way I have a solid idea of the music's nature by the time I get the edited VHS, so it takes me no time at all to compleatly finish and close the project. If I were to wait untill the filming is compleate to start comming up with ideas (in most cases, however), the score would be under-developed, and take longer to compleate.
So, in my methods, the music is composed (or at least conceived) while the film is being made, and then entered in in post production along with the sound effects, voiceovers, etc.
As far as matching up beats with the visuals....only in a music video would I worry about that 
as bread would say.....my 2 cents
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Check out my sample music site
*updated 12.22.00
i see...
you know what movie has a good fooking score? Requiem for a Dream.
I pirated that the other night and maaaan, it kicks ***. In fact, i'm gonna go play it.
Another question: a lot of film scores revolve around one main theme, like titanic and requiem for dream. Is this a regular thing?
[This message has been edited by FXMan (edited 01-02-2001).]
Sadly, it is. I try not to do that too much however. like the beginning and end could have the same theme...but with varriations. Titanic was HORRIBLY over-done. Every piece of music in it has the main theme. It shouldn't be that way (my opinion). I dont pay attention to main themes all that much. I compose whatever comes to my mind while I am watching the scene, or reading the script. I dont revolve around the traditional 'Theme' way of scoring a film. I think it's more interesting without a repetitive theme getting in the way of other moods of the music.
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Check out my sample music site
*updated 12.22.00
hey film scorer, your link in your sig doesn't work. you've got it saying http twice.
anyhow, I did get your site by manually typing it in. You've got some nice stuff, my friend. I'm not a big fan of the piano as an instrument, but i liked the melodies and i really liked the inspiration peice.
seriously, though, you should check out the requeim for a dream soundtrack. it uses a lot of strings in its score. it really is a damn fine score, too. I'd like to think I know something of taste, too. i liked the truman show score a whole lot, too, its too bad it didn't get nominated for the oscars.
you know what's one of my favorite movies right now for some weird reason- topsy turvy, that movie with the composer and the play writer. i need to see it again to fully get it, but it's fun to watch and listen to.
Sorry about the double post...I have no idea how that happened.
quote:
FIXED IT!!! You can delete your own posts when you double post accidently. Just go to the edit function and enter your user name and password and be sure to click the DELETE box up in the upper left part of the edit box.FXMan
Thanks for your kind words on my music. That link should be fixed now.
I will have to look for that score for requium. I have always loved the truman show (both for the score, screenplay, acting, etc.). It SHOULD have won an oscar.
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Check out my sample music site
*updated 12.22.00
[This message has been edited by FXMan (edited 01-03-2001).]
i just got the gladiatior dvd and i found a unique situation where the composer Hans Zimmemernaman worked right across the hall from Ridley Scott the director while he was filming and editing. This allowed them to quickly throw thing backsat one another and put the film to the score which they did a great job of. (The movie rocked) Great Score
hey thanks FX man. I rembember that it would say "only moderators etc, can deleat messages". I dunno if I was dreaming or what.
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Check out my sample music site
*updated 12.22.00
Well if you'll check in the main sections of this site, I think it says somewhere also, that you can delete your own posts or edit your own posts. Maybe I'm dreaming too but didn't know it. But I think you can.
FXMan
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