The pace is quickening!
I turned in score and parts for the Brass / Percussion cue on Sunday. I have at least 4 more recording sessions before graduation. There will also be 1-2 purely electronic scores, and at least 1 remote recording session. The pandemic has made remote recording a legit part of the industry.
On Monday I got my first cue for an actual film! I am writing 90 seconds of music to accompany onscreen action of an elderly man waking up and walking to the kitchen table to have breakfast. Instrumentation is certainly interesting this time round; Clarinet for melody; 1-Cello, Harp and Synth Pad for texture / propulsion. It's different writing for something you can actually see, rather than an abstract such as 'generic Rom Com'. I have to put much more thought into the emotion of the scene as well as keep in mind the director's desires. It's also time to 'check my ego at the door'. Up until now I've had the luxury of writing what 'I' though sounded good. Now, I have to write what I 'think' the director's idea of good is. It doesn't matter if I write the most amazing cue of my life, if the director doesn't like it, I start again. I am in love with my profession, I just can't fall in love with the music anymore.
From here on, we will get a new film to score every three weeks. This first one is a short, but as the films get longer, we will start writing in teams of 2-3 per film.
This is also the week I started meeting with Hummie for directed study / composition lessons. Slightly intimidating but mostly awesome!
I'd like to say that I've leveled out emotionally, but that's not the case. It used to vary from day to day, now it's hour by hour. As my work becomes more and more public facing, I become increasingly vulnerable as my music is brought front and center. I'm hoping the ability too become emotionally detached from my music is something I learn soon.
As for this next quarter, I got my schedule today. Take note of the 'Songwriting for film' class in the red rectangle.
OMFG!! IT WORKS! Love your posts and that I can finally comment on them! (It was a cookie issue all along!)
ReplyDelete"I am in love with my profession, I just can't fall in love with the music anymore." This is such an interesting comment. Are you saying that you can't fall in love with it anymore because if the director rejects it, you can't be that emotional tied to it?
Also, question: You outlined the instrumentation - clarinet for melody, etc. Can you change that around and use the harp for melody if you want?
Thank you for your comment! As for the instrumentation question, yes, I could use the harp for melodic 'moments', but the main theme needs to be played by the clarinet. As for 'falling in love', that is mostly what I meant. I can't get emotionally attached to any particular piece of music, it's literally a job now. Architects have designs turned down, writers often have their work edited away from the original intention. I'm not saying I don't love my music or have passion for my career. I will still continue to write my 'art' music. Thanks for following this crazy adventure!
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