Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Robert Allaire · Accepted Answer

“Be unique. There are so many aspiring Film Composers out there and many of them sound the same. The way to vastly improve your chances of being heard is to have a unique voice that stands out from the crowd.
“This, more than anything else, is what holds aspiring Composers back. They hear people they admire and then emulate them. What’s worse is that often Directors will hear music they like and box the Composer into those artistic decisions.
“What a Composer chooses to work on and who they decide to work with will directly affect the unique voice they’re creating. This will also determine the future projects they work on, which can become a never-ending circle. Therefore, maintaining artistic integrity and creating something special is the way to get ahead and do the work that interests the Composer.”

Question 2

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

Robert Allaire · Accepted Answer

“A lot of young Composers send out demos that aren’t well-produced. Music should sound as good as possible, especially with the technology available today.
“Unfortunately, the people listening to the music usually don’t have a deep understanding of the craft and won’t be able to separate talent from a bad mix. This obviously hurts a Composer’s chances of being selected if they have a bad demo, even though they may be the most qualified person for the job.
“As a side note, it’s also important to remind Producers and Directors to listen to the music with headphones since laptop speakers and phones will vastly change the quality of sound heard. All Composers must use the advances in technology today to make their music sound the best it can (as obvious as that is) because the people listening don’t usually have the knowledge to discern a good theme from a bad mix.”

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Robert Allaire · Accepted Answer

“How is a Film Composer also a filmmaker?
“People often don’t consider that a film Composer is not just a musician but also a filmmaker. A film Composer takes what’s on the screen and enhances it. Having a deep understanding of film and how a scene plays is key. A single line of dialogue or a subtle look from an Actor might shift a scene in an instant.
“The film Composer needs to be sensitive to those subtleties. They may be tasked with accentuating that moment or changing its meaning. For a generic example, if a man looks back at a woman after she walks away, it will have one feeling with a sinister score versus a romantic one. The better the Composer can interpret the film and build in nuances, not only will the better their score be but the film overall, as well.”

Question 4

What is one thing I should have asked which I didn’t?

Robert Allaire · Accepted Answer

“When should a Composer be brought into the filmmaking process?
“The earlier a Composer is hired the more creative they will be able to be. Usually, they come in during post-production when a film is edited. The worst is when it happens after picture lock. When music is added to a film it changes the rhythm of the movie. Even if there was temporary music, when the final score comes in slight adjustments will most likely need to be made to get the best score possible.
“If the Composer is boxed in, they’ll have to make compromises that don’t make any sense for the overall picture, compromising the integrity of the project.”

Question 5

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Robert Allaire · Accepted Answer

“Self-critical. Once I feel like I’ve reached the level I want, I’ll let you know.”

Question 6

Who is the most popular Film Composer?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

The most popular Film Composer is a highly subjective topic that often is based on individual musical sensibilities. However, among the many well-known Film Composers over the history of cinema, the two that many people first think of for both their music and box office success are John Williams and Hans Zimmer.

Question 7

What is it like to be a Film Composer?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

The professional life of a Film Composer can be a highly rewarding one, as many musical scores have become synonymous with the films for which they were created. As with virtually every other specialty in film, a Film Composer career can be one of fits and starts. A Composer may have one gig in a given year or several, which can impact their annual salaries and result in a schedule that greatly changes from week to week and month to month. Film Composers must also be adept at collaboration with Directors, as they generally will take instruction from them regarding the emotional tone desired for a film.

Question 8

Do Film Composers need a degree?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

Strictly speaking, a Film Composer is not required to have a degree to work in film. However, Composers must have extensive knowledge of musical composition and its relationship to film to be successful at their careers. In many cases, this means going to school to learn specifically how to create instrumental compositions, as well as how to create scores specifically for the screen.

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