ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXI have a songwriter for my film and I am going to employ a separate composer. Good idea? Songwriter's great but no experience of composing.
10 years, 4 months ago - Gareth Owain David Thomas
Our film is all about promoting local talent where possible and our songwriter is very well thought of locally, receives royalties from radio and even TV on occasion. Wouldn't swap him for the world in regards to stand alone songs. But don't want to risk him as composer. Hoping a composer can implement incidental versions of his songs and incorporate them into a wider score. Interested to know what people think on that.
Only members can post or respond to topics. LOGIN
Not a member of SP? JOIN or FIND OUT MORE
10 years, 4 months ago - Marlom Tander
It's your film and you know his work and you know it doesn't fit. So you have answered your own question. Yes, you need a composer.
If you need to be diplomatic, tell them to think of the composer as like a music producer - taking your raw music and applying their skills to make it work with the film. For example the Wolf Hall scene with Anne Boleyn going down the river to the tower is a harp and mandolin. It takes a composer to think of that, even if the tune was worked up on a guitar.
Response from 10 years, 4 months ago - Marlom Tander SHOW
10 years, 4 months ago - Lionel Ziblat
Those are two completely separate skills and mind-sets.
I know because I do both. I wouldn't give it too much thought. You feel it yourself...
Response from 10 years, 4 months ago - Lionel Ziblat SHOW
10 years, 4 months ago - Gareth Owain David Thomas
Thanks, Lionel. Glad you agree!
Response from 10 years, 4 months ago - Gareth Owain David Thomas SHOW
10 years, 4 months ago - Gabriella Margulies
Yep - I agree with Marlom. I'm a composer myself, but have been asked to collaborate with song-writers to develop pre-existing material into a fuller score. I see it as a cross between orchestration and composition, and orchestration is where a lot of composers start!
A recent example of this kind of successful collaboration is the music for the National Theatre's current production Treasure Island, part of which I orchestrated. The songs were written by John Tams but a composer called Dan Jones was called in to sound-design and underscore lots of the play. He also thickened out the orchestration of John's songs, carefully adding layers and sculpting the arc of each piece so they worked with the action onstage. In short, I definitely think this approach can work, and has the potential to create fresh music as both music writers can egg-on and inspire one another!
Response from 10 years, 4 months ago - Gabriella Margulies SHOW
10 years, 4 months ago - Gareth Owain David Thomas
Thank you Marlom!
Response from 10 years, 4 months ago - Gareth Owain David Thomas SHOW