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Composing for Film, Television & Gaming Industry...

Over the next few weeks PRB Media will be looking into the composing world, with some of the most talented NEW Composers for Film, TV, Ads & Gaming industry. The number of people who want to be a film composers these days... it used to be that when people wanted to be in music, they wanted to be a great pianist or a Broadway songwriter. Then, everybody wanted to be in a band. now, everyone's already in a band, and they want to make money by scoring films.... and so on.

I think it's great that film, tv, music is being taken seriously to the point where so many

people want to get into it. But like screenwriting or professional footballer, this is a

field where the available slots are few, and the hopefuls are just too many. To that end, here's some helpful advice. To start, two tips, from my own personal observations. If you want to be a film & tv composer:


1- Don't try to be John Williams

So many people, especially young people, want to be film composers because they love big, sweeping, beautiful orchestral romantic music--like the kind John Williams writes! This is a problem in that this is only a tiny fragment of what it is filmmakers are looking for in film score. Keep in mind, I am not talking about John Williams per se-- most directors would give their left nut for him--but the kind of melodic, symphonic score he has done on a specific type of fantasy film.

For one thing, John Williams is around 500 times smarter than most anyone reading this, and he can do these types of scores and make them great, instead of bloated and cliched. More practically, only a specific type of movie that requires a Star Wars type of score. They're aren't many of them made, and when they are made, they are so expensive that, if John Williams himself isn't hired, James Horner will be. Or Jerry Goldsmith. Or Bruce Broughton. Or around 40 other guys who have tons more experience than you.

If you really want to be a film composer, you have to divorce yourself from your 12 year-old dream to score the next Star Wars movie, and come up with the kind of sound that will make filmmakers come to you. If you write traditional, symphonic music, you will without a doubt end up working on a lot of lousy, juvenile children's films. But if you can come up with something sophisticated—something dramatic but subtle and contemporary— you can be "typecast" into good movies. Think Thomas Newman, Howard Shore, Rachel Portman, Graeme Revell, Elliot Goldenthal and the newest example, Mychael Danna. These composers write music that isn't necessarily flashy, but gets them consistently employed on high quality product. And from there you'll have a lot more options than you do now.


2- Put down the jar of paste

Not to dwell too much on this, but I've met a few aspiring film composers whose personalities are about as fun as a Jehovah's witness at a Halloween party. Almost without exception, the big-time working film composers are also intelligent, likable, trustworthy and fun to be around. They aren't necessarily "party" people, but they radiate a certain confidence and charm that says, "Hire me." They are sensitive, but

they don't burden you with their problems. If you really want to do this, you can't be an arrogant, nerdy dullard. Film composing is highly competitive. You can't afford to be a creep.... think By:Lukas Kendall

As you can see the world of composing for Film & TV is not a gravy train, which is pointed out above from Lukas Kendall observations, we all at PRB except and know only too well how tough the whole ''music'' business is, and the composing world is no different. I would like to take this opportunity introduce to you some of the most talented and gifted young composers today, looking into the composers world...


Italian composer - Mr Alessandro Ponti

Composer introverted and explorer, a lover of music in all its forms and expressions, Alexander has deepened styles, techniques and musical periods, becoming in time a composer eclectic but deep. He grew up with the music of Weather Report, Debussy and with the right amount of rock, blues and jazz, his musical personality has grown steadily and professional on most branches. On the one hand that of classical training, marked by diplomas in piano with the highest grades (Conservatory of Novara, with Paul Vignani), harpsichord (Conservatory of Vicenza, with Patrizia Marisaldi) and composition (Conservatory of Lugano, with Nadir Vassena ) and a degree in Modern Literature (Catholic University of Milan); the other that of jazz music, passion button but more reserved.


Hollywood & European showreel



British composer - Mr Julian London

Julian was approached by Conehead music UK to produce a song for Mysterious Girl singer Peter Andre. He composed and produce the title track ‘XLR8’ on Peter Andre’s 2010 album, ‘Accelerate’. The album reached number 10 in the UK album chart and the track, which gained over 32000 hits on Youtube, the piece was likened to the work of Justin Timberlake. Julian produced remixes for Beyonce's End of time & Leona Lewis's Trouble both receiving over 700 plays in 10 minutes.


To further bring his music to life Julian connected with Fashion designer Sunny Williams to create something audibly and visually stunning. Providing music for various London Fashion week events, to accentuate the link between Diverse music and the vibrant world of fashion, upon hearing the epic blend of classical music and urban notes, Julian was requested by Sony Santa Monica to compose a piece inspired by much acclaimed video game God Of War, which shows the explosive creativity of Julian's concepts.



British composer - Mr Jamie Salisbury

Award-winning composer Jamie Salisbury writes and produces music for film, TV, games, trailers, contemporary dance, theatre and concert performance from his London studio. Experienced and multi-skilled across many genres, he’s as comfortable working with live musicians and symphony orchestras as he is with synths, samples and a mixing desk.

His most recent projects include the score for Microsoft’s latest action adventure puzzle game, for release this year His work also features heavily on 2014 production music albums including The Making of Legends (Immediate Music), Smoulder (Twisted Jukebox), Action/Thriller 6, US Drama, Cinematic Pop/Rock, Magic & Mystery (Imagem), Promos and Trailers: Back Ends and Epic World Trailers (EMI Production Music).





For more information on the above blog and the composer please contact PRB Media below.

www.prbmediaglobal.com

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