Alan Menken's advice to aspiring songwriters and musicians #music #shorts #disney #music #alanmenken

As part of our Song Spotlight series, we had the chance to sit down with Alan Menken. Join us at the Ridgefield Playhouse in CT as Alan discusses his experiences with writing music for Disney films, working with Howard Ashman & Angela Lansbury, and much more. You won't want to miss this exclusive interview!

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Credits
Produced by Dan Ruff & Duncan Hearn
Videography: Alan Smith (DP), Bob Geile and CJ Goslin
Edited by Alan McIntyre Smith
Audio engineering: Craig Bundy (lead) and Spencer Ward

[sbentsen]

Dude we need that coaching again in media and hollywood. Too many writers are inserting themselves into the story and characters and its showing.

[frj]

I agree and disagree with Alan.
It is not about the musician in the sense of them not being the character of the story. A lot of what he says may be true, but it’s sobering.
Alan is sorta contradicting himself, he actually has fallen in love with a song for “Little Shop of Horrors” that was never used.

Let me put a but in this topic, If you’re an amateur musician writing your own personal score in which the story’s about you but you don’t intend to exhibit it to the public, then go for it. But that advice isn’t really for those working in the movie industry.
To make the music effective, you have to get engaged in the story, and you will likely put yourself in it.