Film and Television Composer - 6 Tips to get work!

If you want to earn a living from your music, and composer music that you know is currently selling in the market, then why not check out our new course - Working Composer!

Working Composer is filled with interviews with leading professionals in the industry, teaching you crucial skills like how to make a killer showreel, conduct accurate market research, and improving your web presence.

You can also gain valuable skills such as the mine field around knowing when you should, and more importantly when you SHOULD’NT, work for free.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At ThinkSpace, we also teach postgraduate courses! These postgraduate courses are taught by working professionals who have worked with some of the biggest film companies and game studios around. We ensure our courses supply you with advice and techniques to make you a better composer and understand how to approach and work with directors, so you can advance your career.

[marcparella]

I was an artist manager for a long-time. I managed a number of film composer's concert works. Everything Guy says is absolutely dead on. You have to be seen, heard, and thought of in order to be considered. Too many of my clients gave up on their concert works because they didn't understand the value of consideration. If you are on a short-list and you don't make it, that still is a good thing. You are in the running; you are being considered. The next step is to keep those newly minted relationships from going cold. Forget email, learn to make a cold call, or have the mettle to walk in to someone's office or up to someone at a film festival. Be polite... don't talk too much about yourself... do your homework.

[MichelBarbaro]

20+ years of experience condensed into 4 minutes. That's priceless! Thank you so much Guy!

[elenaspano]

I’m a senior in high school (I’m currently 18) and I’ve been playing the piano since I was ten, and the violin since I was 13. A year ago I started playing the guitar, too. In my country (Italy) there’s this “special” kind of high school you can attend: they call it “musical high school”. You have to audition to get in. I auditioned when I was 13 and I got in. It’s just a regular high school, really, but you learn about music theory, harmony, music production and history of music. And, most important thing, you study two instruments that you can choose (well, kinda... ): the first one is the one you auditioned with (it’s the piano for me) and the second one is assigned (violin for me). I’m about to dive into my last high school year and I know that this is what I want to do: film composition. I know about harmony, and music theory, and I play three instruments, and yet sometimes even I get the feeling that I’ll never make it. My question is: how do I make it? What do I study at university? I know that there is a master in “Composition for screen” but I need an undergraduate degree before doing that, and I have no idea what to get it in. I also want to attend university in a country that will give me more opportunities, job-wise. People think that if you want to peruse a music career, Italy is the best country but, trust me, when it comes to composition, it really isn’t. Ennio Morricone is the exception. Nobody makes it here. I’m so lost. I know what I want to do, but I have no idea where to start. If someone has any ideas or any piece of advice, I’m begging you to share. Thanks for reading.

[HalValla]

"Meet people"


Yea, that would be possible at these times...

[ViolinAround]

Just stumbled across your channel and as an aspiring composer think it's going to be such a great resource and sound advice! Just SUBSCRIBED! Thanks so much

[jackspde]

You can also do music sync licensing. That’s what I do. Although, I want to get into composing as well.

[rogernewton]

Tip No. 1.0.1 - write music that dialogue can go over.

[samhorizon]

Thanks for all of your advices ! Nice discovering to me that is your channel !

[BarryDoubletBoardGames]

Super tips, although 1 and 2 seem to contradict each other. The music people actually want to buy is Hanz Zimmer, hench it's the longest que

[robertone]

Please tell me, can i become a composer for film or games etc, just studying from books such as armony and counterpont? or i really need 10 years of conservatory?
Many thanks

[spost]

Thanks for the content! Also, beautiful blue strat!

[gabrield.cstoica]

Súper consejo y un buen maestro como siempre... le apreció muchísimo y confío en todo lo que el nos aconseja siempre!

[andybullemor-music]

I love your videos they are really opening this world up for me. This is my aspiration in life to compose for film, TV and games. I have left it late in life and I am in my early 40s now. I have other financial necessities such as family etc. So my question is where do I start with equipment/software. I currently use an M-Audio midi keystation 49 but I don't like the feel, but I cannot afford to upgrade this. I am using Logic Pro X on a Mac that is running quite slow now after 6 years. And I have downloaded the Spitfire Audio Labs and BBC Symphony Orchestra and Kontakt Player and some other free plugins. But what do I do now? Who do I contact? I am still holding down a full time job and I am composing in spare time but I need something to add my music to.

[muzikmystro]

Thanks, Guy. Fantastic vid. Looking to apply to Thinkspace / Chichester soon for a masters. Currently scoring an indie film. Have some academic training in both game and film music, but keeping a flexible open mind in which sub-industry I’d like to work in eventually!

[offlinemode]

Where can i enroll to learn how to make... Music for film and tv... From scratch... I have no idea... Where to start please... Help me... I need to learn from basic to advanced... I am ready to give myself next three to three years... Dedicatedly. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[AdamFBuchanan]

hi
Can I use copywriter footage and write the music over it for a portfolio examples? Let's say an action sequence of a Marvel movie.

[AndreasvanHaren]

Hi Guy! Do you have plans to create more Scene Scoring videos? I find it very inspiring to see the different approaches. Maybe a video in which you first kind of Spot the scene, adding idea markers etc? And tips on how to use themes and motives within a scene/connected scenes would be greatly appreciated!

[andypryce]

Hey Guy thank you very much for all the great info you share. If you are starting out, is being in LA or London advantage in getting gigs as networking is one of the most important things in business. Or remotely submitting demos and such can get you anything?For example does someone living in Berlin and trying to get into the scene has lesser chance although the music is good quality? Also are the agencies best way to find a place in this business? Thank you again

[mrsqueaks]

Do I need a degree to become a film composer as a living? I'm learning how to use DAWs, and I'm working hard. So long as I can make good quality music, do I really need a degree?

[kirbyspencer]

I have found that your first tip and your second tip are in practice - contradictive. :/

Edit - The other tips are absolutely spot on.