What to expect when working with a composer

Working with a composer is a collaborative art. Getting the music and the overall sonic feeling right is essential for any media whether it’s film, tv, games, or advertising. The composer is responsible for creating the score, which can enhance the emotional impact of a film or game and make it a memorable experience for the audience. The relationship between a director, developer, or producer with the composer is crucial for a project’s success. If you’ve never worked with me before (or any composer for that matter) here’s a quick rundown of the various steps and stages we would walk through as together we craft the sounds for your vision.

1. Selecting the composer: The first step in the process is selecting the right composer for the film. The director will usually have a list of potential composers that they would like to work with, and will choose one based on their previous work, style, and reputation. I generally like to meet up with potential directors before taking on a movie just to talk through the project and make sure I’m the right fight for it. If you’re working with me then you’ve already finished step 1! 
2. Spotting session: The next step is the spotting session (more common with film scores) which is a meeting between the director and me to discuss where music is needed in the film. The director will provide me with a locked picture of the film if they haven’t already and together we will watch it and discuss which scenes require music, where the music should start and stop, and what emotions the music should evoke. This is a crucial step since it lays the foundation for me to start creating the score. This process is a little different for games and advertising. Overall the goal is the same: get on the same page with what your project needs musically and where it needs it.
3. Composing the score: With the spotting session complete, (and assuming I have a locked picture for you film directors) I can now start composing the music. I will use the spotting session notes as a starting point and start creating cues or little pieces of music to go the specific scenes we talked about.
4. Reviewing and revising: Once the initial score is complete, I will send it to the director to review it and provide feedback. I will make revisions based on the feedback and will continue to refine the music until it is perfect. If you’re not happy neither am I.
5. Finalizing the score: After the score is revised and everyone is happy with it, I will finalize the mix and master the score to give it one last polish. The final score is then mixed with the project’s audio (something I don’t usually do but can if you need me to) to create the final soundtrack.

I cannot stress enough that working with me is a collaborative process. It can involve a lot of communication. By following these steps, a director can ensure that the music is aligned with their vision and that it will enhance the emotional impact of the project. My goal in this collaboration is to go above and beyond your expectations in realizing your vision, and make the process fun and rewarding for everyone involved.