After decades of coaching composers in drafting pitch letters, here is an example of what I believe would be effective in getting my foot in the door if I were a composer.
It is in response to a game created by Michael John Mollo on a separate thread in this Forum. He is asking for a reply to a hypothetical email from a casual producer acquaintance who says he/she is producing an indie, character-driven thriller about a woman with schizophrenia. The director likes the score to THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN.
HERE WOULD BE MY PROPOSED RESPONSE:
So great to hear from you. Thank you so much for considering me for your score.
Interesting that your director likes the music from THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN as I am big fan of that score and have been studying it as inspiration for my album, THE SHATTERED MIND, that I am currently composing and producing.
What intrigues me about the GIRL ON A TRAIN music is how it uses de-tuned instruments and musical phrases run in reverse to disorientate us and to served as a rhythmic motor constantly driving Emily Blunt’s character deeper into her obsession and self doubts.
That blurred line in schizophrenia that you refer to between reality and fantasy, between beauty and darkness, is exactly what I am currently exploring in my new work.
Attached is a demo of it.
My creative mission is collaborating with filmmakers with a strong vision on interesting projects.
Money is not my motivation. We can make things work, especially if we are exploring a more psychological palette featuring individual instruments and sounds performed by some great artists I work with and not a big, bombastic orchestra.
I have heard Danny Elfman presented THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN director with multiple approaches to that score, ranging from more conventional to some very unorthodox. I like to tackle things similarly, giving you and your director options to explore.
Would it be possible to meet with you and your director in the next few weeks? Would love to read the script and would be more than happy to provide some custom temp for you to use under no obligations since my musical mind is currently so in this world.
Thank you again for reaching out.
Wishing you best on this adventure.
ASSUMING I AM SKILLED AND SUCCESSFUL AT DRAFTING NOTES LIKE THESE, WHAT FACTORS CAN YOU IDENTIFY IN WHY THIS APPROACH WOULD LIKELY YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS?
(FYI, the SHATTERED MIND album is a total bluff to present a demo specifically created for this pitch without being presumptuous that I could hit the nail on the head perfectly on my submission without first reading the film’s script or speaking with the director).
