Quick thought regarding the Discovery and any other similar situation.
Seems to me that if they want you to sign away your royalties retroactively or they'll...
As we continue to discuss the Discovery Channel situation, I think it absolutely vital to keep one thing in mind - this is not a debate about using “quality” vs...
I HATE seeing composers ripped off. Hate it. Because I was painfully ripped off. I HATE seeing composers get bad advice or have bad teachers. Because I was give...
There’s been a lot if push back from the industry toward pro-women and ‘me too’ movements. I understand it. Controversies and other issues or just plain fear ma...
My mom passed away this past Tuesday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. I am at peace that she is no longer afflicted with that horrible disease. Of course t...
I see so many career suicides happen because of Facebook. We are a small community, so please value each friendship and connection! Always be sensible, compassi...
Yes, it went by so fast but it was so damn good. Huge thank you and enormous appreciation to Bernard Duc, Thomas Mikusz, Chandler Paul Polig and Spitfire Audio ...
Dear Perspectivites,
On January 4, 2018, I posted a question here about composers and motherhood, to see if there are any composers I know who are also mothe...
Today I got a call from a *major producer* about a *major project* I'm working on now. He wasn't aware I got hired for it and he started the call by saying : 'J...
It is the story of how I lost a competition but won the gigs. (And I am stealing Bear’s title because it fits too perfectly.)
This summer I was in Spain (whi...
I don’t know if anyone will find this interesting but I always enjoy reading about other composer’s processes.
Earlier this year I was working on my last two e...
I recently commented here on a post about quitting that on every project I have ever done I have contemplated faking my own death. While it was meant as a joke ...
“Arggh!” I could hear my longtime, longsuffering, assistant, Bijan, cry. “What are they teaching them in schools these days?!” He was proofing the Sibelius work...
I’ve lived in LA for one whole year! Time really flies! In this time, I’ve interned around the film music scene. Here’s what I’ve learned and what I think someo...
I've got a short story for you all about something that happened to me today. I'm currently interning for a composer, and I was helping set up lunch for a work ...
Starting the music composer journey as a percussionist and drummer has definitely shaped the way I approach music and music production. Many times I set aside m...
I was throwing away old paperwork and found this pamphlet from Mark Northam from around 20 years ago. I didn't bother scanning the whole thing but even just the...
I was at a screening tonight of a short film I scored. Afterwards, two friends of the director came up to chat to me and compliment me on my music. I was totall...
Hi everyone - I wanted to say thank you Miriam Mayer for setting up this truly helpful resource as I just finished a nearly 4-hour orchestral score with help I ...
About the Oscars:
I was moved by Ludwig Goransson's acceptance speech. Not the fact that he won but by what he said: "Who would've thought we'd be standing her...
I promise I'm not trying to bombard you with posts, but watching both of the Fyre Festival documentaries this weekend reminded me of something a college profess...
This is a question I've contemplated for years now, and which I've asked composer colleagues about, be it in person or over discussion boards. I still think abo...
This subject has probably been discussed ad nauseam but it's been on my mind lately. I've always been of the mind that if you don't pay your dues on the way in,...
I've been thinking a lot lately about what PERSPECTIVE means to me and Richard Kraft's recent post encouraged me to share it here. This is a bit long and person...
Over the years, I've noticed patterns in the way successful people and companies operate.
I took those patterns and applied them to the way I build my own ca...
Recently I had a lunch with big film/TV composer. He mentioned that Christopher Young went to sleep some nights in a cemetery, right there on the graves, to get...
I noticed some confusion or misunderstanding of copyright issues in some of the comments to Justin Bell's recent post. So I thought I'd provide a quick overview...
Hey gang. During my recent whirlwind UK/US book promotion tours I attended a couple of conferences where I got to chat with a LOT of people. I even got to do so...
This probably isn’t going to be what you think it is so please bear with me. I actually LOVE awards and awards shows. Awards celebrate excellence in our respect...
Inspiration favors the quiet mind. Find a place (and or a task) where you can go to clear your thoughts and relax your mind. Go there at the beginning of the da...
I had a REALLY shit experience this year, like had to sue a producer kind of shit who fucked me pretty hard. It happens, and its part of the landscape of our bi...
I have a confession to make. I'm an introvert and would probably never leave the house if I didn't have to. Going to parties and big events takes a lot out of m...
1. Personal recommendations go a long way, but don't guarantee you'll get hired.
Just because someone referred you doesn't mean you're a shoe in. You still h...
Composers putting reels together: here's some really useful info you should take into consideration when making your reels.
Analytics data from ReelCrafter s...
The tremendous highs of my career are indescribably cool and memorable. And there are many many of those I cherish. But the ugly is in there too. I've had an as...
If a client asks you “Can you write country music?”, just say YES and then start listening to country music and learn as you go!
If a repeat client wants you...
One of my first posts in this group was about my OTHER pitching process, which I'd used for 6 years.
I successfully filled up my work schedule with that stra...
I'm sure this has been said here a million times and in a million ways but it's something I've thought about often throughout my career. Every project, no matte...
Many of us are looking to jump into our industry by assisting someone more established. This is a great idea.
I wrote this in reply to composers looking to f...
I recently encountered three separate cases of young composers dealing with rejection/criticism quite badly (in my humble opinion) and thought I'd share some th...
... and
Why do we have 1.8% women composers programmed in concerts and 1% women scoring feature films
THIS IS LONG. PLEASE READ IT SLOWLY IN ONE TAKE, when ...
Three years and some in LA, and most of my life in a male dominated society that does not quite believe in the importance of music, in addition to a lot of horr...
An early Happy International Women’s day to all the fabulous women composers on this forum. I am sure we are all super ambitious, otherwise we wouldn’t be here!...
A year and a half ago, I was working as a contractor for a major game company doing music for a VR title. Things weren't going well. The company was deeply in l...
... and wind up in random places. Like on the cover of DJ Magazine! Last year an EDM producer named TyDi approached me to do a collaborative EDM-meets-orchestra...
Four years ago today I quit my job to work as a film composer. I though of sharing 10 tips that were valuable to me during those first years, which I ...
Today, was a big eye opener to me, and a truly inspiring experience to me..
I went out for lunch with my best friend, I’ve known her since 2007 and she’s bee...
In preparation for the upcoming '5 Questions for...' interviews, I have been reaching out to numerous top composers and industry people to gauge their interest ...
After asking Richard to write a post on the difference between "diplomacy" and "butt kissing", he politely suggested that I write it my damn self. So.
What's...
When I was editing Film Score Monthly, there was no end of poking fun at producers and directors who were ignorant of music and composers. Here was something hu...
Hello! For my first share to the group I wanted to address one of the major challenges we face in the music licensing world - the fact that the same song may be...
